Goals from Mark Harris, Sion Spence, Sam Bowen [2], Keenan Patten and Laurence Wootton secured a 6-0 victory for our U19 side at Latham Park.
The Bluebirds started brightly and could’ve been immediately ahead with just three minutes played. Cameron Coxe forced his way into the area before delivering an inviting high ball to James Waite from 10 yards. The midfielder saw his volleyed effort glance just wide of goal.
Cardiff City continued to create chances and almost took the lead, with 14 minutes gone. Captain Jack Bodenham lifted a high ball over the top to Mark Harris, who saw his header glance over the crossbar from close range.
With 15 minutes remaining of the half the Bluebirds were rewarded for their hard efforts. Bodenham surged into the area before seeing his low cross parried by the Airbus UK goalkeeper. However the ball only went as far as Harris who tapped home from six yards. Three minutes later it was 2-0. Spence drove into the box before unleashing an unstoppable right footed shot into the top corner of goal. It was Spence’s sixth goal of the competition.
Craig Bellamy’s side continued to run riot before the interval when Bowen’s 25 yard shot found its way into the bottom left corner of the net, with 42 minutes played. Bowen quickly secured his second of the match just a minute later. The young midfielder scored a headed goal from six yards to make it 4-0 at the break.
With just four minutes gone in the second half it was 5-0 to the Bluebirds. Keenan Patten charging onto a loose ball before firing into the bottom left corner of goal from 25 yards out.
A dominant Cardiff City side extended their lead again on 69 minutes. Laurence Wootton clinically making it 6-0 from six yards out after the Airbus defence failed to clear an in-swinging cross from Coxe on the left. The Wingmakers had their first real effort on goal, six minutes later. An audacious long range strike from substitute Toby Vickery was caught well by an alert George Ratcliffe to keep the clean sheet intact.
At full time, the Bluebirds secured an emphatic 6-0 victory along with a place in the final of the FAW Youth Cup.
U19 FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 6-0 AIRBUS UK
Cardiff City: Ratcliffe, Reynolds, Young, Bodenham, Coxe (Margetson 80’), Patten, Wootton (J. Davies 84’), Waite, Harris (I. Davies 56’), Spence, Bowen. Subs not used: Burwood, C. Davies.
Airbus UK: Szczepaniak, Ellis, Murphy, Davies, Hughes, Lawrence, McNicholas, Robinson, Lanceley, I. Jones (Vickery 67’), Wright (Peers 52’, Randell 59’). Subs not used: Lloyd, L. Jones.