WELSH CUP ROUND FOUR: Caernarfon produce strong finish to see off the Met
JD WELSH CUP ROUND FOUR – DECEMBER 13
Cardiff Met University 2 (Reynolds 43, Payne 55)
Caernarfon Town 4 (Bradley 17, Sears 56, Mendes 89, C Evans 90+4)
Two very late strikes guided Caernarfon into the last eight of the Welsh Cup for the first time since 2019-20.
Richard Davies’ side faced a very tough task away to a Cardiff Met outfit which eliminated holders The New Saints in the last round, but the Cofis proved they were more than up to the job.
After taking the lead in Saturday’s live S4C last 16 tie, Town fell 2-1 behind before bagging an almost instant equaliser.
And the Canaries’ greater staying power saw them home with those two killer blows in the closing stages.
Caernarfon were on top for much of the first half and took a 17th minute lead.
Keeper Connor Roberts lofted a free kick from around halfway into the Met box, Brogan Popham headed away but right onto the right boot of Sion Bradley who volleyed in from 20 yards.
It was against the run of play when the hosts equalised just before half time.
Fumpa Mwandwe chipped a lovely curling delivery into the box and Ryan Reynolds headed home with ease.
Early in the second half, a piece of Bradley genius nearly made it 2-1, the Wales C international curling a beautiful effort against the underside of the bar.
Met upped their game and took the lead with 55 gone, Mwandwe sending the ball in from the left and Jasper Payne netting with a header.
Caernarfon needed to respond quickly and did just that.
In the 56th minute Bradley crossed from the left and keeper Samuel Seager could only palm the ball on to Ryan Sears, who finished with aplomb for 2-2.
It was anyone’s tie now, but the Canaries had the bigger finish in them.
On 89 minutes, Josh Lock fed the ball to Iwan Lewis, whose hard and low drive was deflected into the net by Paulo Mendes.
Passage to the quarters was sealed in added time when Bradley timed a perfect pass into the path of sub Connor Evans, who held off the challenge of Samuel Richards before applying the finish.