Cardiff City U23/DVP were held to a 1-1 draw by their Millwall counterparts at Cardiff International Sports Campus.
The young Bluebirds pinned their visitors back from the offset, dominating the opening exchanges. They almost made that pressure pay on the ten minute mark, when Anthony Pilkington won a corner, which was headed just past the post by City trialist no.6.
While Lee Camp did well to smother Christian Mbulu’s header at the other end, City should have taken the lead when Harry Girling raced out of goal, only for Mark Harris to place wide of the empty net from distance.
The Lions grew into the half and tested Camp for a second time when Noel Leighton turned into the box and fired a left-footed effort at the ‘keeper.
The match developed into a hard-fought contest, with Rhys Abbruzzese putting his body on the line to block Kris Twardek’s effort, before Millwall’s Paul Rooney was shown a yellow card for a late challenge on Cameron Coxe.
City’s final chance of the opening period came when Omar Bogle glanced a header wide of the target, leaving the scores level at the break.
With fifteen minutes of the second-half played, the Bluebirds deservedly took the lead. Liam Feeney’s low cross was controlled by Pilkington, whose quick turn created space for him to slot the ball home.
However, Millwall fought back to equalise almost immediately after the restart. A long ball resulted in a corner for the visitors, and Kris Twardek eventually hit home after uncertainty in the City box.
Isaac Olaofe was next to see yellow for visitors, before City created a fantastic chance to go ahead. James Waite was at the centre of a flowing move, leading to Ciaron Brown heading against the crossbar.
Millwall could have taken the lead themselves, had target man Harry Smith not spurned his effort wide from close range.
And while Waite almost single-handedly secured a win for the Bluebirds - driving forward and striking a left-footed effort against the post - the scores remained level as the full-time whistle blew.
Highlights to follow on iFollow Cardiff City!
Cardiff City: Camp, Coxe, Abbruzzese, Waite, Brown, Trialist [6], Feeney, M. Harris, Bogle (Trialist [15] 78’), Pilkington (Obi 67’), Young (Trialist [12] 61’).
Subs not used: Ratcliffe.
Millwall: Girling, McNamara, Tiensia, Hanson, Mbulu, Rooney, Olaofe, Saunders-Henry, Smith, Leighton (Brymora 77’), Twardek.
Subs not used: Duncan, Jackson, Skeffington, Debrah.
