DVP RECLAIM SECOND SPOT

Snapshot

Cardiff City’s Development side won a third away game on the bounce with a 3-1 win against Colchester United.

Despite their recent fine form away from Cardiff City Stadium, Cooper’s men fell behind to an early Drey Wright strike. The forward cut in from the left wing before firing a fine right footed drive into the top of Elliot Parish’s net.

This early goal for the home side didn’t deter City and they nearly levelled when Kadeem Harris’ right footed drive flew back out off the post. The away side did level the scores after twenty five minutes when right back Luke Coulson crossed exquisitely for former Gap Connah’s Quay striker Rhys Healey and the forward nodded City level. Slovakian International Filip Kiss then popped up to give the away side a one goal advantage at the break, a Joe Ralls corner falling to the midfielder who poked the ball home.

The impressive Harris was again unfortunate not to see the net bulging just after the break, the former Wycombe Wanderers man cut in from the left wing and unleashed an incredible drive that smashed against the crossbar while Slovenian International Etien Velikonja’s follow up was pushed against the post and away. City added a crucial third goal on sixty six minutes when the Colchester defence failed to clear and Kiss played the ball into the path of Healey who tapped in from close range.

It was a fine display from City’s development side who return to second place in the Professional Development League 2 South table with three games left to play.

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Chronological Report

A cross from Filip Kiss nearly opened the scoring for the away side in the opening two minutes. The Slovakian midfielder crossed the ball from the left hand side only to see the ball bounce back off the Colchester crossbar. While the home side were somewhat lucky to not concede, there was nothing lucky about the opening goal that came on five minutes with a thunderbolt from Drey Wright giving the Us the lead. The lively forward cut inside from the left wing before firing an unstoppable shot that flew into the top of Elliott Parish’s goal.

GOAL! COLCHESTER UNITED DVP 1-0 CARDIFF CITY DVP (Drey Wright, 5 mins)

City were fortunate to only be one goal down when Tosin Olufemi struck the ball from the right hand side on six minutes in an almost carbon copy attempt of their opening goal, only for Parish to pluck the ball away from the top corner at the last second. After this sharp spell of home pressure, Cooper’s men kicked into action with attacking intent of their own. Etien Velikonja’s shot went just wide of the post while Kadeem Harris went even closer to a City equaliser on fourteen minutes, cutting in from the left hand side and firing the ball against the post.

After twenty five minutes the away side were finally rewarded for their fine spell of attacking when Rhys Healey headed home an equaliser. Former Manchester City full-back Luke Coulson received the ball on the right wing before placing the ball perfectly on the head of Healey, who nodded the ball past Shaun Philips to level the tie.

GOAL! COLCHESTER UNITED DVP 1-1 CARDIFF CITY DVP (Rhys Healey, 25 mins)

Former Welsh Premier League forward Healey continually caused problems for the Colchester defence and he will have felt unfortunate not to score a second goal before the break. Us keeper Phillips denied Healey on two separate occasions, while the eighteen year old striker also headed over from a Harris cross.

Despite the best efforts of the Colchester defence, they couldn’t hold on to half time with the scores level as the impressive Cardiff City midfield paid dividends. English midfielder Joe Ralls’ corner deflected around the Us penalty area before his central midfield partner Kiss poked the ball through the crowd and past Phillips to give his side the lead at the break.

GOAL! COLCHESTER UNITED DVP 1-2 CARDIFF CITY DVP (Filip Kiss, 43 mins)

HALF TIME: COLCHESTER UNITED DVP 1-2 CARDIFF CITY DVP

Kadeem Harris has been in fine form of late for City’s development side with the winger causing real issues using his skill and pace, and the Colchester defence were again put to the sword by the nineteen year old. Harris beat two Us defenders after cutting in from the left wing before striking the ball right footed with real vigour, unfortunately for the London-born winger the ball ricocheted back of the crossbar before Etien Velikonja’s follow up was pushed against the goal post and away to safety. It was a real let off for the Colchester defence just minutes into the second half as City tried to finish off the match early on.

They finally scored a third goal on sixty six minutes when a melee in the Colchester box resulted in Kiss poking towards goal again, the midfielders attempt was diverted into the back of the net by forward Healey for his second and City’s third goal of the game.

GOAL! COLCHESTER UNITED DVP 1-3 CARDIFF CITY DVP (Rhys Healey, 66 mins)

While Drey Wright continually impressed for the home side, Cooper’s men were comfortable and looked the more likely to score again. Healey was denied in a one-on-one with Phillips while Kadeem Harris’ cross/shot from the left wing was pushed just wide by the Colchester shot stopper. While time ran out on Rhys Healey in his search for a hat-trick goal, City saw out a fine away display to make it three wins on the bounce away from home.

FULL TIME: COLCHESTER UNITED DVP 1-3 CARDIFF CITY DVP