JD Cymru Premier – 2022/23 Play Offs

 




 

Cardiff Met University 0 – Haverfordwest County 0

(Haverfordwest County win 4-3 on penalties)

 
One hundred and twenty minutes of football could not separate these sides as this nervous play off semi-final was finally settled on penalties as Haverfordwest County’s Elliott Dugan kept his nerve to score the winner at the Cyncoed Campus against a stunned Cardiff Met University outfit.
 
However, the man of the match was undoubtedly Haverfordwest County goal keeper Zac Jones, who pulled off a series of stunning saves, in normal time to deny the Archers; he saved a penalty by Elliott Evans and he also pulled off a superb stop to deny Archers' Sam Jones deep in extra-time. But the keeper wasn’t done as he pulled off two great saves in the shoot out to deny Kyle McCarthy and Sam Rees, which resulted in helping his team to a sweet victory.
 
This gripping win gives the Bluebirds the chance as a reward to play in the Europa League Conference Final next week against Newtown as the latter beat Bala Town 4-2 last night, (Friday.)
 
This game was televised live by Sgorio – it was goalless first half but it was the visitors who created the better chances, Jack Wilson’s long throw-in to the box was met by a flicked header from Jordan Davies which went wide.
 
At the other end Bluebirds’ keeper Zac Jones parried Thomas’ Price’s edge of the area low drive; minutes later Bluebirds’ skipper Dylan Davies tried his luck from distance which was palmed away by Archers’ keeper Alex Lang.
 
Wilson whipped in a dangerous cross from the right which was met by a powerful header by Davies as it sailed over the crossbar. Minutes later the dangerous Jones had a shot blocked, but with the second bite of the cherry he curled his effort agonisingly over the bar.
 
In a tense second half the Archers were awarded a penalty on the 71st minute mark; Eliot Evans took responsibility as he struck it firmly, only for Zac Jones to pulled off a superb save as the keeper dived to his left to deny the hosts.
 
Late in the second period, Wilson went close, his long throw-in was half cleared back out to the wide sided midfielder who struck a first time low drive straight to Lang.
 
The game moved into extra time and it was the Archers who could have won it, in the 115^th minute when Thomas Price struck a wicked 25 yard strike which crashed against Jones’ bar. In the 117^th minute man of the match Jones pulled off a stunning save to deny Sam Jones from inside the box as the game was settled on penalties.
 
The game moved into penalties as Jones saved the first two Cardiff Met penalties, Dylan Rees and Jack Leahy put the visitors two up. Chris  Craven scored the third spot kick for the home side, Jordan Jones was on target for the Bluebirds as they led 3-1, Sam Jones made no mistake for the hosts, Henry Jones had his effort saved by Lang, Jack Veale made it 3-3 for the Met, up stepped Dugan to score the winner for the delighted Bluebirds who won 4-3 on penalties.
 
 
Cardiff Met University: Alex Lang, Matthew Chubb (119’ Jack Veale), Kyle McCarthy, Emlyn Lewis, Thomas Price, Eliot Evans (73’ Lewis Rees), Christopher Baker (Captain), Charles Corsby (89’ Dixon Kabongo), Harry Owen, Christopher Craven, Sam Jones.
Substitutes not used: Max Manson, Jac Davies, Brandon Roberts, Elliot Humphries.
 
Haverfordwest County: Zac Jones, Rhys Abbruzzese, Dylan Rees (Captain), Lee Jenkins, Oscar Borg (105’ Elliott Dugan), Corey Shephard (100’ Ricky Watts), Henry Jones, Jamie Veale (91’ Ioan Evans), Jordan Davies, Daniel Hawkins (115’ Iori Humphries), Jack Wilson (91’ Jack Leahy).
Substitutes not used: Lee Idzi, Harri John.
 
Referee: Owen Thomas.
Assistants: Ian Bird & Lewis Edwards.
Fourth Official: Ryan Kenny.
Referee Observer: Nigel Richards.