Craig Bellamy’s squad had a mixture of youth & experience with first year professionals Connor Young, Cameron Coxe and James Waite included in the starting eleven.
The young Bluebirds got the game underway and showed early signs of pressure. However the home side took the lead after eight minutes when Nick Lai put them ahead inside the area. Kenton Lammy won a free kick for Ely Rangers and his powerful shot/cross found the centre half, who finished clinically.
Sion Spence came close to an equaliser for the Bluebirds, 18 minutes in. The Welsh midfielder impressively connected first time with a long ball but his volley flew just over.
Both James Waite and Keenan Patten had opportunities of their own before the interval but were unlucky to see their respective attempts deflect wide.
As the second half began Cardiff restarted brightly and were rewarded when Cameron Coxe levelled the tie after 50 minutes. The promising youngster smartly finished inside the area after meeting a long ball to give City a deserved equaliser.
The Bluebirds came close on numerous occasions to take the lead before the game proceeded to extra time. Coxe hit the woodwork with five minutes remaining before the lively Patten did the same two minutes later.
Chances were sparse in the first half of extra time but the Bluebirds impressively netted three times in the second period. On 108 minutes, Henry Smith was brought down inside the area. Coxe stepped up to take the penalty and sent the keeper the wrong way when he powered his shot into the top left corner.
With five minutes remaining two became three as skipper Waite dribbled into the area and calmly slotted past the keeper. It still wasn’t over yet as Waite got a brace for the evening. The midfielder remained composed when he finished into the bottom right corner of Sebastien Priest’s goal.
That rounded off the scoring as the Bluebirds clinched a deserved victory which means they progress into the second round of the FAW Youth Cup.
FINAL SCORE: ELY RANGERS 1-4 CARDIFF CITY (AET)
Ely Rangers: Priest, Griffiths, Angove, Lai, Clements, Morgan, Lammy, Masenda, Osman, Tavares, Woodruff. Subs: Allen, L. Bowen, Peterson, Edwards, March.
Cardiff City: Ratcliffe, C. Davies (Proctor 76'), Jones, Young, Bodenham, Patten, Coxe, S. Bowen, I. Davies (Smith 84'), Spence, Waite. Subs Not Used: Madden, Burwood, Sharif.
