Under-18 Match Report – Cardiff City 3, Watford 2

All five goals were packed into the last 17 minutes when Cardiff City won 3-2 against Watford in a Professional Development League under-18 match.

Isaak Davies scored twice for the young Bluebirds with Trystan Jones their other scorer.

Davies, a former Aberdare Town Church in Wales Primary School pupil, has been working his way through the Cardiff Academy since he was eight-years-old.

He was initially spotted playing for Cwmbach Royal Stars and started training at under-nine level.

Davies is a quick, agile and aggressive centre-forward who has consistently played for the under-18 team over the last couple of seasons.

Among other Cardiff players to impress were Joel Bagan, a left-footed former Southampton player, and attacking midfield player who has been at the Academy since he was aged eight.

Davies was the first goalscorer after 73 minutes, while Watford substitute Joel Bell equalised two minutes later.

Jones put City in front again with 78 minutes gone and Davies added his second three minutes later to make it 3-1.

The Hornets closed their way back into the match when Jayden Bennetts headed past goalkeeper George Ratcliffe (86 mins), but Cardiff kept things tight after that and earned the victory.

Coach Craig Bellamy made two changes to his starting line-up with Connor Davies and Ntanza Mayembe in for Kavanagh and Jac Davies.

The victory gives Cardiff that winning feeling again after they suffered back-to-back 1-0 defeats against Crystal Palace and Bristol City.

Cardiff City: George Ratcliffe, Conor Davies (Ben Margetson 67), Dan Jones, Ryan Reynolds, Joe Bagan, Eli King, Ntazana Mayembe, Sam Bowen (capt), Isaak Davies, Dan Griffiths (Siyabonga Ligendza 77), Rubin Colwill (Kieran Evans 54). Subs: Jac Davies, Jordan Duffey.

Watford: Baptiste, Matthews, Gordon, Maclean, Langstone, Burchell, Sankoh, Bennetts, Horsewood (Bell 71), Hutchinson (Conte 26), Sanders. Subs: Rashan, Khaira.

Remaining Cardiff City under-18 fixtures in 2018:

October

Saturday 6 v Coventry City away (11.30am, Alan Higgs Centre)

Saturday 13 v Millwall (11am, Millwall Training Ground)

Saturday 20 v Charlton Athletic (11am, Charlton Training Ground)

Saturday 27 v Colchester United (11am, Florence Park)

November

Saturday 10 v Queens Park Rangers (Noon, Heston Sports Ground)

December

Saturday 1 v Millwall (noon, Cardiff International Sports Campus)

Saturday 8 v Charlton Athletic (noon, Cardiff International Sports Campus)

Saturday 15 v Ipswich Town (11am, Cardiff International Sports Campus)

Images courtesy of Matthew J I Wood Design | @matthewjiwood

Website design by Avenue Creative

All rights reserved. Copyright Roathboy 2022.