U18 REPORT: CARDIFF 2-3 COLCHESTER

Cardiff City’s U18 side fell to a 3-2 defeat against Colchester on Saturday morning.

City came from behind twice through an own goal and an Elvis Menayese strike but a 71st minute goal from Diaz Heenan consigned the Young Bluebirds to defeat.

The young Bluebirds will now play top side Brentford away next week before the FAW Youth Cup Semi-Final against Newport County on March 10th at Jenner Park in Barry.

It was a lively opening to this encounter with both teams happy to attack freely but it took until ten minutes for the game’s first real chance, and it fell to the home side. Full-back Cameron Coxe did superbly to find space to whip in a teasing cross which Elvis Menayese put over from close range.

The Bluebirds were made to rue this chance almost immediately as Colchester took the lead. Louis Dunne and George Brown combined well down the right and it led to striker Aaron McKeown finding space in the area. He turned to fire the ball home, high past City stopper Joe Massaro.

Four minutes later the U’s almost doubled their advantage when City failed to clear their lines but midfielder Milo Downey couldn’t capitalise as he dragged his shot wide.

Both teams then had dangerous crosses cleared, first Mark Harris for Cardiff who did well down the right but couldn’t pick anyone out from the by-line. Then Rollin Menayese blocked Brown’s menacing cross.

A fortunate equaliser levelled the match for Cardiff. Swansea-born Harris broke quickly from a Colchester corner and fed forward Elvis Menayese whose cross was turned in to his own net by JJ Wilson.

City almost went ahead in spectacular fashion but Lloyd Humphries’ long range effort was expertly saved by ‘keeper Callum Robinson in the top right-hand corner.

Harris also went close but his volley from Jake Watkins’ cross following another counter attack from a corner fell just wide.

Colchester were inventive with their corners throughout the game and one just before the break led to Joe Massaro tipping over centre-back Joe Tennent’s shot.

Soon after the restart Colchester retook the lead with their two wingers combining. George Brown turned in Diaz Heenan’s low cross from the centre of the box in to the bottom left corner to clinical effect.

McKeown then had golden opportunity to grab his second when he was sent through one-on-one but Massaro stood firm to deny him. Three minutes later a lapse in concentration from the home defence saw Heenan through on goal from a quick free kick but he shot inches wide.

Cardiff then pegged the U’s back once again through Elvis Menayese as he slotted Jake Watkins’ cross in to the net after reworking a failed corner.

However City couldn’t prevent the Essex side taking the lead once again as in the 71st minute Diaz Heenan shot in to the ground and the ball bounced in to the bottom right corner after Dunne had completely miskicked Brown’s centre.

Late on as the home side were pushing for their third equaliser of the game, substitute Ellis Bellamy fired over after fellow sub Jamie Bird’s initial effort was blocked.

Cardiff City: Massaro, Kelly (Abbruzzese, 58), Coxe, Humphries, R. Menayese, Williams, Watkins, Veale, E. Menayese, Taylor (Bellamy, 58), Harris (Bird, 77). Subs Not Used: Chappell-Smith, Wakeman.

Colchester United: Robinson, Andrews, Wilson (Mulayne, 45), James, Tennent, Stephens, Brown, Downey, McKewon (Cosgrave, 68), Dunne, Heenan. Subs Not Used: Partridge, Synett, Clampin.