U18 | CARDIFF CITY 4-1 CREWE ALEXANDRA

Fantastic goals from Isaac Kelly and Mark Harris, plus a brace from James Waite, ensured an emphatic home win for the young Bluebirds at USW Sports Park on Saturday, 15th October 2016.

The hosts had a spirited start to the game, immediately firing off some good shots at the Crewe goal. Ibraim So Sani had a great chance as he took the ball around the keeper but couldn’t quite find the finish at the end of it from an acute angle. Constant attacking pressure from Cardiff led to long-range efforts from Waite and So Sani but both were wide of the mark.

Then a wonderful solo effort from right-back Isaac Kelly gave Cardiff City a deserved lead. Kelly cutting inside from the right flank thirty yards out before curling a fantastic effort past the Crewe goalkeeper with his left foot. The brilliant strike is sure to be a contender for October’s #ClubGOTM competition.

Crewe tried to get back into the game before the break but were limited to efforts from long range by the home side. It took the Bluebirds less than five minutes after the restart to get the second goal of the game as Connor Davies worked the ball expertly to Waite inside the penalty area to give him the chance to slot it into the bottom corner.

Moments later Crewe launched a dangerous free kick into the Cardiff penalty area but it was gathered by the goalkeeper George Ratcliffe and the young Bluebirds instantly counter-attacked to clinical effect. Midfielder Waite had all the time in the world to slide the ball into the back of the net to get his second goal of the match, and Cardiff’s third.

Ratcliffe was called into action again minutes later as he saved a powerful header and once again Jarred Harvey and Matthew Bloxham’s men countered with pace. The ball found its way to So Sani on the left who charged into the penalty area before firing a low cross along the face of goal, giving Mark Harris a simple tap in at the far post for City’s fourth.

Waite was denied a hat-trick as his long range strike was charged down in the closing stages. Crewe carried on battling until the final whistle despite the heavy deficit they faced and their efforts were rewarded by a goal as substitute Lewis Reilly headed in a corner late on.

With a number of U16 players involved, and a confident display, Harvey and Bloxham will be overjoyed with the performance of their young Bluebirds as they displayed their clinical edge in front of goal.

U18 FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 4-1 CREWE ALEXANDRA (Kelly 19’, Waite 49’ 53’, Harris 63’; Reilly 84’)

Cardiff City: Ratcliffe, Kelly (Madden 52’), Coxe (c) (Williams 80’), Welch, Baldwin (Bodenham 68’), Young, Davies, Bowen, Harris, Waite, So Sani.

Crewe Alexandra: Hilton, Woodcock, Barlow, Lundstram, Sass-Davies, Wilkinson, Hurst (Walsh 46’), Offord, Walley (Harrison 55’), Thompson (Reilly 55’), Dale.