Cardiff City Show Fight but Fall Short Against Cardiff Met Archers

Cardiff City Show Fight but Fall Short Against Cardiff Met Archers

Cardiff City put in a determined performance against Cardiff Met Archers in their NBL Division 2 clash but ultimately fell 89-74. Despite keeping the game close for much of the contest, City couldn’t quite find the breakthrough, with a tough fourth quarter allowing the Archers to pull away.

Fighting to Stay in the Game

City started well, matching Archers’ energy and trailing by just three points at the end of the first quarter (23-20). They continued to battle, but Archers edged further ahead by halftime, leading 48-39. A strong third quarter saw City go toe-to-toe with their opponents (20-20), keeping the gap manageable heading into the final period.

Lewis Tucker led City’s scoring with 18 points, shooting efficiently and making all of his free throws. Jonathan Thorne was a force inside, adding 18 points and eight rebounds, while Siddiqullah Khan and David Wells provided valuable contributions. City moved the ball well and finished with a solid 45.5% field goal percentage.

Foul Trouble and the Fourth Quarter Challenge

Despite their resilience, City struggled in the fourth, as Archers closed out the game with a 21-15 run. One major factor was the foul discrepancy—City were called for 23 fouls compared to Archers’ 11. This led to a big difference in free throw opportunities, with Archers making 17 from the line, while City converting 10.

City will look to adjust their defensive approach to avoid giving away unnecessary fouls and keep key players on the court longer.

What Archers Did Well

Archers executed their game plan well, using their depth and strong ball movement to find good scoring opportunities. Dan Flaherty led all scorers with 29 points, Casey Smith (13 points) and James Dawe led their offensive effort, while Gareth Williams (12 points, 6 rebounds) provided a solid inside presence. Their ability to control the tempo and take advantage of free throw opportunities proved crucial in the final stretch.

Positives to Take Into the Next Game

Despite the loss, City showed plenty of positives to take into their upcoming clash against BBU. They shot efficiently, moved the ball well, and competed on the boards, matching Archers with 38 rebounds. The key focus now will be limiting fouls, staying composed in the closing minutes, and finding ways to turn their strong early-game play into a full four-quarter performance.

With the right adjustments, City have every chance to bounce back and put in a strong showing in their next game. Expect them to come out with renewed focus, ready to turn their effort into a much needed victory.