Cardiff City’s U18s made it back-to-back league wins with a 4-2 victory over Barnsley.
MATCH SUMMARY
Riley Hilaire-Clarke got proceedings underway just ten minutes in, as he converted Jack Sykes’ rebounded effort, but two minutes later, Barnsley equalised. Despite the setback, it was City who would head back into the dressing room ahead, as Leo Papirnyk set up Sykes, who bagged his first goal of the season.
Nine minutes into the second half, Barnsley found yet another leveller, but then found it hard to carve out opportunities, with Tom Hutton’s side adopting a more aggressive attacking style. That would pay off in the latter stages of the game, as the Bluebirds found two goals in the final 13 minutes. Harry Watts powered a shot into the far corner to make it three, before Papirnyk grabbed a deserved goal as he rounded the keeper and tucked the ball away into an empty net.
POST-MATCH | TOM HUTTON
After full-time, Hutton said: “It was a largely positive performance in terms of what we prepared for and what we expected from the boys. They really carried out what we prepared for across the 90 minutes. We asked for a little more control in the performance, and the thing I was most pleased about was in the second half.
"They stepped their press up in the second half, particularly against Hayden [Allmark] who was quite spare in the first half. There were times we had to go over the press and exploit them over the top, but I thought we were braver receiving the ball under pressure and taking the sting out of their press.
"That allowed us to establish control back in our favour. Even when they made it 2-2, we didn’t give up and we managed to find the two goals that won us the game.
“The scholarship is a training programme and it’s about getting the boys to understand how they can improve individually and collectively. We want to try and perform the best that we can and we want to try and win, but ultimately, we want to see if the boys are getting better.
"If you look over the course of the first three games, as well as pre-season, we can say they are moving in the right direction.”
PRE-MATCH | TOM HUTTON
Ahead of Saturday's fixture, U18 head coach Tom Hutton said: “We reflect after each game, and we always try to look at the positives first in terms of where the performance has met your expectations or gone above then.
"That being said, it’s always important to look at where you can improve which we always do. We’ve got a real clear way about the way we want to play. I don’t think over the course of two games you get as closely aligned to that as what we will be in time, but that’s where you quantify the way you want to play to try and improve, which is what we’ve done this week.
"I thought the performance against Hull was better without the ball, there was more of an intensity and an intent to get the ball back, but we probably needed to show a little more control in possession. That’s what we’ve been emphasising in training this week.
“It’ll be similar in lots of ways to previous games. They will be aggressive without the ball and they will be hungry to win it back. Being good in transition on the ball and looking for opportunities to establish control will be important for us.
"Barnsley are a hard-working team like us. You know you have to earn the right to play first and foremost. Those opportunities aren’t just going to be afforded to you. We will have to make sure that we match their intensity and assert ourselves without the ball as well.”
PRE-MATCH | JACK SYKES
After returning to U18 training following an injury, striker Jack Sykes returns to contention for this weekend.
Ahead of the fixture, he said: "It's been nice to get back on the pitch with the boys and see some familiar faces. I'm enjoying my football. We had a good pre-season as a squad where we worked hard both technically and tactically. That's given us a positive start to the season.
"The injury gave me a setback and that was challenging, but since signing my scholarship and moving up to full-time football, working with new coaches and players, it's been enjoyable.
"Barnsley will be a physical side. We played them towards the end of last season. They'll come down here aiming to win and we'll take on that challenge as best we can."
RECENT RESULTS
Our U18s kicked off their PDL campaign with a narrow 4-3 defeat at home to Sheffield Wednesday.
Goals from Riley Hilaire-Clarke and Harry Watts had put City two up before the half hour mark, but Wednesday responded by scoring two quick goals before the break to ensure both sides headed back into the dressing room on level terms.
The Owls then added another two in the latter stages of the second half. Noah Williams would go on to score a late consolation goal, but it was a narrow defeat on opening day.
The young Bluebirds bounced back to claim their first win of the PDL season with a 3-2 victory at Hull City.
City went into the break with a 3-1 lead, following a brace from Leo Papyrnik and a goal for Ollie Walsh, the latter making his return from injury.
The Tigers got a goal back in the second half, but Hutton's side showed resilience to ensure three points.
TICKET INFORMATION
Entry for the match at Cardiff International Sports Campus will be free for all supporters.
REACHING THE GROUND
Supporters planning on attending should use the following address:
Cardiff International Sports Campus, Leckwith Rd, Cardiff, CF11 8AZ.
The ground is located an 11-minute walk away from Ninian Park Station and a 32-minute walk from Cardiff Central Station.