Cardiff Met 1 Aberystwyth Town 0

Dafabet Welsh Premier League
Saturday 24th September
Cardiff Met 1 Aberystwyth Town 0

Chris Baker's spectacular 62nd minute looping volley was enough to beat the Black and Greens at Cyncoed this evening, and it was a rare moment of quality in a generally low key match which brought Aber back down to Earth after Tuesday night's heroics at Carmarthen.

Town, already missing Luke Borrelli through suspension, were dealt a tough blow on seven minutes when midweek star Geoff Kellaway was forced off with an injury, neverthless the visitors looked the better side before the break, creating some promising openings and restricting Met to a few half chances. Chris Jones turned to set up sub Blake Davies, but his shot went wide. Jonathan Evans then cut inside to shoot over, and Captain Luke Sherbon, playing through the pain rattled the crossbar with a sumptuous volley. At the other end Davies headed Charlie Corsby's effort clear but then back came Aber as Jones sent a thrilling free kick fizzing just over the bar. Sherbon saw a header cleared off the line, and then Evans again tested Will Fuller in Met's goal with a low strike. Then just before the break a lovely move by Met earned Adam Roscrow an opening but he screwed his shot wide, and Aber ended the half probably ahead on points, but level on goals scored, nil nil.   

If Town fans harboured a niggling feeling that their side might regret not scoring when they were on top, they were proved right in the second half as Aber's performance levels dropped. Roscrow brought a save out of visiting keeper Chris Mullock with a low strike from out on the right, but then sub Baker found some space out on the left edge of the area and curled in a right footed pearler which lobbed over Mullock and into the net to open the scoring. In response Chris Jones galloped down the left but Fuller parried his shot for a corner, before Ricky Watts on the right flank also tested Cardiff Met's netminder. Mullock pulled off an excellent save to deny Roscrow, who looked certain to double the lead, and twenty minutes remained for Aber to get back into things. Baker sent another shot flashing wide before John Littlemore tested Mullock's handiwork with a looping header, and when back at the other end Jones sent a 25 yarder wide for Aber the game was up. Mullock still needed to show good agililty to deny Jordan Lam's left footed strike, and Met had earned a 1-0 win.

Although neither side were on top form this evening Cardiff Met were able to provide one moment of quality to take all three points, while Aber are left to reflect on a second half which did not live up to Tuesday night's high standards. Next up for Manager Matthew Bishop and his men is a home match against Champions The New Saints, at Newtown next Saturday (ko 2.30pm). It doesn't get any easier!