Brilliant young Bluebirds push City all the way

PHOTOS
Cardiff City win this midfield clash
Haverfordwest show true grit against bigger opponents
Dylan Rees - Tenby youngster in the City side

 

Four goals in extra time saw Welsh Cup favourites Cardiff City Youth make progress into the next round at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium but not before a superb performance by their counterparts from Haverfordwest County had pushed them all the way.

 

Those goals produced a skewed final scoreline which did little justice to the way that the young Bluebirds performed in front of an impressed crowd as they battled throughout until very tired legs against young professional players in the City ranks finally told.

They twice came back from being a goal behind and will have pleased coaches Steve Batty, Colin Fawcett and Jamie Lonergan by their skills and spirit against a much more experienced and physically much bigger side from the capital. The Bluebirds also kept their shape well throughout the full 90 minutes before running out of steam in the closing stages of extra time.

 

During the opening quarter the visitors showed why they were hot favourites as they cleverly passed the ball about, with Dylan Rees (from Tenby) and Tom James regularly on the overlap – and it came as no surprise that they opened the scoring when Yora Enzam drilled the ball low into the far corner with Dan Evans and his defence left flat-footed.

 

But if a walk-over was on the cards then someone forgot to tell the young Bluebirds because they raised their game as Joseph Williams, Dan Jenkins and Ryan Mansell tightened things up at the back and there was action aplenty from Martin Carroll, Glen Fetini, Joe Brill and skipper Jack Britton.  Laurie Haworth, Liam Davies and especially Liam Fawcett began to pose problems with their pace up front and there was delight around the ground when Fawcett showed superb skills in the build-up and then scored the equaliser with a low shot to Liam Matthews’  right corner of the net.

 

 

Cardiff City took the lead again in the second half when Curtis Watkins’ free kick was blocked and Jamie Watkins fired in a shot off the far post.

 

But again Haverfordwest fought back and when Britton’s free kick was blocked Haworth scored the goal of the season at the Bridge Meadow when he timed his volley at the same time as he turned to hook the ball into the top corner without any other player moving.

 

 

Both sides had half chances before referee Dan Beckett, who had a good game, took the game into extra time. The first goal was obviously going to be vital and it fell Cardiff City’s way just before the interval as Watkins popped up in a goalmouth melee to toe poke the ball home.

 

With the young Bluebirds clearly tiring against opponents who are able to train every day, Watkins completed his hat-trick in the second period of extra time and sub Eli Phipps came on to score two goals to set the seal on a win for the visitors.

 

But they journeyed back to Cardiff knowing they had been in a real tussle and the entire Haverfordwest County Youth squad and coaches could stand tall after such a terrific performance!

 

Haverfordwest County Youth: Dan Evans; Martin Carroll; Joseph Williams; Dan Jenkins; Ryan Mansell;  Jack Britton (Capt); Liam Davies; Glen Fetini; Liam Fawcett; Joe Brill; Laurie Haworth. Subs: Mark Davies; Owen Coombs; Gwion Howell; Marcus Blair; James Trueman.

Cardiff City Youth: Liam Matthews; Dylan Rees; Tom James; Jamie Veale; Curtis Watkins; Tim Burridge; Ellis Bellamy; Robbie Patten; Jamie Watkins; Will Taylor; Yora Enzam. Subs: Nathan Owoye; David Tatunda; Tom Pearson; Eli Phipps; Joe Massaro.

Referee: Dan Beckett (Llanelli)

Assistants: Ben Williams (Llanelli) and Luke Gregory (Swansea)

Haverfordwest defend really well