U23 Match Report: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Cardiff City
On Monday, 27th August, Cardiff City’s U23 side drew 1-1 with Sheffield Wednesday at Sheffield Wednesday FC Training Ground to secure their fourth point of the 2018/19 Professional Development League Two campaign.
Jarred Harvey made six changes to the side that defeated Barnsley 2-0 at Cardiff International Sports Campus last time out. Matt Hall, Ryan Pryce, Daniel Martin, Jack Bodenham, Laurence Wootton, Jamie Veale and Jacob Evans came into the starting XI.
City’s first opportunity came through Ciaron Brown, after 18 minutes. From range, the central defender ambitiously struck towards goal and the ball flew astray of the crossbar.
Four minutes later, City's pressure told as Brown broke the deadlock. From the edge of the area, Veale sweetly struck a low free-kick that Cameron McCulloch parried and Ciaron’s rebound was tipped away by the goalkeeper, before the 20-year-old struck home on the second attempt.
Evans tried his luck with a committed first-time strike, after 31 minutes. Jack McKay sped down the left flank before cutting back for the midfielder, whose powerful effort was saved by McCulloch. Then nine minutes later, Paul McKay headed agonisingly wide of the left upright as the Bluebirds’ hunger for a second showed.
However, the Owls equalised in the first-half’s additional time. Following a string of superb saves in the opening period, Matt Hall sped off his line aiming to clear a dangerous free-kick, although Ciaran Brennan got there first to head into the empty net.
After the interval, the affair heated up as both sides strove for victory. Seven minutes in, Cameron Coxe headed agonisingly over the crossbar before Veale’s effort from the edge of the box drifted just over the goal, three minutes later.
No real clear-cut opportunities were arising and something special needed to be produced if either side were to take three points. City almost achieved that through Ibrahim Meite, after 85 minutes. The substitute forward angled his free-kick from range and it cannoned off the crossbar.
That proved to be the final action of the match as the young Bluebirds recorded their first draw from their third game of the 2018/19 PDL2 campaign against a tough and physical Owls side.
U23 FINAL SCORE: SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1-1 CARDIFF CITY
Sheffield Wednesday: McCulloch, Brennan, West, Hunt (Shaw 60’), O’Grady (Dawodu 60’), Williams, Hughes, Waldock, Borukov, Grant, Lonchar (Hagan 75’). Subs not used: Wallis, Rice.
Cardiff City: Hall, Pryce, Martin, P. McKay (Asri 90+3), Brown (Adinna 60’), Bodenham, Wootton, Veale, J. McKay, Evans, Coxe (Meite 60’). Subs not used: Burwood.
