Barry teenager Sion Spence scored a hat-trick for Cardiff City in their 5-0 under-18 win against Bristol City at the Cardiff International Sports Arena.
Spence netted two goals in a minute during the first half and then completed his treble seven minutes after the break.
Ntazana Mayembe and Connor Davies were the other scorers for Bluebirds in the Professional Development League match.
South Division leaders Cardiff proved too strong over the 90 minutes in the Severnside derby for teenagers, but Bristol City started strongly and goalkeeper George Ratcliffe had to make a couple of smart saves in the first five minutes.The young Robins left pressing and Jamie Edwards-Taylor volleyed against a post after nine minutes.Spence, aged 18, settled things down by scoring Cardiff’s first goal when he fired past goalkeeper Lochie Robertson with an excellent finish into the bottom left-hand corner.
That came after 15 minutes and Spence doubled the lead soon after the restart.Mayembe’s cross was deflected by the Robins’ Jack Spark past Robertson to make it 3-0 (49 mins) before Spence added his hat-trick goal three minutes later.
Bluebirds’ goalkeeper Ratcliffe showed great awareness and composure when he ran outside the penalty area and headed clear after 56 minutes.
Cardiff City: George Ratcliffe, Connor Davies, Ryan Kavanagh, Jack Davies, Trystan Jones, Harry Pinchard, Sam Bowen (capt), Ntazana Mayembe (Taylor Jones 69), Rubin Colwill (Pritchard 57), Siyabonga Ligendza (Rudy Andrew-Knott 80), Sion Spence. Subs not used: Jordan Duffey (gk), Maserati.
Remaining Cardiff City PDL youth fixtures
Saturday 16 v Crystal Palace (away, 11am)
Saturday 23 v Coventry City (home at Cardiff International Sports Campus, Leckwith, 11.30am)
March
Saturday 2 v Ipswich Town (away, 11am)
March 9 v Nottingham Forest (home at Cardiff International Sports Campus, Leckwith, Noon)
March 16 v Leeds United (away, 11am)
March 23 v Bolton Wanderers (away, 11am)
March 30 v Sheffield Wednesday (home at Cardiff International Sports Campus, Leckwith, 11am)
April
Saturday 6 v Crewe Alexandra (away, 11am)
Saturday 13 v Burnley (home at Cardiff International Sports Campus, Leckwith, 11am)