Flying start from Bluebirds sends City on way to pre-season defeat

City’s second pre-season outing ended in defeat this evening at Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park, with a goal in each half seeing Cardiff City U21s run out comfortable winners.

The Welsh visitors took just four minutes to open the scoring. A long pass over the top sent Davies clear on goal and he slotted the ball past Harvey Wiles-Richards. City almost responded immediately when Jordan Tillson’s looping shot was brilliantly turned over the bar by keeper Griffiths. As the first half progressed City were seeing the majority of the ball – one of the three starting trialists pulling the strings in the heart of the midfield – but chances were hard to come by. A snap-shot from the edge of the box forced another smart stop from Griffiths to see the Bluebirds head into the break with their one-goal advantage intact.

The second half was eleven minutes old when Cardiff doubled their lead. City’s trialist no.8 lost possession and in attempting to recover conceded a penalty – Barton sending Wiles-Richards the wrong way from the spot. With both sides making regular changes the game became a largely forgettable affair after this. A late Harry Parsons shot was the closest either team would come to adding to the scoring.

City are back in action at Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park on Saturday with Plymouth Argyle the visitors.