USW Football – Ben Evans Portfolio

Cardiff Met 3rd Win 2-0 Against USW 2nd in Scrappy Affair

Cardiff Met 3^rd beat the USW 2^nd team 2-0. Goals from Isaac Atherley and Effy Kazard were enough to take all three points at the USW Sport Park.

USW started quickest with a couple early warning shots from outside the box but it was Cardiff Met who were the first to test their opposing keeper. A freekick from distance by Atherley required saving by the keeper.

Shortly after, Cardiff Met were up and running. Atherley picked up the ball on the edge of the box, he was able to dribble past two USW defenders and blast the ball past a diving keeper and into the top corner to make it 1-0.

A mistake by Cardiff Met keeper, Steff Rhys Jones, gave USW the chance to equalise but he recovered and put the striker off before the shot could be taken.

The away side went in at half time the happier of the two sides at the break.

Approaching the 60^th minute, Cardiff Met found themselves on the counterattack. Forward, Kazard, was through but before he could take the shot, he was brought down and gave the referee no choice but to point to the spot.

The penalty was taken and scored by Kazard who placed it under the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner. USW clearly unhappy with the decision to give the penalty by the referee.

An awkward bounce later allowed Met’s Will Tucker to be one on one with the keeper, but he rushed his shot and dragged it wide of the post.

The away side continued to look for a third with Rhys Thomas and Harrison Price both coming close, but the score finished 2-0 with Cardiff Met coming out on top and stealing all three points.

A disappointed USW 2^nd team travel to Cardiff University 3^rd for their final game of the season and will hope to bounce back.

Jayne Ludlow Oversees USW Women’s 1st Draw 0-0 Against the Coleg y Cymoedd Women’s Team.

Wales Women’s manager, Jayne Ludlow, watched on as the USW Women’s 1^st Team drew 0-0 against local college team, the Coleg y Cymoedd Women’s Team, in a friendly match, on the brand new 4G pitch at the USW Sports Park.

The game finished 0-0 in a tight affair, with both sides having opportunities to win it. Despite Coleg y Cymoedd having slightly more of the possession, USW had the greater chance to score, it was Lauryn Lyons who’s shot was just wide of the post.

After the game, Jayne Ludlow stated that the friendly game was a “good training exercise” and that’s how the teams saw the game going into it. Despite the heavy intervals of rain, Jayne said that she, the staff and the players “really enjoyed it”.

When asked about the game being played on the Sports Park’s brand new 4G pitch, she mentioned that it’s “far better than some of the pitches the girls get to play on, week in and week out”. This was the women’s team’s first outing on the pitch since it’s opening.

Finally, Jayne was questioned about the use of friendly fixtures and how they can benefit the players and their fitness after the Christmas break. Jayne said that she saw it more as a “development tool”. She and the other coaches were able to step onto the pitch and coach the game live, which she says is “different to a training environment” and allows them to give more detailed instructions.

The USW Women’s 1^st will play the Southampton Solent University Women’s 1^st on the 29^th January in their first league match since their return from the Christmas break.