City’s U21s claimed a 4-3 victory against Charlton Athletic in their Professional Development League encounter in south-east London on Friday afternoon.
MATCH SUMMARY
It was the away side who settled the quicker at Sparrows Lane training ground, creating some promising early attacks.
In the 12th minute, their bright start had paid off as they found their opener through left-winger Michael Mylona, who sent an excellent effort into the top corner.
The young Bluebirds responded well, with Jake Davies testing Tiernan Brooks with a low strike that was parried well.
Hayden Allmark got the equaliser for City, plucking the ball out of the sky after a floated cross into the 18-yard box. He controlled it magnificently before sending his left-footed strike into the roof of the net.
City, buoyant after their equaliser, began to move the ball with real purpose, and struck once again before the interval.
Davies found himself free on the right-hand side, and delivered a wicked cross to the far post, with Gabriel Keita’s towering header finding the net.
The centre-back's first goal of the season, giving the young Bluebirds a one-goal advantage heading into the break.
The hosts came out firing at the start of the second 45 and found an equaliser in the 49th minute through Ellis McMillan. An unfortunate deflection for City sent it past Jake Dennis to make it 2-2.
With the rain and wind making it increasingly difficult to play at times, the game began to become largely transitional as both sides searched for a winner.
Davies continued his excellent run of form this season, pouncing on a mistake at the back from the young Addicks to restore City’s lead in the 69th minute.
He then looked to put the game to bed as he finished neatly past Brooks once again, landing his second of the game, and netting his seventh goal in his last eight games in all competitions.
With the score at 4-2, and three points seemingly wrapped up for the young Bluebirds, there was still yet to be a twist in the tale.
Less than 60 seconds after play had restarted, midfielder Kai Kobashi Enslin broke through with a fine solo effort to make it 4-3 with just a few minutes to play.
Matthew Bloxham’s side resiliently stuck to their defensive duties and claimed an excellent three points in tricky weather conditions, seeing out the game in the final five minutes including additional time.
The result takes City to six games unbeaten in the Professional Development League, and the group will now turn their attention to Tuesday’s home fixture against Coventry City at Cardiff International Sports Campus.
PRE-MATCH | JAKE DAVIES
"The performance last time out against QPR was a positive one. On another day, we come away from that game with all three points. I thought we were quite unlucky with some of the decisions that went against us.
“Overall, I think the squad are in a very good place since coming back from the international break. We are five games unbeaten in the league, so we just want to keep building that momentum and turn a couple more of those draws into wins now.
“I feel like this season, I am developing a lot as a player. I’m playing with confidence and adding more goals and assists to my game, I just want to keep producing for the team.
“Charlton is always a tough place to go, as they are a top academy. They are a hard-working team, and we’re expecting a really tough game. If we want to get a positive result, we have to stick to our strengths and win our individual battles.”
LAST TIME OUT
In a competitive fixture, at the TSG Training Centre just over a week ago, City shared the spoils with Queens Park Rangers in a 1-1 draw.
Josh Wright put the hosts into an early lead, striking in the seventh minute.
Substitute Dan Ola then netted an 89th minute equaliser to ensure the Bluebirds extended their unbeaten run-in in league action to five games.
OPPOSITION FOCUS
The young Addicks enter Friday’s fixture on a four-game winless run.
In their last fixture on Tuesday, they were defeated 2-1 by Tonbridge Angels at the Yeomans Community Stadium, which knocked them out of the Kent Senior Cup.
In the Professional Developmental League standings, they sit 10th, with two wins, three draws and two losses so far this season.
That puts Chris Lock’s side on nine points after seven matches, level on points with City, having played a game extra.
TICKET INFORMATION
Entry to this fixture at Sparrows Lane Training Ground is limited to only active Valley Gold Members for the 2026/27 season.