By Jake Maddaford
Two second half goals condemned USW to a 2-1 defeat against Cardiff Met at the Sport Park.
A defensive mistake allowed Met’s Tomas Griffiths to snatch the points for the visitors after a hard-fought encounter.
The game sparked into life inside the opening two minutes after Jeremy Agyemang was given space in the penalty area, and slid the ball into the bottom corner, giving Met a 1-0 lead.
Met kept the pressure on Griffiths’ cross narrowly evaded everyone in the box and went behind.
USW slowly got a foothold into the game and had efforts from Harry Jones and captain Lucas Sparrow blocked well by the Met defence.
Met had a good chance to double their lead after the ball made its way to goalscorer Agyemang, but his effort was saved by Joe Holland.
USW capitalised with the equaliser as a ball over the top made its way to Jake Woodham, who calmly lifted the ball over the onrushing Joseph Linston, to make it 1-1.
USW kept the momentum going as Sam Hill picked the ball up on the right-hand side, but his effort was well saved, and the rebound was put wide.
A USW penalty claim was waved away as Hill was brought down in the penalty area, the referee uninterested in his claims.
Eight minutes after the restart, USW midfielder David Mensah had a shot from range, but it was pushed behind by Linton in the Met goal.
Met created a chance of their own after a cross from Seb Littlejohns made its way to the edge of the box, where Isacc Aldred has his effort well saved by Holland.
Griffiths soon found himself through on goal one-on-one, but put his effort straight into the keeper’s arms.
Met took the lead five minutes later, after another Littlejohns cross from the right-hand side found its way onto the head of Griffiths, who powered it past Joe Holland, giving Met the lead for the second time.
The game was sealed one minute into injury time, as a defensive mistake led to Griffiths scoring his second of the game and securing the three points for the visitors.
This leaves USW bottom after the opening round of fixtures.