City’s U21s continued their PDL campaign on Tuesday, defeating Colchester United.
MATCH SUMMARY
Cardiff City's U21 side returned to winning ways with a convincing victory at CCS on Tuesday afternoon.
City took the lead thanks to an early goal from Jake Davies, who headed home from Charlie O'Brien's cross into the area. Dominating much of possession throughout the first half, there were to be more goals to come after the interval, as City upped the pressure and showed a more clinical side of their game.
Sekou Kaba doubled the lead not long after the break, finishing well as Jake Davies found him at the back post. The visitors would respond with a goal of their own 15 minutes from full time, as Daniel Higgs' save rebounded into the path of a U's player, who drew the score closer.
Responding quickly, substitutes Josh Beecher and Leo Papirnyk combined well to restore the two-goal lead minutes later, as Beecher's cross found the forward inside the area before Leo slid the ball home.
Beecher bagged his second assist before the full-time whistle blew, as a similar cross found Mannie Barton, who finished well after taking a touch, drilling the ball past the reach of the 'keeper.
REACTION | DARREN PURSE
“The boys were coming off the back of a really good performance against QPR, even though we got beat 1-0, we didn’t deserve to get beat.
“I thought we played really well from box to box, it was just that final end product in and around the area that we struggled with at QPR but today, we didn’t.
“We’ve been working with the wide players on arriving within the width of the goal and it’s nice to get a couple or three goals from crosses.
“Good balls into the box, getting good numbers into the box, arriving within the width of the goal and we get a tap in for the two wide players.
“It’s nice for Leo Papirnyk on his debut to get a goal as well. It’s nice to score four and it’s just nice to come off the back of a really good performance against QPR and get three points against Colchester United.”
REACTION | ALYAS DEBONO
“It was a really good performance for us to get back to winning ways. It hasn’t been the best run of performances for us lately but I thought we showed today what we’ve been working on in training and it came to fruition on the pitch.
“Playing with Jack Kingdon, I feel like we compliment each other well. He’s got a little bit more experience than me so it’s nice to be able to learn from him.
“I’m enjoying it loads. Going from U18s to U21s, it’s a lot more competitive and I think that’s what I needed. I feel like I’m going from strength to strength.”
PRE-MATCH | DANNY HIGGS
Ahead of the contest, goalkeeper Danny Higgs said: “The squad are really looking forward to the game to try and bounce back after the defeat against QPR. We’ve all had a really good week in training. We’re excited to get into the game and try to get a result.
“We’re expecting a tough challenge from Colchester United. Even though they are at the bottom of the table, every game in this league is a challenge. We approach every game with the same mindset, to play well and to get a result.
“It’s important to bounce back after a winless run, but I think we do have confidence because against QPR we put in a good performance as a team, we just weren’t clinical enough in finishing our chances. It’s important to try and break that streak, and as a squad we’re all confident we can do that.”
LAST TIME OUT
Darren Purse’s side fell to a narrow defeat last time out, losing 1-0 to QPR.
The hosts took the lead with 27 minutes on the clock as Ridwan Hassan found the net.
City searched for an equaliser and pushed forward to draw level, but Hassan's first-half goal proved the difference between the two sides.
TICKET INFORMATION
Entry for the match will be free for all supporters, with entry via Gate 2, between the Ticket Office and SuperStore.
REACHING THE GROUND
Supporters planning on attending should use the following address:
Cardiff City Stadium, Leckwith Rd, Cardiff, CF11 8AZ.