Match report for Bideford AFC

Cardiff City U23s slipped to a 2-1 pre-season defeat at Bideford AFC in their final game of the pre-season tour of Devon and Cornwall.

Declan John made an early break for the Bluebirds, who lined up in their 2017/18 adidas away strip. The left-back put in a good ball across, but City’s trialist (no. 7) was unable to convert.

City then fell behind in the third minute of the game, as Sol Wheatley’s effort was saved by Oliver Byrne, before Ryan Turner bundled home.

The Bluebirds came extremely close to levelling as Ibrahim Meite’s header struck the Bideford woodwork, before trialist (no. 7) fired over from the edge of the box.

However, the home side doubled their advantage in the twenty-second minute as Kevin Squire converted a lofted cross with a well placed downwards header.

Bideford manufactured a handful of half-chances as they threatened to further extend their lead.

But City’s number seven again went close as he flashed the ball across the six yard box from the left, while James Waite soon saw a close range effort deflected wide.

On the stroke of half time, the Bluebirds had the chance to pull one back as Cameron Coxe was brought down in the Bideford box. However, Jamie Veale’s spot-kick was saved well by Joe Moore, calling an end to the opening period.

A powerful free-kick from Billy Tucker stung the palms of Byrne at the beginning of the second half.

The powerful running of Lloyd Humphries helped the Bluebirds in their search for a lifeline after the break. He freed Ibrahim Meite with a fine pass, but City couldn’t quite produce the final ball to find the back of the net.

Waite then came close to pulling one back as a good passing move saw him receive the ball in the box. The diminutive midfielder turned well, only to be thwarted by another last-ditch tackle.

While substitute ‘keeper Jordan Duffey had to be on hand to keep out a dangerous Bideford free-kick, City did finally find the net with five minutes remaining.

Marco Weymans was brought down in the box for City’s second penalty of the game, and Meite made no mistake - converting the spot-kick high into the net.

Bideford AFC: Moore, Sampson, Reed, Roberts (Joyce), Beattie (Veale), Harrison, Smallcombe, Wheatley, Squire (Butcher), Tucker (Levine), Turner (Western).

Cardiff City XI: Byrne (Duffey), Coxe, John, Veale (C) (Humphries), Trialist (Weymans), Young, Trialist, Trialist (Duffus), Trialist (Waite), Harris, Meite.