South Cardiff immediately put the Bears on the back foot when they almost took the lead after only 90 seconds. The chance came from a well taken free kick 25mts from the Bears goal and struck the junction of the crossbar and post.
Robbie Turnbull started a great play that could have given the Bears the lead after 7 mins. Turnbull played a great ball out wide to Tyson Fletcher who sped past his defender and cut his cross back to Rob Macbeth but unlike last week Macbeth was unable to control the header and the strong header flew over the bar.
The Bears usual speed and sharpness was missing in the game so far with South Cardiff starting to dominate possession.
Rob Macbeth looked like he was about to put the Bears into the lead in the 36th min when he climbed well to get his head on the end of a great cross. Macbeth's header looked to be goal bound but Robbie Turnbull took no chances and ensured the ball hit the net, only to see the linesman flag him for offside and the Bears best chance so far amount to nothing.
South Cardiff reacted with a chance of their own a minute later when they caught the Bears on the break. The Southy attacker only had Bears keeper Tim Pratt to beat but instead of attempting to round Pratt he chose to hit the ball from the edge of the box but his shot across goal was wide.
The travelling supporters were hoping for a better 2nd half from the Bears and things looked positive when Mick Holt had a great chance only a minute after the restart. Holt hit the shot well but it lacked control and sailed over the bar.
The Bears were making things hard for themselves by constantly handing over possession and with South Cardiff controlling the play it was looking more and more likely that they would be the first to score. The 70th min saw them do just that when they made the most of a corner to put the ball past Pratt and lead 0-1.
The match was looking like one of those games for the Bears with almost every player struggling except for Captain Chris Cousins. Cousins was having a fantastic game in defence stopping many of the South Cardiff attacks and he was almost rewarded when he came close to finding a late equaliser in the 86th min. Cousins got his header on the end of a perfectly placed Nathan Morris free kick but unfortunately for the Bears the header was just wide.
Cousins chance was the last for the match and the Bears suffered a 0-1 loss which was their first defeat in 8 games.
U/23's look to have their season back on track with a huge 6-3 win. Rhys Tippett showed his class with a hat-trick and 2 of the Bears best young talents in Hayden Witherspoon and Ethan Carusi bagged 1 each with the other coming from an own goal.
U/18's had a difficult day in front of goal with many missed chances costing the young Bears a 0-2 loss. The match was one that most people felt they should have won if they hadn't squandered so many chances on goal.
Next week the Bears game against West Wallsend has been deferred due to the Bears travelling to Coffs Harbour to contest the Quarter Final of the Solo Cup. The Bears will be looking to defeat Coffs City FC on the Saturday to advance to the Semi Final which will be played on Sunday.
CMON YOU BEARS!!!!!!
