City’s U18’s returned to winning ways with an emphatic 6-2 win over Huddersfield Town in the PDL on Saturday afternoon.
MATCH SUMMARY
First half goals from Hayden Allmark and a brace from Mannie Barton gave City a 3-1 lead at the break, before Jack Sykes and a double from Leo Papirnyk ensured the Bluebirds went away with all three points.
Despite going behind in the opening minutes, City created a host of chances early on. Both Barton and Allmark had sights on goal but we’re unable to find the target. However, Barton levelled the scoring after 25 minutes with a first-timed effort into the far corner, before putting his side ahead 10 minutes later with a cooly placed finish into the far corner.
Allmark put his name on the scoresheet after meeting a cross into the middle which cannoned back of the post but fell kindly to the winger who tapped into the net to double the advantage heading into half-time.
City conceded again early on in the second half, however, did not let it affect them, restoring their two-goal advantage shortly after through Sykes. After a well worked move, Allmark beat his man on the left wing and delivered a ball into the box, which Sykes was able to guide into the net.
While striker Papirnyk got in on the action, scoring twice in the space of five minutes, first getting on the end of a wicked ball from Noah Williams from close range, before Tiger Tobin’s long-ranged effort deflected to the path of the forward, who finished clinically to wrap up the game.
REACTION | TOM HUTTON
“It's always nice to score as many goals as you can.” Tom began. “I thought there were some really good moments, particularly with Jack's goal in the second half which was a really well worked team goal. We showed that bit of quality in the wide area, which we know that we're capable of, and we practice those things in training every day. That's the way that we want to try and play, so when it comes out in the game it's really pleasing.”
“But on the game as a whole, there was lots of positives. I thought we controlled the game, created a lot of really good moments in the final third, and we were also really aggressive in counter-pressing moments as well, which gives you the platform then to dominate the game.
“There are also some bits to work on. Conceding two early goals, one in the first half, one in the second half, you give the opposition that little bit of hope and belief that they can get back in the game. But having said that, I thought the boys responded well and kept their discipline and their professionalism, and got the goals that needed to kill them off.
"We're working with young players and we we're a really young group today. There's been some U14s, 15s, and 16s involved today so, you understand that they're not the polished article. There's loads of development left in these boys, but we are trying to prepare them for life as a first team footballer, where the standards are so high. So, we have to keep on expecting the higher standards and keep on enforcing that day in day out in training."
RECENT RESULTS
The young Bluebirds have taken the field twice in the last week with fixtures against Crewe Alexandra and Charlton Athletic.
The side hosted Crewe Alexandra last weekend and came out of the blocks quickly, with efforts from Hayden Allmark and Riley Hilarie-Clarke going close inside the opening 15 minutes.
City opened the scoring shortly after as Mannie Barton was brought down inside the penalty area, who stepped up to the 12-yard spot and converted into the bottom corner to give his side the lead.
Holding the lead at half-time, Barton was involved in the action again, finding Hilarie-Clarke with a through ball with his effort forced behind for a corner. Goalkeeper Sam Jones had to remain alert late in the game, racing off his line to deny the visitors an equaliser.
However, Crewe were awarded a penalty of their own heading into stoppage time and found the net to deny the Bluebirds all three points.
Tom Hutton’s side followed this up with a testing away fixture against league leaders Charlton Athletic, where they fell to a 5-1 defeat.
The U18s currently sit in fifth position in the PDL South standings, just three points off Brentford who sit in second position with two games in hand over the Bees. This weekend’s opponents Huddersfield sit in eighth position in the PDL North having lost to Colchester United 4-2 in their most recent fixture.
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.