2pm 1 February 2014
Welsh League, Division Two
Cardiff Metropolitan University 3 AFC Llwydcoed 1 (att 40)
My third visit to watch football at the Cyncoed Campus in Cardiff, each time to see the host club on a different pitch and each time with a different name.
In 1990 I saw Cardiff Institute of Higher Education on pitch that is now covered by a hockey pitch, then in 2003 I returned to see a renamed UWIC Inter Cardiff on a pitch that, earlier this season, was converted to a rugby venue, while immediately adjacent an enclosed 3G pitch was developed for the football club.
It was that ground I went to today, tempted by the synthetic surface's guarantee of a game despite the weather, and with the club now known as Cardiff Metropolitan University AFC.
They took an early lead, and the visitors' poor finishing, and good goalkeeping, ensured it was the first half's only goal. The game was played in sunshine, showers and a stiff breeze, but as the conditions worsened in the second half the game became more scrappy.
The home side looked to have won the game when they scored a second goal, but when Llwydcoed pulled one back it set up an entertaining finish. The away side looked capable of equalising, but they ran out of time, and in stoppage time an own goal increased the students' winning margin.
Each football ground at Cyncoed has been an improvement on its predecessor. The first was just a roped off pitch, while the second had a tiny stand. The latest ground is fully enclosed and floodlit, with a seated stand on one side and some welcome shelter provided by the overhanging sports centre roof opposite.
View Cardiff Metropolitan University AFC in a larger map
Welsh League, Division Two
Cardiff Metropolitan University 3 AFC Llwydcoed 1 (att 40)
My third visit to watch football at the Cyncoed Campus in Cardiff, each time to see the host club on a different pitch and each time with a different name.
In 1990 I saw Cardiff Institute of Higher Education on pitch that is now covered by a hockey pitch, then in 2003 I returned to see a renamed UWIC Inter Cardiff on a pitch that, earlier this season, was converted to a rugby venue, while immediately adjacent an enclosed 3G pitch was developed for the football club.
It was that ground I went to today, tempted by the synthetic surface's guarantee of a game despite the weather, and with the club now known as Cardiff Metropolitan University AFC.
They took an early lead, and the visitors' poor finishing, and good goalkeeping, ensured it was the first half's only goal. The game was played in sunshine, showers and a stiff breeze, but as the conditions worsened in the second half the game became more scrappy.
The home side looked to have won the game when they scored a second goal, but when Llwydcoed pulled one back it set up an entertaining finish. The away side looked capable of equalising, but they ran out of time, and in stoppage time an own goal increased the students' winning margin.
Each football ground at Cyncoed has been an improvement on its predecessor. The first was just a roped off pitch, while the second had a tiny stand. The latest ground is fully enclosed and floodlit, with a seated stand on one side and some welcome shelter provided by the overhanging sports centre roof opposite.
View Cardiff Metropolitan University AFC in a larger map
Comments
Post a Comment