Points Shared In The Capital – Cardiff Metropolitan University FC 1 The New Saints 1

Match Report

It ended all-square in the capital this evening with Cardiff Metropolitan University taking a late lead, only for The New Saints of Oswestry Town to hit back deep in added time, as Kevin Kauber scored his first goal for the club.

The New Saints got the game underway and immediately dominated proceedings. The home side were well-organised though and with ten minutes gone, Will Fuller, the Cardiff Met goalkeeper, remained untroubled.

The home side were lively enough, and in the 17th minute Adam Roscrow closed down Andy Wycherley but the young keeper was alert and cleared ahead of the Cardiff number nine.

Two minutes on, Ryan Brobbel turned in the box, only for his shot to be deflected behind for a corner.

As the game passed the halfway stage in the first half, neither keeper was seriously troubled, as the game remained goalless.

With the game at the one-third mark, a snap-shot from Greg Draper on the edge of the box resulted in a corner, as again a Cardiff Met player blocked the effort.

Brobbel found himself through in the 36th minute but selflessly tried to set Draper up, although the New Zealand International wasn’t able to connect cleanly.

As the first half entered the final five minutes, a powerful shot from Brobbel saw Fuller in the right place at the right time as the keeper ensured the deadlock remained unbroken.

Two minutes into the second period, a shot from outside the box was tipped over by Fuller, as the reigning champions carried on where they left off in the first half.

In the 56th minute, as TNS continued to take the game to The Archers, a low shot from Brobbel hit the post to Fuller’s right with the keeper beaten.

This was followed by a Steve Saunders header that rattled the crossbar, as Scott Ruscoe’s side threatened once more to open the scoring.

The home team looked to take the game to TNS when possible and an ambitious overhead kick from Emlyn Lewis in the box was watched out by Wycherley.

On as a substitute, Ben Clark almost gifted Cardiff a goal with a header back to Wycherley that lacked power. Fortunately though for the youngster – and TNS – the opportunity wasn’t taken advantage of.

The deadlock was finally broken with five minutes to go as Eliot Evans found the net. On the end of a flick-on, he found the net from close range.

However, you can never write off The New Saints, and in the third of four added minutes, Kevin Kauber opened his account as he chased a Saunders header. The ball was going in but the Estonian striker made no mistake as he nodded home.

Goal: Kauber (90+3)

Substitution: Clark for Pryce (76), Kauber for Draper (84)

Photographs from the game by Brian Jones. More here.