Cardiff ………………………………..1
Swansea ……………………………..2
Cardiff’s men suffered an injury-time defeat to their Swansea rivals, who secured their first Welsh Varsity victory since 2010.
Swansea’s Jordan Smith bundled the ball into the back of the Cardiff net in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time to break Cardiff hearts.
For the most part, the game was evenly fought, with little between the teams. Swansea broke the deadlock in the 25th minute, captain George Parsons rising highest to get on the end of a corner and float a header in off the underside of the crossbar.
Five minutes later, Cardiff were awarded a penalty when a Swansea defender was adjudged to have handled the ball. Captain Nick Feely, scorer of two goals in last year’s Varsity triumph, stepped up but saw his effort brilliantly saved by Swansea goalkeeper Luke Martin.
The second half saw Cardiff struggle to break the Swansea defence. However, another penalty was awarded to Cardiff in the 80th minute, as Martin missed the ball and caught Feely when going to claim a long ball. Martin was injured in the process, causing a long delay in proceedings. Substitute goalkeeper Ryan Roberts was called upon and made a fantastic save to deny Feely once again, but the Cardiff captain managed to claim the rebound and equalise.
Cardiff’s tails were up and the home crowd sensed a swing in momentum, but deep into added time, Smith managed to turn the ball home in a crowded penalty area from Guillem Bauz├á’s cross. Bauz├á formerly played for Swansea City and Spain Under-19s professionally and now studies medicine at Swansea University, while also playing part-time for Port Talbot Town.
On the balance of play, Swansea arguably just about deserved the victory, but Cardiff put in a good effort and on another day could easily have claimed the victory. They hit the bar twice in the opening 20 minutes, one a shot from outside the area and the other a towering Feely header.
Joe Atkinson
Add Comment