By James Morris and Jacob Phillips
Cardiff Met’s quality proved to be enough to secure a victory in a tight affair against USW at the Sport Park.
The home side made a promising start, attacking well down the right hand side and forcing a number of corners.
But Met’s organisation in defence meant they caught out USW with their offside trap on a number of occasions.
And it was the visitors who opened the scoring in the 28th minute when a flash of class from left-back Noad saw him swing in an inviting cross into the 12-yard box which was calmly headed home by striker Richardson.
Noad remained a real threat with more inviting crosses into the USW danger zone which couldn’t be converted.
Met continued to dominate possession but when a good chance was blocked, USW’s Tristan Jenkins found space on the right hand side as the hosts counter-attacked. His cross was slotted home by Taylor Marsh to send the teams in at half-time level.
Noad was Met’s standout player from the off, his ability to get on the ball and switch it with accuracy gave his side a different dynamic and a good start to the second half.
But USW also had time on the front foot, with Adam Kaplan’s great solo run to the by-line leaving the Met defence scrambling.
It was a Kaplan through ball which teed up Jenkins with a great opportunity soon after, though he couldn’t find the net.
There was an end-to end pattern as USW ‘keeper Harry Irving, saved brilliantly to keep his side from falling behind, but it wasn’t long before Met did claim the winner when a surging cross from CJ Craven fell at the feet of C. Davies who helped the ball into the USW net.
USW’s Ethan Wayne tenaciously drove his team forward in attempt to draw level again.
And when Jenkins found himself through on goal for USW in the dying minutes, Raisbeck’s sliding challenge was as good as a goal and ultimately secured all three points for the Archers.