CARDIFF TAKE BRAGGING RIGHTS

Club News

Kevin Cooper's side take derby points on Tuesday night

Snapshot

 


The City of Cardiff went home happy after the South Wales derby on Tuesday night, as City’s development side defeated their Swansea counterparts 2-1 at Cardiff City Stadium in front of a packed crowd.


was the star name in the Swansea City starting line-up.Danny Graham while Stephen McPhail, and Craig ConwayEtien Velikonja,City began with three-over aged players in

 

The best chance of the first half was a double opportunity for Slovenian striker Velikonja who couldn’t beat David Cornell with a headed attempt or a toe poke just moments later.

 

After the break it was Cardiff who grabbed the opening goal. Substitute Jesse Darko, with strength and determination to hold off Jazz Richards and a perfect pass, gave Conway a chance to shoot from twenty yards. The Scotsman didn’t need a second chance, smashing the ball into the top corner from twenty five yards out.

 

The home side went two goals ahead when Darko was rewarded for his earlier hard work with an easy opportunity to stroke home after a Swansea defensive error.

 


The final ten minutes were nervy after Danny Graham placed home a penalty for the away side after Gwion Edwards was brought down in the box. But the comeback wasn’t meant to be as Cardiff City deservedly gained the three points in the Professional Development League to leave them just four points off top spot.


 



 Chronological Report

 

.Kemi Agustien and also Jazz Richards who led the attack for the away side, other noticeable starters for the Swans were Welsh International Danny Graham also began the game for the Cardiff development side returning from an injury that had kept him out for nearly two months. The highest profile name on the Swansea team-sheet was that of experienced striker Kadeem Harris in the starting eleven. Stephen McPhail joining Etien Velikonja and Craig ConwayCardiff used their allowed three outfield over-age players with

 


The first real opportunity of note fell to the home side with just three minutes on the clock. Etien Velikonja scored a hat-trick in his last game for the development side and the Slovenian International looked to again show his attacking prowess for Kevin Cooper’s development side. Nathaniel Jarvis released Velikonja through on goal but for once the forward’s composure was lacking as he fired wide of Cornell’s right hand post.


Swansea’s first real chance came from a Agustien corner; the midfielder crossed superbly but former Lens man Darnel Situ couldn’t poke the ball in from five yards, instead smashing over the bar with the Bluebirds defence under pressure.

 

Scottish International Conway is known for his ability to swap wings and cause either full back issues and this was visible against the Swans as he began on the right wing. John played through a fantastic ball from the left and Conway was very close to getting on the end only for the Swansea defence to push the ball wide for a corner. Declan John and Conway were soon causing the away side trouble down the left wing.

 

The game was stopped twice in the second half for injuries, one to either side. Lee Lucas was stretchered off for Swansea City and replaced by Josh Sheehan while Kadeem Harris’ return from injury lasted just twenty two minutes as Jesse Darko replaced him after a collision.

 

Substitution: Swansea City – Josh Sheehan replaces Lee Lucase (14 mins)

 

Substitution: Cardiff City – Jesse Darko replaces Kadeem Harris (22 mins)

 

Skipper Ben Nugent was very unlucky not to give the Bluebirds the lead when he met a Cardiff City corner. His bullet header was saved incredibly well by David Cornell and the Swansea City defence just managed to clear. Cornell’s heroics continued just minutes later with a fantastic double save to deny Etien Velikonja twice in the space of a minute. Velikonja first met a fantastic Luke Coulson cross and his header was saved well; the ball was pushed back to Velikonja though, who tried poking the ball home only for Cornell to again somehow push the ball away, this time to safety.

 

HALF TIME: CARDIFF CITY DVP 0-0 SWANSEA CITY DVP

 

After coming on for Kadeem Harris, Darko led the line for the Bluebirds and almost managed to grab a goal early into the second half. Good forward play by City gave Jesse a great opportunity in front of goal, the young striker's drive was well pushed away by Cornell into the path of Velikonja who couldn’t adjust his feet and the ball went just wide of the goal.

 

Substitution: Swansea City – Liam Shepherd replaces Kemi Agustien (45 mins)

 

Substitution: Swansea City – Henry Jones replaces Darnel Situ (48 mins)

 

The first goal of the game came on sixty minutes and it was the home side celebrating a fantastic move. Jazz Richards looked to control an easy ball for Swansea only for Jesse Darko to steal in and take possession; the young forward was extremely composed in holding off the experienced Richards and instead of going down under pressure played a superb cross field ball from the right to Conway. The winger took Darko’s pass in his stride before unleashing an unstoppable right footed drive from twenty five yards that gave the diving Cornell no chance of saving.

 

GOAL! CARDIFF CITY DVP 1-0 SWANSEA CITY DVP (Craig Conway, 60 mins)

 

Substitution: Cardiff City – Kane Owen replaces Ben Nugent (64 mins)

 

Cardiff's lead was increased on seventy six minutes when Jesse Darko grabbed a goal that capped a fine performance from the young forward. A mix up in the Swansea City defence meant all Darko had to do was place the ball past Cornell into the goal and the striker didn’t let his side down finishing well.

 

Substitution: Cardiff City – Gethyn Hill replaces Nathaniel Jarvis (71 mins)

 

GOAL! CARDIFF CITY DVP 2-0 SWANSEA CITY DVP (Jesse Darko, 76 mins)

 

The home side's two goal lead only lasted five minutes though as Gwion Edwards was brought down in the penalty area and referee Mark Russell pointed to the penalty spot. Former Watford striker Danny Graham placed the ball into the back of the net to give Swansea a lifeline with ten minutes still to play.

 

GOAL! CARDIFF CITY DVP 2-1 SWANSEA CITY DVP (Danny Graham, 81 mins, pen)

 

Although the Swansea goal revitalised the away side they couldn’t grab a second even after David Cornell went up for a last minute free kick. City held on to a much deserved win over their South Wales rivals.

 

FULL TIME: CARDIFF CITY DVP 2-1 SWANSEA CITY DVP

 

Cardiff City: David Richards, Ronnie Hawkins .Subs Not Used:Elliott Parish, Luke Coulson, Declan John, Theo Wharton, Adedeji Oshilaja, Ben Nugent (Kane Owen, 64), Kadeem Harris (Jesse Darko, 22), Etien Velikonja, Nathaniel Jarvis (Gethyn Hill, 71), Stephen McPhail, Craig Conway.

 

Swansea City: Oliver Davies, James Loveridge .Subs Not Used:David Cornell, Jazz Richards, Dwight Tiandelli, Kemi Agutstien (Liam Shepherd, 45), Darnel Situ (Henry Jones, 49), Scott Tancock, Rory Donnelly, Lee Lucas (Josh Sheehan, 14) , Kurtis March, Danny Graham, Gwion Edwards.

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