By Ethan Harris
A goal to remember from captain Chloe Chivers kept USW Women’s 1sts top of the BUCS Premier South as they defeated Cardiff Met 2-0 at the Sport Park.
Following Ciera Lundy’s first-half strike, Chivers’ audacious lob over Daisy Farrow cemented USW’s place at the summit of the league against a resolute Met side.
After a first defeat of the season away at Essex last time out, the pressure was on the hosts to bounce back in this South Wales clash – especially in the aftermath of Met’s impressive 6-0 romp over Hartpury.
Wearing their yellow-and-black strip, USW stung the visitors’ rearguard early on with an array of crosses into the area.
The breakthrough arrived when Mackenzie Ellingham’s goal-kick found its way straight to Lundy, who latched on to the delivery and slotted underneath Farrow.
Met squandered a massive chance to equalise when Sally Grimm pulled her shot over the bar from close range after a neat pass from Jennifer Larrick.
Chivers showed her long-range potential as a neatly arrowed attempt was screwed narrowly over the bar just before half-time.
The second-half started with a bang, as the league’s top-scorer delivered a real captain’s goal.
A good 40 yards from goal, Chivers saw space to manoeuvre and lofted a shot over the head of the backtracking goalkeeper to spark jubilant celebrations.
The remainder of the half was primarily a midfield struggle, with Lundy catching the Archers on the counter-attack but shooting across the face of goal.
Another USW break down the wing culminated in Grace Horrell sliding the ball beyond the target.
Madison Gustafson came closest for the visitors when she skimmed past Caitlin Davies, only to find the side-netting.
USW now sit proudly at the summit on 17 points, while Met remain in mid-table.