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Courtesy of:- Ray Lo, and the Spurs List.
Premier Academy League
Cardiff Athletics Stadium, Leckwith, Cardiff
Saturday 18th October 2008, 11am
CARDIFF CITY v SPURS
(Blue/White) (White/Blue)
4-4-2 4-4-2
3(1) 1(0)
Jordan Santiago 1 Jamie Butler
Adam Matthews 2 Nathan Byrne
James Bloom 3 Mark Clare
Jonathan Meades 4 Yaser Kasim
Kye Edwards 5 Calum Butcher
Adam Morris 6 Steven Caulker(C)
Rhys Kelleher 7 Coskun Ekim
Aaron Wildig(C)8 Dean Parrett
Craig Mason 9 Jonathan Obika
Nathaniel Jarvis 10 Ryan Mason
Soloman Taylor 11 Andros Townsend
Leigh Smith 12 James Dalton
(10)46Mins.
13 Jake Nicholson
(11)63Mins.
Travis Wheatle 14 Paul-Jose M’Puku
(3)46Mins.
Luke Cummings 15 Chace O’Neill
Josh McGennis 16 Anthony Jack
(9)91Mins.
Ibrahim Farah 17
(7)88Mins.
Scorers:-
Wildig 19 Mason 79
Taylor 75
Smith 85
Booked:-
Meades 57 Townsend 42(Late)
(Kicked ball away) Ekim 87
Red Card:- Parrett 86
Coaches:-
N. Ardley A. Inglethorpe
It was an overcast morning that had bright sunny periods with rain showers. The venue was the new athletics stadium across the road from the new Ninian Park ground that Cardiff are building. Neither ground was finished on the morning of our visit. It was a treat to sit in a stand to watch a game at this level, but as it was an athletic stadium it was a long way from the pitch and my eyes are not getting any sharper. As there were no teamsheets I apologise for any mistakes in the teams as listed.
Spurs lined up with Caulker and Butcher at the back with Byrne at right back and Clare on the left. Kasim and Parrett played in centre midfield with Ekim on the right and Townsend on the left this allowed Mason supported Obika up front.
Spurs kicked off attacking the south end to our right and tried to work the ball up the left side to exploit the pace of Townsend. Unfortunately Clare was not up to the task as he has not played much football and he was closed down quickly causing mistakes. The Bluebirds closed down the Spurs players quickly in all areas of the pitch which stopped the normal one touch passing game or the leisurely passing across the back line looking for an opening.
When in possession, Cardiff moved the ball forward quickly committing defenders. Butler saved from Taylor and the ball was quickly worked up to Obika who fired wide. Santiago did well to push away a deflected free kick from Townsend for a corner. Townsend took the corner and saw the ball hit the near post. Mason had the ball in the net for Spurs but was ruled off side and Parrett put his shot wide.
Cardiff broke down the right and when the ball was not cleared Wildig was able to turn it in to give the home side the lead. After conceding a free kick Meades stood in front of the ball and then picked it up and walked away with it to prevent it being taken quickly. This would normally be punished by a yellow card but the ref let it go. Santiago had to save from Parrett and this was followed by both Masons having efforts saved within a minute of each other.
Townsend supplied a good cross that was falling to Obika until a last ditch header sent it for a corner. Townsend followed that up with another beautiful cross that was cleared for a throw in with Ekim closing in at the far post. Matthews up in support fired over from 20 yards. Townsend was booked for a late challenge as Cardiff cleared a corner.
Both sides made one change at the interval with Spurs taking off Clare who was having a bad time and moving Ekim to left back with M’Puku taking up the right side of midfield. The home side replaced the equally ineffective Jarvis with Smith. Smith got into the action quickly when he fired wide within five minutes. When Spurs were awarded a free kick, Meades picked up the ball and walked away with it before kicking it away. This time the ref showed him the yellow card.
Kelleher put an effort wide as the home side pushed forward. Inglethorpe took off Townsend for Nicholson pushing Parrett out to the left. Ryan Mason fired over before putting a free kick wide.
Cardiff increased their lead when Smith broke clear on the right and centred for Taylor to put the ball past the helpless Butler. Spurs responded when Mason played M’Puku in but he put the ball over the bar. Smith fired wide before Spurs pulled a goal back when Cardiff failed to clear the ball and Mason knocked it in during the scramble.
Taylor got behind the defence but fired wide. The home side made the game safe when Meades got down the right and when Caulker tackled him on the edge of the area the ball broke to Smith coming in from the left who finished well. As the teams lined up for the restart the ref went over to Parrett and showed him a red card. I can only assume that it was something he said as he was nowhere any Cardiff player. Cardiff made more substitutions as the time ran out.
Spurs lost their unbeaten start to the season to a team near the bottom of the table but it could not be said that it was a fluke result. Cardiff closed down Spurs quickly and did not allow them much space to pass their way out of trouble. Spurs had made two changes which I feel had a bearing on the game. The two fullbacks on their wrong sides and Ekim outside Parrett. The conditions may have helped as the surface was very slippery and Spurs rely on good one touch passing and so many players lost their footing. Spurs pushed forward more in the second half which allowed the home side to get behind them. I have to question the ref in respect to Meades who should have been cautioned in the first half when he picked up the ball to prevent a free kick being taken as he was in the second half. This would have left them a man short and he would not able to set up the third goal. This could have changed the result completely. That apart they played well and deserved their win.
The next game is not until the 1st November when we entertain MK Dons at the Lodge.
Ray
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