by Ben Jones
UNIVERSITY of South Wales will look to put opening day jitters behind them as they welcome University of Exeter to the Sport Park.
A week ago, USW were gearing up to face Hartpury in a rematch of last year’s BUCS national final but a 2-0 defeat is not how Lee Kendall and his players would have wanted to start their title defence.
Invincibility last year is not going to be repeated this time out but the Welsh side return to the Sport Park tomorrow to open up their home campaign; a place where they are unbeaten in two years.
It will be a return to another busy season for many of the USW side, including goalkeeper Ashley Morris. He played 90 minutes at Maes Tegid, in Gwynedd for his club Bala Town tonight. They beat Bangor City 7 – 6 on penalties.
Morris was instrumental in helping his side through to the quarter finals of the Nathaniel MG Cup, saving a couple of penalties.
🙌🏼 @andrewburns93 sealing Town's spot in the Quarter Finals of the #NathanielMGCup #lakesiders pic.twitter.com/A1JHqviMnF
— Bala Town F.C. (@BalaTownFC) October 8, 2019
USW’s opponents this week are the University of Exeter. Last year’s bottom side have already faced a Welsh outfit this season, opening up at home to Cardiff Met 1s. A 1-1 draw is a good start and an upset at the hands of the champions would better that.
These two sides are no strangers to one-another. Last season saw USW won both games as a 3-1 win at Exeter on opening day followed by a cagey and hard-fought 1-0 win at home in the return fixture adds extra edge to an Exeter side looking for vengeance.
Kick-off at the Sport Park is 13:30.
