U18 REPORT: CARDIFF 1-2 COLCHESTER

Striker Ibi So Sani opened the scoring for the home side but goals for Diaz Wright and Joe Tennent made sure the three points went back to Essex.

Cardiff started the game with the majority of possession but it was the visitors who had the better chances via counter-attacks. A ball over the top gave City ‘keeper Luke Wakeman something to think about as he nearly fouled the on-rushing forward inside the area when he came to collect.

On 13 minutes, the away side could have opened the scoring when Eoin McKeown found himself one-on-one thanks to a City defensive mix-up. He tried to round Wakeman but got the ball caught in his feet and the City number one was able to recover.

A quiet, even period of play followed with the visitors just edging it possession-wise. However it was the young Bluebirds who would take the lead as Ibi So Sani fired low past Robinson after the ball had fell to him fortuitously off a Colchester defender. The striker making no mistake.

The away side fought back, levelling seven minutes later through Diaz Wright. He capped off a flowing move down the left-hand side by burying McKewon’s scooped through-ball in the bottom corner.

So Sani, Kieron Proctor and Mark Harris all tried their luck from distance but couldn’t beat Robinson who ensured things were all square at the break with a couple of excellent diving saves.

Six minutes after the restart Colchester took the lead for the first time, captain Joe Tennent heading in from a driven free-kick.

This left the young Bluebirds chasing the game and even a tactical formation change couldn’t break down a stubborn U's back line.

The home side had a chance late on when Rabbi Matondo’s cross being spilled by Robinson in six-yard area, unfortunately for the hosts, nobody was on hand to slot into the empty net - Colchester returning home with all three points on this occasion.

Cardiff City: Wakeman, Harris, Proctor (Coxe), Menayese ©, Baldwin (Waite), Young, Welch, Williams, Matondo, Humphries, So Sani. Subs Not Used: Coughlan, Spence, Bodenham.

Colchester United: Robinson, Stephens, Wilson (Debrick), Downey, Tennent ©, Partridge, Cosgrave, Moore (Pollard), McKeown, Wright, Clampin (Mulryne). Subs Not Used: Syrett, Ager.