Cardiff University men’s football 1st 5-1 USW 2nd

2nd March 2022 Delme Parfitt Student Work 0
Image: Callum Ellis

By Will Gregory

University of South Wales 2nds were comfortably dispatched by an impressive Cardiff University 1st at Cardiff’s playing fields in Llanrumney.

Cardiff began strongly with early efforts – from winger Jamie Owen who hit the outside of the post, and Liam O’Callaghan – nearly getting the better of USW keeper Alfie Tucker.

In the 12th minute of play, Cardiff’s early dominance paid off when striker O’Callaghan got the better of full-back Tom Partridge and effortlessly stuck the ball in the bottom left corner of the USW net.

After looking shaky in the opening minutes of the game, the visitors began to get themselves back into the game.

The commanding presence of USW captain Alex Bevan proved to be the catalyst and when he equalised with a bullet header it appeared the contest would be closer.

But Cardiff answered back almost instantly when Matt Kimmins dispossessed Partridge and was able to find the bottom corner –  a goal almost identical to his side’s first.

At the start of the second half the frustration of the visiting players was evident as they gave away sloppy fouls and that frustration soon increased when Cardiff’s Owen scored a tremendous free kick in the 50th minute that nestled itself in the top right corner.

With this two goal cushion, the home side pressed USW higher up the pitch which caused even more frustration to boil to the surface. Laurent Ngunjoh and Josh Bell were booked for petty challenges on Cardiff players.

Cardiff carried on piling the misery on an already downtrodden USW side when Kimmins bagged his brace, nutmegging Tucker in the process.

Full-back Kieran Dimelow grabbed himself a well deserved goal which was just another nail in the visitors’ coffin.

The man of the match for the home side was midfielder Kimmins who played a key role in the fast-paced pressing style of football that the home side utilised so effectively. His two goals were examples of hard work paying off.

Alex Bevan was the star man for USW but ultimately his influence wasn’t enough.