U18 | CARDIFF CITY 3-1 QPR

Goals from Keenan Patten, Cai Williams and Sion Spence secured a 3-1 U18 win against QPR at Leckwith Stadium on Saturday, 18th February 2017.

Just minutes in Cardiff City had a great chance as Sion Spence beat two defenders to run unchallenged into the box, as he cut inside onto his left foot he appeared to be brought down, only for the referee to not award a spot kick.

QPR had a couple of long range efforts from Caden Genovesi and Ody Alfa saved by Cardiff stopper George Ratcliffe before high pressing from Isaak Davies led to a chance for Spence.

That same attacking duo combined again as Spence played a short corner to Davies, who returned it to him with a back heel, giving Spence a chance to curl towards goal, but the goalkeeper saved his effort.

Then the breakthrough came through a moment of individual brilliance from Keenan Patten. Patten received the ball with his back to goal then pulled of a smart turn to beat the defender before placing the shot high past Myles Bowman in the QPR goal after 22 minutes.

Just before the break Cai Williams almost extended Cardiff’s lead, his quick footwork gave him a bit of room to get a shot off in the box but it was cleared off of the line by Jake Eales.

When the teams came back out after half time QPR began playing with a lot more intensity and this tactic paid off for them as Alfa dribbled into the box before firing low past Ratcliffe.

City almost restored their lead through Connor Davies as he was assisted by Williams but the goal was ruled offside. A deserved second goal finally came when Williams was played clean through after a counter attack and he smashed it past Bowman to put the Bluebirds ahead once again.

QPR then had a flurry of chances to level the score from a corner as Rangers captain Charlie Fox had a header parried by Ratcliffe, then substitute Shiloh Remy volleyed towards goal, where Williams was on hand to clear the ball off of the line.

Spence had another shot saved before he attacked again, this time being brought down in the box. The Wales youth international dusted himself off before confidently stepping up to slot home the penalty and secure all three points.

This strong performance displayed the attacking qualities of this young Cardiff City side that they will hope to replicate in their next fixture against Millwall on Saturday, 25th February 2017.

FULL TIME: CARDIFF CITY 3-1 QPR (Patten 22’, Williams 53’, Spence 78’; Alfa 46’)

Cardiff City: Ratcliffe, Margetson, J. Davies (Parsons 89’), Patten, Madden (c), Jones, Williams (Sharif 85’), Wootton, I. Davies (Williams 46’), Spence, C. Davies. Unused Subs: King.

QPR: Bowman, Eales, Genovesi, Folkes, Parker, Fox (c), Akinola, Rollinson, Francis (Kendall 46’), McNulty (Remy 68’), Alfa. Unused Subs: Drewe, Dickinson.