Severnside derby victory for young Robins

It was a positive start in South Wales and they were rewarded when they caught out the home side with a quick goal kick.

The ball was flicked on by Louis Britton and Vince Harper was brought down in the penalty area. Sam Bell stepped up confidently, putting the ball into the bottom corner to score the opener inside the 19^th minute.

The hosts closed in on an equaliser though Tavio D’Almedia was unable to control the ball in front of goal, as a floated high ball in from Lee Tomlin went to waste.

Cardiff would go into the break a goal behind and they quickly conceded a second, but not before Cameron McWilliams hammered a shot on target which was kept out, and Sam Bowen struck just wide.

Yet the Robins doubled their lead minutes later when Opi Edwards delivered a cross into the box which ended up taking a crucial deflection off Oliver Denham taking the ball past Joe Day in the Bluebirds goal.

Their lead was halved in the 66th minute when Cardiff hit on the break. Dan Martin and Tomlin combined, Keiron Evans was played in and he drilled the ball beyond Harvey Wiles-Richards at his near post.

However, the Robins managed to gain control to see out the win, thanks to a key defensive shape.

City U23s v Cardiff: Wiles-Richards, Soady, Harper, Towler, Harrison, Morton, Edwards (C), Owers (Scott), Hinds (Britton), Bell, Smith. Subs: Walker, Benarous, Leeson.