In an end-to-end affair, USW 5s managed to battle from behind to secure their first point of the season.
After a disappointing 3-1 away loss to kick off their campaign, USW started as the aggressors, constantly attempting to play the ball over the top of the Cardiff back line.
This tactic paid dividends on the 22nd minute as after some well-placed passes on the left wing to create space, the ball was teed up to Connor Brennan who fired in a half volley into the bottom left corner to get USW off the mark.
It did not take long for Cardiff to respond however, as Luke Firkin displayed his dangerous pace, splitting the USW centre halves and placing the ball into the side netting, past the outstretched hands of USW captain Travis Wood.
The Cardiff 5s then took advantage of some poor defending from a corner to bundle the ball into the back of the net, Conor O’Boyle getting the definitive touch to make the score 2-1 to Cardiff at halftime.
The chances came thick and fast during the second half, due in large part to some poor clearances that led to subsequent opportunities at both ends.
USW found their equaliser on the 73-minute mark as USW’s impressive play on the wings was on display once again as a pinpoint cross was met with a diving header from Brennan to double his tally on the day and get USW back on level terms.
Despite some late pressure from USW, Cardiff University were able to weather the storm as the game finished 2-2.
USW Head Coach Tim Heal was optimistic that his team’s fightback would be a positive influence on the rest of their season, pinpointing their second half performance as “the standard we will set for ourselves”.
The Inbound Observer 