Welsh Cup Second Round

Ammanford 2 Cardiff Metropolitan University 3

Ammanford succumbed to a 3-2 loss to Division One side Cardiff Metropolitan University in the second round of the Welsh Cup with a late free-kick securing victory for the away side at the Recreational Ground, writes Nick Davies.

But, it was Ammanford who caused the major threat in the first half. Only five minutes into the game, Mikey Morris was brought down inside the area and Craig Frater converted the spot-kick.

On 24 minutes, Frater almost doubled the lead when he pulled off the shoulder of the defender to latch onto a through ball only to see his shot comfortably saved. Four minutes later, Matthew Fisher had an effort tipped wide before Morris had his rebound saved.

The visitors struggled to maintain any sort of control in the game, with their best chance of the half coming when their forward saw his attempt from range parried away from goal by Kirkwood.

Lloyd Davies then tested the opposition keeper when he received a pass from Fisher who had cut in from the left, but the hosts were once again denied. Frater was then nearly gifted an opportunity when the Cardiff keeper came chasing out, leaving the goal gaping but the Ammanford man failed to capitalise.

Before the interval, Fisher nearly doubled his side’s lead when his curling effort from a free-kick was brilliantly palmed away by the keeper, when it seemed destined to nestle in the top corner. The away side then saw their shot trickle just wide of the post on the cusp of half-time.

After the break, the visitors were much improved and took control of the play.

Ten minutes into the second period, the scores were level when a shot from range trickled under Kirkwood’s body and into the net.

The students then pulled ahead on 54 minutes, when a shot was initially saved by Kirkwood but the ball rolled into the empty net.

Ammanford seemed to be struggling to play their usual possession game on the wet Recreational Ground and they failed to fashion many chances in the second half.

However, the tireless Morris on the wing earned his side a free kick on the edge of the area, and Frater stepped up and delivered the seemingly impossible by curling it into the top right hand corner of the net, out of the keeper’s reach with only seven minutes left.

Club stalwart Luke Fayres then made an appearance and he had a gilt edged opportunity on 88 minutes, when Morris played in an accurate low cross, but he fluffed his lines.

The miss proved costly as with virtually the last kick of the game, the Division One outfit curled in a low free kick to snatch the win and to advance into the third round under the noses of the resilient Ammanford.