DEV SQUAD REPORT: CITY 2-0 BARNET
Snapshot:Goals from Filip Kiss and Etien Velikonja helped Cardiff City’s development side to a 2-0 win over Barnet on Monday night at Cardiff City Stadium.
The Bees began the game in an organised manner, a five man midfield lead by the experienced Anthony Edgar which frustrated the Bluebirds during the opening half hour. City’s strength shone through though and they took the lead on thirty seven minutes. A Joe Ralls free kick from the wide right position was headed home by Slovakian U21 International Filip Kiss to give Cardiff a one goal lead.
The lead was increased just before the break when Etien Velikonja finished off a fine move involving Luke Coulson and Don Cowie. Velikonja was deemed just onside after Coulson’s through ball and he slotted home with composure. The game could have been closer if not for a fantastic save by Joe Lewis in the second half, the keeper foiling substitute George Sykes' bullet header and maintaining his clean sheet in the process.
Chronological Report
were introduced to the starting eleven. The visitors Barnet lined up with a five man midfield lead by experienced midfielder Anthony Edgar.Don Cowie and Jesse Darko, Luke CoulsonCity started the game with a very similar side to the team that visited Macclesfield in the FA Cup, though
looked to head home, though his bundled attempt was cleared by a combination of the Barnet defence and goalpost.Ben NugentThe organised Bees midfield set out to frustrate City in the opening half and this was apparent in the first fifteen minutes as neither side managed a shot at goal. On sixteen minutes the home side nearly opened the scoring when defender
Kadeem Harris but the forward struggled to adjust his body in time to get a clean contact on the ball and his shot flew well over the bar.Etien Velikonjacontinued his return from a injury hit first half of the season with another start for City and it was he who tested Sam Cowler in the Barnet goal after twenty-two minutes. The winger struck towards goal from just outside the area and his shot was saved well by the diving Cowler. The rebound quickly fell to Slovenian International
looked to make a real impact in this development game as well, the left back cut infield and with his weaker right foot struck across goal. His attempt was well pushed away by Cowler, with the strong five man Barnet midfield holding strong the runs of full backs John and Coulson.Declan JohnAfter impressing for the senior squad in the FA Cup
to give City the lead despite the handball protests from the away side.Filip Kiss stepped up from the free kick wide on the right and fired the ball across goal, his dangerous set piece glided into the back of the net via the head of Slovakian International Joe RallsAlthough the home side struggled to make real chances in the first half they were completely in control and they got their rewards from a set piece in the thirty seventh minute.
GOAL! CARDIFF CITY DVP 1-0 BARNET DVP (Filip Kiss, 37 mins)
This lead was increased just before half time when strong wing play from Coulson helped break down a determined Barnet side for the second time in a matter of minutes. Coulson picked up the ball on the right wing and cut inside, after sharing passes with Don Cowie he played through Velikonja. The away side looked to the linesman for an offside flag that never came and Velikonja showed great composure and finesse in slotting the ball past Cowler to double City’s lead going into the break.
GOAL! CARDIFF CITY DVP 2-0 BARNET DVP (Etien Velikonja, 44 mins)
HALF TIME: CARDIFF CITY DVP 2-0 BARNET DVP
Substitution Barnet: Jamal Lowe on for Iffy Allen (45 mins)
The away side came out for the second half in a more determined manner, looking to play a more creative game and risk being caught on the break in the hope of fighting back into the game. Freddy Warren tried his luck for the Bees early on, only for his shot to end up over the bar. Luke Gambin’s shot suffered the same fate when the forward attempted to score minutes later.
Both Ralls and Kiss came close to increasing the lead for Cardiff just before the hour mark. The young Englishman smashed the ball over the bar, and tried again seconds later when played through only to be denied by Cowler. Kiss’ chance came after a fantastic through ball; the central midfielder ran on and volleyed wide under pressure from the Bees defence.
Substitutions Cardiff City: Nat Jarvis and Kane Owen on for Ben Nugent and Don Cowie (61 mins)
Substitution Barnet: George Sykes on for Melvin Holwijn (61 mins)
Substitution Cardiff City: Gethyn Hill on for Kadeem Harris (76 mins)
Substitution Barnet: Ibrahim Hassain on for Ahmed Abdulla (78 mins)
The best chance for Barnet came with twelve minutes remaining. Substitute George Sykes had impressed for the away side since coming on and the big forwards opportunity came with a bullet header towards goal. His header looked destined for the back of the net; the striker met the ball with real power and accuracy only for former Peterborough keeper Lewis to deny him, diving superbly and getting a solid hand to the header somehow pushing the ball over the bar and to safety.
Anthony Edgar almost managed to pull a goal back in added time, the midfielder’s shot flew just over Lewis’ bar and with that went any chance the Bees had of pulling a goal back, a confident display by City breaking down the strong Barnet on the way to a fine 2-0 win.
FULL TIME: CARDIFF CITY DVP 2-0 BARNET DVP
Cardiff City: Theo Wharton, David Richards.Subs Not Used:Joe Lewis, Luke Coulson, Declan John, Filip Kiss, Adedeji Oshilaja, Ben Nugent (Kane Owen, 61), Kadeem Harris (Gethyn Hill, 76), Don Cowie (Nathaniel Jarvis, 61), Etien Velikonja, Jesse Darko.
