Sport

Swansea City 1-1 Cardiff City: Robinson rescues Bluebirds as Derby ends in stalemate

Published

4 months ago

August 25, 2024

CALLUM ROBINSON came off the bench to score a crucial late equalizer, as Cardiff City battled back to secure their first point of the season in a fiercely contested South Wales derby against arch-rivals Swansea City. The match, which ended 1-1, saw tempers flare in added time, culminating in Cardiff manager Erol Bulut being sent off.

Liam Cullen ignited an already fervent atmosphere at the Swansea.com Stadium with an early goal in the 10th minute. The Swans’ forward pounced on a rebound from close range after Ronald’s powerful volley was parried by Cardiff goalkeeper Ethan Horvath. This strike marked Cullen’s third goal in as many derby appearances, putting the hosts in a commanding position and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Cardiff, having endured a dismal start to the season with two heavy defeats and no goals to their name, looked to be heading for yet another derby loss after a lackluster first-half display. The Bluebirds struggled to keep possession and created little of note, with their only notable effort coming from Wilfried Kanga, who curled a 20-yard shot narrowly wide after capitalizing on a Swansea mistake.

However, the second half saw a significant shift in momentum, largely due to Bulut’s tactical changes. The Cardiff manager opted to replace central midfielder Alex Robertson with the more attack-minded Rubin Colwill, a move that injected much-needed creativity and energy into the Bluebirds’ attack. Colwill’s dynamic play immediately posed new problems for Swansea, and it was his driving run from midfield that initiated the move leading to Cardiff’s equalizer.

In the 79th minute, Colwill played the ball out to the right, where fellow substitute Ollie Tanner delivered a low cross into the box. Robinson, making an intelligent run, met the ball first-time and fired it past Vigouroux to bring Cardiff level. The goal not only changed the mood within the stadium but also transformed Cardiff’s performance, as the visitors suddenly looked capable of snatching an improbable victory.

Cardiff continued to press forward in search of a winner, with Manolis Siopis testing the Swansea goalkeeper from the edge of the area. Despite their earlier dominance, the Swans now appeared unsettled and disjointed, struggling to regain the control they had enjoyed for much of the match.

As the match entered stoppage time, the intensity of the rivalry boiled over. Bulut was dismissed after a heated exchange on the touchline, sparked by his refusal to hand the ball back during a Swansea throw-in. The incident led to a melee involving players from both sides, resulting in four yellow cards being issued by referee Oliver Langford.

The draw, Cardiff’s first point of the season, will feel like a small triumph for Bulut’s side, who had lost their opening two games by an aggregate score of 7-0. For Swansea, the result will be seen as an opportunity missed, as they failed to capitalize on their early dominance and secure a second consecutive derby win at home.

This was the first draw between the two sides since 2020, and while it lacked the explosive drama often associated with this fixture, the late equalizer and the fiery conclusion ensured it will be remembered as a fiercely contested battle.

Swansea City: Vigouroux; Key, Cabango, Darling, Tymon; Franco, Grimes (c); Eom, Cooper, Ronald, Cullen.
Cardiff City: Horvath; Ng, Chambers, Daland, O’Dowda; Siopis, Robertson; Meite, Ramsey, Willock; Kanga.

Key Moments:

Goal! Swansea City 1-0 Cardiff City (Cullen 10′) – Cullen taps in after Horvath parries Ronald’s volley.
Goal! Swansea City 1-1 Cardiff City (Robinson 79′) – Robinson equalizes with a first-time finish after Tanner’s cross.
Full-Time: The match ends 1-1, with Cardiff’s Bulut sent off during stoppage time.

As both teams reflect on a hard-fought encounter, this draw represents a significant psychological boost for Cardiff, while Swansea will be left to ponder what might have been in a game that appeared theirs for the taking.

(Cover image credit: Courtesy of swanseacity.com)

Sport

Devonald’s hat-trick secures St Ishmaels’ dominant win over Herbrandston

Published

5 days ago

December 18, 2024

Herald Sport

Herbrandston 0 – St Ishmaels 6

BRENNAN DEVONALD delivered a masterclass as St Ishmaels thrashed Herbrandston 6-0, with the skipper leading from the front and scoring a stunning hat-trick. The comprehensive victory propels St Ishmaels to eighth in the league table, while Herbrandston remain rooted to the bottom without a single point.

The visitors asserted their dominance from the outset. Devonald opened the scoring in the 9th minute, latching onto a pinpoint assist from Owen Lawrence. He doubled their lead just before halftime in the 40th minute, again set up by Lawrence, giving St Ishmaels a comfortable cushion at the break.

St Ishmaels maintained their momentum in the second half, adding four more goals to cap off a stellar team performance. Adam Kingsbeer’s clever play set up Ieuan Hawkins for the third, before Tom Williams capitalised on another opportunity to make it 4-0. Devonald sealed his hat-trick in the 85th minute with an expertly taken goal, and Joel Mills added the finishing touch in the dying moments, courtesy of an assist from Sol Goodall.

Team line-ups

Herbrandston: Adrian Rees, Oliver Robinson, Ethan Chalker, Scott Findlay, Dean John (Captain), Harley Barrett, Gedion Hockin, Leon Whatling, Scott Gillespie, Cian Davenport. Subs: Leo Duncan, Jacob James, Nico Cockrell.

St Ishmaels: Owen Thomas, Sol Goodall, Owen Lawrence, Finley Armstrong, Brennan Devonald (Captain), Adam Kingsbeer, Ieuan Hawkins, Joel Mills, Tom Williams, Daniel Coe, Nathan Thomas. Subs: Max Howells, Tyler Sheil.

Sport

Dominant wins for Pembrokeshire sides in West Wales Intermediate Cup round 3

Published

5 days ago

December 18, 2024

Herald Sport

Goodwick United 7-0 Carew

Goodwick United put on a commanding performance with a 7-0 triumph over Carew. The home side proved too powerful for their opponents, with Rhys Dalling and Rhys Jones each bagging two goals. Matty Delaney, Will Haworth, and Daniel Bryce also got their names on the scoresheet. As one of Pembrokeshire’s top teams, Goodwick will aim to build on this dominant win as they progress to the next round.

Hakin United 13-0 Clydach Sports

Hakin United were in ruthless form as they dispatched Clydach Sports 13-0. Jack Britton led the charge with an impressive five-goal haul, while Liam Parks netted a hat-trick. Jack Griffiths, Jay Kilby, Kieran King, Justin Harding, and Mason Dolling all contributed to the comprehensive scoreline. Hakin, one of the premier teams in Pembrokeshire, will be keen to continue their pursuit of the cup after this emphatic victory.

Merlins Bridge 7-3 Treboeth United

Merlins Bridge secured a thrilling 7-3 victory over Treboeth United in an exciting encounter. Nathan Evans was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick, while Tom Jago, Jason Griffiths, Hayden Dimond, and Ashton Plunkett all found the back of the net. Treboeth’s Liam Manning, Cori Jones, and Matthew Colley fought valiantly but could not prevent the home side from taking the win. Merlins Bridge will be pleased with their attacking display and will look to build on this result.

Monkton Swifts 5-4 Clarbeston Road

In a dramatic local derby, Monkton Swifts edged out Clarbeston Road 5-4 in a high-scoring affair. Dylan Davies was the standout performer with four goals, and Liam Butland added another. Clarbeston Road fought hard with goals from Laurie Haworth, Matthew Davies, Greg Brown, and Ben John, but it was the Swifts who held on to secure the victory. Monkton will be happy to progress after such a closely contested match.

Neyland 1-2 Cwm Wanderers

Neyland were narrowly defeated 2-1 by Cwm Wanderers in a closely contested match. Ben Gale scored for Neyland, but goals from Joseff Shaw and Corey Raven-Sayce gave the visitors the edge. Despite a valiant effort from Neyland, Cwm Wanderers held firm to secure the win and advance to the next round.

Plough Colts 0-2 Pennar Robins

Pennar Robins comfortably saw off Plough Colts 2-0, with Kieran Smith and Jamie Wilkes scoring the goals. Pennar demonstrated their class and will look to carry this momentum forward into the next round.

Tenby 2-0 Blaen-y-Maes

Tenby continued their fine form with a 2-0 victory over Blaen-y-Maes. Sam Butler and Scott Ferney were on target for Tenby, who have been one of the most impressive sides this season. This win further cements Tenby’s status as one of the top contenders in the competition.

Analysis:

Pembrokeshire’s leading teams, Goodwick United and Hakin United, demonstrated their superiority with commanding wins, while Tenby showed their credentials with a solid 2-0 victory. With such dominant performances, Goodwick and Hakin are likely to be among the favourites to claim the title, with Tenby also emerging as a serious contender in this year’s West Wales Intermediate Cup.

Sport

Thrills and dominance: Narberth shine in 6-1 victory

Published

5 days ago

December 18, 2024

Herald Sport

Broad Haven 4-4 Solva

In an exhilarating, high-scoring encounter, Broad Haven played out a 4-4 draw with Solva. Marco Valentine netted twice for Broad Haven, with Owen Sheppard and Shane Howells also getting on the scoresheet. Solva responded through Josh Bland, who scored a hat-trick, and Lucas Price, ensuring the points were shared in this thrilling clash.

Camrose 1-3 Fishguard Sports

Fishguard Sports claimed a 3-1 victory over Camrose, with a clinical display of attacking play. Andrew John scored the only goal for Camrose, but Fishguard’s offensive strength proved overwhelming. Anthony Couzens, Luke Thomas, and Ieuan Llewellyn all found the net to guide their side to victory.

Carew II 0-2 Hakin United II

Hakin United II earned a solid 2-0 win over Carew II. Rowan Dixon and Tom Edmonds were the scorers for the visitors, with Carew struggling to break down Hakin’s defense. It was a well-executed performance that saw Hakin advance with all three points.

Johnston P-P Merlins Bridge II

The match between Johnston and Merlins Bridge II was postponed, with no further details available at the time of writing.

Lawrenny 1-6 Narberth

Narberth cruised to a commanding 6-1 victory over Lawrenny. Owen James scored the lone goal for Lawrenny, but Narberth’s attacking prowess was on full display as Steffan Williams scored twice, and Ashley Williams, Chris Brown, Conor Bowen, and Ryan Williams each found the back of the net in a comprehensive win.

Analysis:

The 14th December 2024 fixtures saw a blend of thrilling draws and dominant victories. Broad Haven and Solva shared the spoils in an action-packed 4-4 draw, while Fishguard Sports, Hakin United II, and Narberth all secured convincing wins. Narberth’s 6-1 triumph over Lawrenny was the standout result of the day, highlighting their attacking firepower.