By Dylan MacIsaac and Reef Parker
University of South Wales got their BUCS season off to a great start with a 3-2 victory over University of West of England.
The first real attack of the game came from USW in the 13th minute, when striker Cameron Dean finished coolly from the corner of the six-yard box to give the home side the lead following a perfect through ball from Tito Anderson.
All the momentum was with the hosts, and they were inches away from doubling their lead when Anderson’s powerful strike from outside the area smashed off the post.
A stoppage in play occurred after a crunching tackle from USW midfielder Desmond Jones left UWE frontman Victor Robson down for an extended period of time.
UWE managed to get back in the game against the run of play in the 26th minute when a Charlie Deadfield shot was parried into a dangerous area leaving Robson to tap in from close range.
Parity was short-lived however as USW once again took the lead after some great footwork from Dezire Mambule saw him beat his man and slot home from six yards.
Pic: Ellis Lewis-Williams
UWE levelled for the second time from the resulting free kick.
A deflection was well saved onto the bar but the keeper could do nothing about the ball falling straight into the path of Robson, who headed home to complete his brace.
A slow start to the second half for UWE proved to be damaging. Jones was left with space on the edge of the box and drilled a powerful effort into the bottom left corner.
A competitive game saw UWE never back down.
Still gunning for the equaliser late into injury time, a brilliantly worked corner by Deadfield was the closest UWE got to salvaging a point. Jack Parkin attacked the ball in the midst of black USW shirts and narrowly headed wide.