DVP COMPLETE SWANS HAT-TRICK

Cardiff City Development Squad completed a hatrick of wins against near-neighbour Swansea City this week, thanks to a 2-1 victory at Stebonheath Park on Tuesday evening.

Goals from Rudy Gestede and Jordon Mutch secured the win in West Wales, which came on the back of our Under 18s triumphing 6-1 at Cardiff City Stadium last Friday and our Under 16s securing a 4-2 victory at Cardiff Athletics Stadium earlier in the day.

Academy Reporter Sam Roberts details the Development Squad's win in the following match report. For complete Development and Under 18 listings - including fixtures, results and news - visit the NEWS and TEAM tabs of this website.

---

Snapshot

In a fine performance from Kevin Cooper’s men, Cardiff City's Development side defeated South Wales rivals Swansea City 2-1 at Stebonheath Park.

The first half was an open match of very few chances but the hosts were given a real opportunity after twenty one minutes with Deji Oshilaja was deemed to have fouled Swansea right back Connor Roberts in the area. However, Northern Irish striker Rory Donolly’s penalty was extremely well saved by Cardiff City keeper Elliot Parish down to his right hand side.

The visitors ended the opening period with Luke Coulson hitting the outside of the post and started the second half in a similar attacking manner, this time former Birmingham midfielder Jordon Mutch wasn’t to be denied as he nodded Cardiff ahead on forty seven minutes.

After some intense pressure from Cooper’s men and a debatable penalty decision going against them, the away side finally added a second after Kadeem Harris was brought down in the penalty area. French striker Rudy Gestede clinically dispatched the penalty with real power, despite the best efforts of Swansea keeper David Cornell.

A nervy final few minutes came about after Swansea City midfielder Josh Sheehan curled home a superb right footed drive from twenty yards with three minutes to play, but this goal turned out to be just a consolation as the away side held on for their first away win of the campaign.

---

Chronological Report

In a quiet first half the opening chance came when Deji Oshilaja headed over a Joe Ralls corner for the away side. Oshilaja was involved in the games next chance of note when it was deemed the Cardiff City centre back had fouled Swans right back Connor Roberts in the penalty area after twenty minutes. Rory Donnolly stepped up for the home side and struck a sweet penalty to the left hand side, only for Elliot Parish to produce a fine save.

During the course of the opening half the home side were lucky to remain with eleven men on the pitch with skipper Scott Tancock firstly going into the referees book for a high challenge on Kadeem Harris before the centre half kicked the ball away after his defensive partner Kurtis March was also booked. It was a risky move by the Swansea City captain who was fortunate to escape a second booking.
 
The best chance for the away side in the first half came on forty two minutes with full back Luke Coulson striking the outside of the post with a rasping right footed drive. The opportunity came following a fine team move involving Filip Kiss and Harris and the former Manchester City defender was unlucky not to score his second goal of the season and give Kevin Cooper’s men the lead at half time.

HALF TIME: Swansea City DVP 0-0 Cardiff City DVP

Substitution Cardiff City: Rhys Healey replaces Tommy O’Sullivan (46 mins)

The away side came out for the second half in a determined fashion. An attacking substitution at half time saw Cooper’s men come out with an extra striker, Rhys Healey entering the game following a fine display and goal for the under-18s against the Swans on Friday night.

Cardiff took the lead early in the second half with former Birmingham City Jordon Mutch heading home a fine Ralls cross from the right wing. The central midfielder took up the playmaker role for City following the withdrawal of Tommy O’Sullivan and took full advantage of his first opportunity of the half.

Substitution Cardiff City: Theo Wharton replaces Filip Kiss (49 mins)
 
GOAL! Swansea City DVP 0-1 Cardiff City DVP (Jordon Mutch, 48 mins)

The former Gap Connah’s Quay forward Healey showed his eye for goal on fifty minutes with a right footed half volley from just inside the penalty area that beat keeper Cornell but not the base of the post. Former Hereford United keeper Cornell pulled off a wonderful double save just moments later to keep Swansea in the game. French forward Rudy Gestede shot from the edge of the area low to the keeper’s left and he saved well before pushing Healey’s follow up wide from less than five yards out.

After Cardiff were denied a clear penalty moments later they finally grabbed a second goal from the spot when tricky winger Harris beat right back Roberts before the defender brought him down in the area. Striker Gestede took the responsibility to dispatch the penalty kick, which he did with some power - Cornell managing to get a strong hand to Gestede’s penalty but the strength of the spot kick forced the ball home to give the away side a two goal lead.

GOAL! Swansea City DVP 0-2 Cardiff City DVP (Rudy Gestede. 69 mins)

Substitution Swansea City: Tom Atyeo replaces Alex Bray (78 mins)

Substitution Swansea City: Alex Samuel replaces Henry Jones (71 mins)

The Swans began pushing forward to try to regain a foothold in the game and despite keeper Parish denying substitute Alex Samuel the keeper couldn’t stop Josh Sheehan from reducing the deficit to just one goal with four minutes remaining. The Swansea City midfielder stepped up from twenty yards out before unleashing a clever curling strike that flew into the bottom corner of Parish’s goal and set up a nervy final few minutes.

GOAL! Swansea City DVP 1-2 Cardiff City DVP (Josh Sheehan, 86 mins)

Despite grabbing a first goal the home side couldn’t quell the strength of Cardiff’s attack for long and the visitors looked more likely to add to the score-sheet. The impressive Healey was again denied by Cornell when through on goal with the striker’s determination and strength showing why City plucked his talents out of the Welsh Premier League.

FULL TIME: Swansea City DVP 1-2 Cardiff City DVP

Cardiff City: Parish, Coulson, Lappin, Kiss (Wharton, 49), Oshilaja, Yorwerth, Harris, Mutch, Gestede, O’Sullivan (Healey 46 mins), Ralls. Subs Not Used: Richards (GK), Bell, Owen.
Swansea City: Cornell, Roberts, Shephard, March, Tancock, Lucas, Sheehan, Donnolly, Jones (Samuel, 71), Bray (Williams, 78),Loveridge. Subs Not Used: Davies (GK), Atyeo, Evans.