Weekend Match Reports 1st December
Swansea 2 – 4 Cardiff
Cardiff V’s Swansea derby games are never full of eye catching flowing hockey. This was no exception to the rule and wasn’t helped by the weather conditions. The game started in a heavy hail storm but thankfully conditions did brighten up apart from the odd very heavy down-poor.
Cardiff started the game stronger putting Swansea under early pressure and pegging them back in their 25. Cardiff’s press was not working as well as usual, as time and again Swansea were able to relieve pressure with long 50 yard balls. The theme of the game seemed to take the same as the rest as Cardiff carved out many scoring opportunities but failed to take any of them.
The opening goal seemed to come out of no-where as a long ball was hit from the back. Jeremy Wilyman chased what seemed like a lost cause and just as it was about to cross the back line deflected the ball back onto the keeper which then rebounded back into the goal. Cardiff then won consecutive short corners. The first was well saved but the second saw Tim Jones score with a low flick to the corner. Cardiff added a third straight away with great work from Che Makan as he dribbled round 2 defenders and picked a perfect pass to David Samuels completely unmarked at the top of the D. Samuels did what he has been doing all season now and coolly slotted the ball past the despairing keeper to take the lead to 3-0. Cardiff then relaxed and allowed Swansea to get back into the game. Swansea started creating chances and should have scored when the ball fell to their forward unmarked on the penalty spot, but some how he managed to put it wide. Cardiff were then reduced to 10 men which saw Chris Shaw sin binned for what was harshly judged to be playing the ball above shoulder height. Just before half time Swansea got the goal they had been pushing for. A free hit just outside the D some how managed to get straight through to 2 Swansea strikers standing in front of the goal and Steven Gardiner in goal was left with no chance leaving the score 3-1 at the half time break.
The second half was very similar to the first with Cardiff having plenty of possession and chances. Cardiff increased the lead to 4-1 with a nice finish from close range from James Campbell. Swansea then grabbed another back from some very poor marking at the back leaving 3 Swansea players unmarked to tap in a well saved rebound. The rest of the game seemed to peter out as Cardiff were never in any danger of losing the game. It really should have been 5-2 when Jeremy Wilyman found himself in front of the goal and already round the keeper with just the empty net in front of him. He somehow managed to put it wide when it seemed easier to score. He was quoted in saying “Some times too much time is a bad thing as I couldn’t decide where to put it.”
All in all a good result for Cardiff which now puts them top of the league as Gloucester could only draw with Westbury. Their finishing will have to improve and also their discipline as time and again they were appealing for decisions which will have to stop.
Cardiff’s coach James Egan said “I’m happy with the 3 points. Swansea is never an easy game and I’m just glad we got the win. Our discipline will have to improve and the boys will definitely be practising goal shooting in training especially one of them, not naming any names!”