City's U18s ended 2024 in style, claiming a 4-1 win over Watford in the PDL.
POST-MATCH | TOM HUTTON
“Today is a performance that we can be proud of. Off the back of the FA Youth Cup on Tuesday and being on that high after getting through, it was important to try and carry through that positive performance. It’s not always easy to do, especially if some of the boys are disappointed not to have been part of that squad, but that’s about being professional and prepared for every single game. The boys have always got a point to prove, and I think they did that today.
“Mannie is a really good player. He’s excelling at the moment and he’s impacting U21 games, which is important for his development because we have to challenge him at the right level. The most important thing is that, when he comes back with us, because let’s not forget that he is a first-year scholar, that he continues to show that hard work and humility, and he’s definitely doing that on a daily basis. He deserved those goals today, and I’m really pleased for him.
“It’s been a largely positive year for us. We always gauge the players in terms of their individual development, and I think we’re coaching them right. We’ve got a lot of them in the U21s squad, which is where they should be, so they’re getting what they need. It’s now about getting the boys ready for the next league fixture. We will rest and recover over Christmas, but we’ve got 17 league games left. There’s a lot of football ahead of us, and we will try and push the boys more and more, as well focusing on our performances.”
POST-MATCH | MANNIE BARTON
“I thought we dominated the whole game. It was nice to get a goal right before half time, but I thought myself and JT worked really well down that left hand side to create it. Watford were good opposition, good on the ball, but it was good to get three goals. It’s a little disappointing at the end to concede, especially because we think the ball went out of play, but that’s football.
“Hutts knows us really well as players, and most importantly as people, so he knows our character and how we work as a group. We knew we were dominating, but he emphasised about just having that edge in front of goal in the second half.
“We’ve had new boys come into this squad from different clubs, and we’ve had a few months now to understand each other’s games, and now we’re at a level where we understand each other well, and to get a hat-trick is the perfect early Christmas present.”
MATCH SUMMARY
The first 45 minutes saw both teams struggle to get into the final third. Often the assistant referee’s offside flag halted moves, and neither keeper was called into action. For all the while it looked like the first half would end goalless, but with a minute remaining, the Bluebirds broke the deadlock. Jac Thomas’ inviting cross from the left was finessed home by Lennon Talbot, to ensure City held an advantage at the break.
The second half started very much like the first, with both sides finding it difficult to find gaps in each other’s defences, but a brilliant City move saw the lead doubled. Harry Watts’ pinpoint ball through found the run of Leeyon Phelan, and the forward showed great awareness by sliding the ball into the path of Mannie Barton, who powered into an empty net.
With one goal under his belt, Barton was hungry for more, and he would bag his second and City’s third of the game nine minutes later, as he converted from Watts’ delivery into the box. And it would be a day to remember for the winger, as he secured his hat-trick with a minute remaining, after sprinting away from defenders and chipping the ball over the keeper.
The visitors pulled a goal back late on, but City recorded a big win in their final game of the year.
The young Bluebirds will next be in action in the new year, as they travel to take on Ipswich Town on January 4th.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY U18 4-1 WATFORD U18
Cardiff City: Jones, N. Williams, Debono, Parfitt (Reynolds 90’), Thomas ©, Rees, C. Williams, Watts, Talbot, Phelan (Hilaire-Clarke 78’), Barton (Hobson 90’). Subs not used: Allmark, Higgs.