U18 REPORT: CARDIFF 5-0 IPSWICH

Abdi Noor was the stand out player on the day, scoring two and setting up one as the young Bluebirds eased to a comfortable three points.

Eli Phipps scored the first on the stroke of half time to set Cardiff on their way and two excellent late goals from Jamie Veale and Noor respectively put the icing on the cake of this Professional Development League 2 South victory.

In the opening exchanges Ipswich had a slight advantage in terms of possession and also had the better of the chances. Striker Monty Patterson cut the ball back from the by-line but, unfortunately for him, it was behind the onrushing Town forwards. He then followed this up minutes later by shooting well over.

The young Bluebirds started to get a foothold in the game midway through the half but had to rely on ‘keeper Joe Massaro to keep it scoreless. He wasn’t troubled by Sam Ford’s tame effort but had to be at his best to stop Josh Emmanuel’s menacing cross.

The hosts then had their first chance of note on 28 minutes; Ellis Bellamy’s low cross was blocked and full-back Dylan Rees followed up but saw his effort whistle past the upright.

Massaro was called into action once again as he dived at the feet of Ford after a through ball breached the City backline to free him up on-on-one.

In first-half stoppage time the Bluebirds broke the deadlock, Noor, using his pace down the right centred it for top scorer Eli Phipps who couldn’t miss from five yards out.

It was a high tempo start to the second period and ten minutes in City doubled their lead with Phipps’ low angled shot past Ipswich stopper Sam McDermid into the bottom right–hand corner following Ashley Baker’s superb pass.

Not long after they almost got their third, Noor’s cross was palmed away but the ball found its way to Bellamy but his close range effort was blocked out for a corner.

Wales U19 International Noor was the outlet for City, causing Ipswich all sorts of problems down the right flank. It was to prove costly for the Tractor Boys as he came off his wing to poke home Bellamy’s accurate cross.

The future City stars were determined to defend their lead and were pressuring their opponents throughout. However they couldn’t prevent James Blanchfield from trying his luck but Massaro came up trumps again to tip over the long-range effort.

As the game entered its late stages Ipswich were pushing forward, desperate to get back in the game. Goalkeeper McDermid came well out of his area to clear it forward but it fell to Jamie Veale who tried his luck from inside his own half but his effort dropped inches wide.

Veale didn’t have to wait long to get himself on the score-sheet as his half-volley rifled into the top left corner.

Veale’s spectacular effort looked to have sealed it but City weren’t done there. Abdi Noor capped a fine display by poking the ball past McDermid following Baker’s superb defensive splitting pass.

Substitute Elvis Menayese almost made it six but it wasn’t to be. The young Bluebirds followed up their penalty win against TNS last weekend with this comprehensive victory.

Cardiff City: Massaro, Rees, Baker, Patten, Parry, Williams, Noor, Veale, Phipps (E. Menayese, 68), Humphries (Taylor, 72), Bellamy (Bird, 77). Subs Not Used: Wakeman, Welsh.

Ipswich Town: McDermid, Emmanuel, Kenlock, Daly, Smith, Wolfenden, Jones, Blanchfield, Patterson (Walton-Owen, 70), Ford (Morris, 58), Hemvell (Ramaden, 45). Subs Not Used: Cole.