The students of Cardiff Met FC are now just 90 minutes away from playing elite level European football next season.
Their Welsh Premier League play-off victory – 2-1 over Carmarthen Town – means they now meet Bangor City on Saturday in the play-off final for a place in the Europa League next season.
Former BBC and Sky Sports TV producer Joe Towns is now a lecturer of sport broadcast at Cardiff Met University and has been blown away by the achievements of the football team this season.
He watched the play-off semi-final from the comfort of his armchair, live on S4C.
A sunny Sunday afternoon in May, a day on which most students in Cardiff would be studying hard for their exams…but that was not the case for a special group of Cardiff Met University footballers. They had a different test to overcome, they were about to do something that no university team had ever done before.
The match in question was the Welsh Premier League semi-final play-off being held at Carmarthen Town’s Richmond Park ground. At stake, a chance to play for a place in Europe.
The game exploded into action, Rhys Thomas had an early chance for the students, and then Carmarthen’s Liam Griffiths forced a great save out of Will Fuller (the newly elected Student Union President) at the other end some minutes later. Cardiff Met’s defence would remain resilient throughout this tense encounter, marshalled marvelously by skipper (and outgoing Student Union President) Bradley Woolridge.
Just before half time Met’s prime attacking threat Charlie Corsby almost created a chance for Elliot Evans but it was foiled by a last ditch challenge from the home side. Scoreless at the break but no shortage of opportunities at both ends.
The second half was equally thrilling and it was the West Walians who came out firing; Liam Griffiths scoring for Carmarthen Town after 48 minutes to put Mark Aizlewood’s men ahead and in the driving seat to secure that place in next weekend’s final. Europe beckoned.
The Students however were not done yet, and a mistake from Carmarthen’s Dwaine Bailey gave the Met an avenue back into the game, Bailey’s loose header back to his keeper was misdirected and the magnificent Adam Roscrow, who picked up the Sponsors’ man of the match award, pounced on the error and nonchalantly lobbed keeper Idzi, from some 25 yards to draw the scores level. Game on.
From then on, the Met seemed to grow in confidence, all season long they have demonstrated superior fitness levels to the rest of the league, and a remarkable ability to hang on in tight games, and just as the match looked set for extra time, the students won a free-kick out near the corner flag. Josh Barnett, who had enjoyed an industrious game patrolling the midfield, whipped a cross in towards the near post, and Corsby (who was awarded the Sgorio Man of the Match Award) launched himself bravely at the ball to score a spectacular diving header in the 93rd minute. 2-1 to the team from Cyncoed. Game over.
The match was being shown live on S4C, and as the Carmarthen Town keeper picked the ball out from the back of the net the TV cameras cut to the Cardiff Met bench to capture an eruption of emotion. Kit man Darren Jenkins was seen going absolutely wild as the camera zoomed in to his celebratory dance, in the background Director of football Dr. Christian Edwards and his assistant coaches Professor Robyn Jones and Martin Longworth leapt in the air.
Incredible scenes as Cardiff Met, in their first ever season in the Welsh Premier League, sealed a spot in the Welsh Premier League Play Off Final. They now have a chance to secure a place alongside some of Europe’s biggest football clubs. It’s already been a memorable season, (the Met were crowned British University Champions last month). Next weekend it could become an historic one. Amazingly in the year the city of Cardiff hosts the UEFA Champions League Cup Final, Wales’ capital city could also have a team competing in the Europa League tournament.
The play off final will be next Saturday at the Bangor University Stadium and will be screened live on S4C from 5.15pm.
Bangor Town are nicknamed the Citizens… so it’ll be The Citizens versus The Students.
The prize, a place in Europe.
The majority of the Met team will be sitting exams throughout this week at Cardiff Metropolitan University; on Saturday these students will hope to take the honours in North Wales, for this is a qualification that comes with a late summer internship on the continent.
