City’s U15s side were crowned winners of the EFL Floodlit Cup with a 2-1 victory over Burton Albion.
Goals from Sykes and Tobin gave the young Bluebirds a deserved win at Cardiff City Stadium.
The visitors started brightly and took the lead in the tenth minute through Earley, who turned home from an early corner. City reacted well and went close to a swift equaliser through a brilliant effort from James, whose volley from inside the are flashed just wide. In another chance, Tankiewicz stepped up to take a free-kick from distance, firing just over the woodwork.
With 30 minutes on the clock, a swift Bluebirds break led to James crossing for Cartwright, who headed towards goal, forcing goalkeeper Joubert to save. City continued to create chances, with James again involved, as he cut inside and fired just wide of the post. Despite a promising first half showing from the Bluebirds, the visitors lead at the break.
City made a bright start to the second half, as Tankiewicz drove towards the edge of the box, before having an effort saved by Joubert. The equaliser was found in the 46th minute, coming through Sykes, whose strike from the edge of the area looped over Joubert and into the net.
The young Bluebirds immediately pushed for a second and went close through Tankiewicz’s free-kick, which flew just over. With ten minutes left, substitute Moreno almost made an instant impact, as he cut inside and fired just wide of the post.
There was still time for more City chances, with Tankiewicz again involved, this time rounding the goalkeeper and firing narrowly wide from a tight angle. Two minutes from time, midfielder Tobin struck brilliantly into the bottom corner to earn the Bluebirds a deserved victory.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY U15 2-1 BURTON ALBION U15
Cardiff City: Donovan (Cross 71’), Lenney, Williams, Yorke, Davies, Prickett ©, James (Conaty 41’), Tobin (Evans 80’), Sykes (O’Leary 80), Tankiewicz, Cartwright (Moreno 69’).
Burton Albion: Joubert, Pearson © (Knowles 41’), Foster (MacDonald 67’), Cooksey, Yates, Earley, Oyemade (Woodward 80’), Fairhurst, Gibson, Piper, Meakin (Perry 59’). Subs not used: Knowles, Ovaere.
At the full-time whistle, coach Réda Johnson said: “Maybe I’m not selfish enough, but I’m so happy, so buzzing for the boys. They did everything that we asked them to do as the staff. It’s all for them. It’s not about the staff, it’s about them tonight. I was buzzing for them. To have some young players like Gruff, Joel, Paul, Keano, Alex, you can’t dream of better. As an Academy tonight, we won."
Lead U15 and U16 Coach, Hywel Bartlett, added: "I'm emotional. Really so pleased, for the players, for everyone. The fans have turned up to support, the staff have turned up to support. The players, everyone contributing, the staff, people behind the scenes, just so pleased for everybody. To make this an occasion, we were fortunate enough to be on the right end of the result. I’m just so pleased."
U15 captain Thomas Prickett said: “I think the character we showed from 1-0 down, we knew we were the better team so we had to just get at them. The character we showed was brilliant. The boys were perfect. We can’t ask for much more, got the win and got what we deserved."