Isaak Davies' late touch sent the Bluebirds home happy, as City defeated AFC Wimbledon 1-0 on Tuesday night.
Two changes from the weekend saw Joel Colwill and Joel Bagan come into the team, replacing Dakarai Mafico and David Turnbull.
The younger of our Colwill brothers was involved almost immediately. With less than three minutes on the clock, Joel was taken down in the penalty area. Despite the opposing defender getting none of the ball, somehow a goal kick was given.
Dangermen Yousef Salech and Ollie Tanner went close for the Bluebirds in the opening half. Salech's header flashed just wide of goal, before Tanner saw an effort drift away after cutting in from the right.
Sadly, City were forced to do without Tanner for the second half, with our No.11 substituted after sustaining an injury near to the advertising boards at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
The home side saw little of the ball in the opening half, but tried to make things happen with a strike from distance ten minutes into the second period. Alistair Smith though saw his effort held comfortably by former AFC Wimbledon loanee Nathan Trott. Defender Ryan Johnson saw two efforts fail to test the goalkeeper just after the hour mark.
Both teams marked the hour with triple changes. Isaak Davies, Callum Robinson and David Turnbull were introduced for City, replacing Joel Colwill, Cian Ashford and Yousef Salech.
Substitutes Willock and Robinson went close to breaking the deadlock with 17 minutes remaining. Willock's cross was taken away from Isaak Davies on the goal line, who looked set to put City ahead. Robinson then saw his rebound blocked.
Davies was involved again four minutes later, when his direct run caused trouble, but he couldn't hit the target with the shot.
Robinson had another attempt for City in added on time, but he couldn't net with his close-range header. It seemed like a goal would never come. But, the Academy lads delivered, as they have all season. Substitute and Academy graduate Davies touched in Turnbull's effort deep into added time.
The Dons looked to strike back late, and it took a fine fingertips save from Trott to preserve City's clean sheet, his third consecutive shutout in league action.
With our first away win of the campaign in the bag, the Bluebirds will look to take this positivity into Saturday's trip to Luton Town - 12:30pm kick-off at Kenilworth Road.
FINAL SCORE: AFC WIMBLEDON 0-1 CARDIFF CITY
AFC Wimbledon: Bishop, Asiimwe, Seddon (Sasu 89'), Reeves, Johnson, Orsi (Bugiel 63'), Smith, Stevens (Hackford 63'), Hippolyte (Browne 63'), Lewis (Harbottle 28'), Ogundere. Subs Not Used: McDonnell, Maycock.
Cardiff City: Trott, Kpakio, Fish, Lawlor, Bagan (Chambers 82'), Wintle, J.Colwill (Turnbull 63'), R.Colwill, Ashford (Davies 63'), Tanner (Willock 45'), Salech (Robinson 63'). Subs Not Used: Turner, King.