By Adam Cleary and Luke Hawkins
UNIVERSITY of South Wales Men’s 4th were forced to settle for a point after conceding a dramatic late equaliser against Hartpury Men’s 3rd.
Goals from Redd Pratley and Iwan Mooney twice gave USW the lead, but their efforts were cancelled out firstly by Harry Smitten and then Kane Adams – whose late strike snatched his side a point.
The hosts made a lively start and hit the woodwork after just two minutes through Pratley, who came close again just moments later when a powerful strike rippled the side netting.
Callum McGarry’s side continued to apply the pressure and got the goal they deserved when Pratley was played through, and showed good composure to slot home from a tight angle.
Prartley had an opportunity to double the lead just moments later, but saw his effort saved by Straughan in the Hartpury goal.
Midfielder Ryan Quinn was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Jacob Mead just after the half-hour mark, as referee Darryl Jenkins had a tough job to calm proceedings down.
The focus was soon back on the football, though, and USW winger Ryan Murunga was denied from close range by stopper Straughan to end the half.
The man-advantage started to show for the visitors as the second period wore on.
Kris Asiedo came close to levelling the game when his shot smashed the bar early into the second-half, while Hartpury clipped the woodwork moments later as Henry Junnola-Schofield’s low shot across the face of the goal came off the post.
In the late stages there was more end-to-end football as a quickly taken free-kick started a break down the left, with a low cross tucked home by Mooney, who looked to have won it for USW.
However, it was heartbreak late on for the home side.
Not long after celebrating taking the lead, a long clearance by Asiedo found Smitten, who slipped in behind the defence and showed great composure to find the net and dramatically deny USW the three points.