City's U17 side began their PDL Trophy campaign with a convincing 6-0 victory over Port Vale on Tuesday.
POST-MATCH | TOM HUTTON
After full-time, Tom Hutton said: “It's a really positive result. The performance is always important to us, getting the three points to start off the group is an added bonus. We want to try and win in a certain way, and I felt that we did that for the majority of the game.
“I didn’t see the scoreline ending how it did, but credit to the lads. Everything we asked of them from a tactical perspective and making sure we were consistent with their behaviours, they delivered on.
“We’re trying to win every game. There is always that competitive edge to us and we’re always trying to perform as best as we can, but like I said performances bring the results.
“It’s always nice to start with a win because it gives us that platform to now build on and that gives you a real solid chance to get out of the group."
MATCH SUMMARY
It was a fast start from the young Bluebirds, who broke the deadlock after just 10 minutes. Tiger Tobin’s pinpoint corner was met by Jack Sykes, who headed home from close-range. City then doubled their lead midway through the opening period, when a well-worked move was slammed home by Keano Conaty.
City dominated the start of the second half and deservedly found their third goal. Sykes drove into the box and made no mistake, firing the ball into the roof of the net. Only minutes later, Sykes completed his hat-trick, this time curling home from inside the box.
The young Bluebirds then made it five when Oliver Walsh rounded the Port Vale keeper and found Ellis Yorke, whose first-time finish nestled into the bottom corner. City then wrapped up their convincing display with a sixth, as T-Jay Parfitt rose highest at the back post to head home Tobin’s corner. City U17s’ next fixture in the PDL Trophy is at home to Walsall on October 1st, 2025.
PRE-MATCH | TOM HUTTON
Ahead of the fixture, Tom Hutton said: "It's a competition that we're all looking forward to - the players and the staff. It gives us an opportunity to play against teams we maybe wouldn't normally play against in our games programme. That brings variety, which is something we're always looking to add into our schedule. It enriches the experience for the players.
"The game poses a different challenge for the players, in that it is cup football. Each result has a significant consequence with regards to qualification. We're going to have that in the forefront of our mind.
"The main focus though will be on how we perform, because we know that if we do that, with consistency, and play as well as we can, then it will bring about positive results, which we'll be trying to do throughout the tournament."
It's a busy day for the Bluebirds. As well as the U17 match, we also have U21 action against Burnley and a Carabao Cup clash away at the Clarets.
Tom continued: "It brings some challenges in terms of selecting a squad. There is a really good synergy though between the First Team, the 21s and our age groups. We have a games programme meeting with Darren Purse each week to make sure our players are challenged appropriately. We've been planning for this game for the last couple of weeks.
"We'll be in a position to give some U16s an exposure to a competitive game and get eyes on them as they move towards the scholarships decisions, which are really important. As always, we're always trying to push our best U18s into 21s football as well. That's a massive part of what we try and do
"We always aim to be as positive as we can from a team perspective but at the front of our decision making is ensuring we challenge the individuals appropriately, and that's something we've done consistently for some years now and it is reaping its rewards with the boys ready to step up into the First Team.
"Some of our scholars will go from being some of the younger players in their age group to the more senior players in these U17 fixtures. They have a responsibility to set the right standards and behaviours and deliver a performance that the U16s can look up to as well. We always try and set those challenges and Tuesday will give the opportunity for us to do that."
ABOUT THE GAME
The young Bluebirds open their PDL Trophy campaign on Tuesday against Port Vale.
They will also face off against Walsall (A - 01/10/25) and Cheltenham Town (H - 21/10/25) in the group stage.