Cardiff City’s teenage talent is making progress under the guidance of Craig Bellamy.
That was clear during a 5-0 Welsh Youth Cup win against Merthyr Town at Cardiff International Sports Campus.
The young Bluebirds played with a poise and maturity which was good to see.
Cardiff passing fluency, movement and ability to switch play with long crossfield passes kept the Martyrs at full strength.
This was much improved from the lacklustre team display in City’s first round tie against Ely Rangers when three extra time goals earned a 4-1 win.
There will be tougher tests ahead for Bellamy’s boys, particularly in the Academy Under-18 League, but Merthyr battled with character and spirit.
Goalkeeper Ed Hamilton made a series of outstanding saves, while Cardiff hit both bar and posts in their quest for goals.
Merthyr were rocked before kick-off when they had to change their starting line-up with Adam Vine, one of only two substitutes named, taking over from Shea Thomas.
Cardiff included striker Mark Harris, who has played Championship football, while highly-rated full-back Cameron Coxe was a constant threat with his runs down the right.
City were comfortable in possession and passed the ball with an easy on the eye style.
Harris scored their first goal from a James Waite corner, losing his marker with a run to the near post and flicking a header just inside the far post.
It was 2-0 after 34 minutes when Sam Bowen hit the bar before Waite’s shot from the rebound was blocked by the keeper. Harris was in the right place to score his second of the tie.
Good work by Coxe led to City’s third goal after 40 minutes. Harris was denied a hat-trick when Hamilton tipped his shot onto a post, but Sion Spence tapped the rebound into an empty net.
Waite made it 4-0 nine minutes into the second half, finishing clinically with a low shot after Harris created the chance, and substitute Isaak Davies added the fifth.
The next test for Cardiff’s young team is against Bristol City at home on Saturday (11am).
Cardiff City: George Ratcliffe, Cameron Coxe (Adam Sharif 57), Ben Margetson, Trystan Jones, Jack Bodenham, Sam Bowen, Sam Parsons, Keenan Patten, Mark Harris (Isaak Davies 57), Sion Spence, James Waite, capt (Henry Smith 78). Subs: Connor Davies, Warren Burwood.
Merthyr Town: Ed Hamilton, Alex Sullivan, Connor Hanford, Adam Vine, Liam Martin, Adam Mahagan, Sean Montgomery, Cole Davies, Jamie Jones, Ammar Nazrali, Ellis Holland. Sub: Robbie Islam.
Cardiff are through to the last 16 of the Welsh Youth Cup along with holders Swansea City, who defeated Garden Village 4-1.
Barry Town defeated Pontardawe Town 2-1 and Flint Town United were 4-1 winners against Rhyl.
Cefn Druids won 3-1 against Bangor City thanks to goals from Alex Buxton, Isaac Lambert and Fin Williams.
Bangor fell behind after only five minutes when a corner from the right was only partially cleared and Buxton finished emphatically from close range.
Sam Jones, Jake Jones and Alex Boss were prominent in Bangor attacks, but they were well marshalled by a physical, well organised Druids defence.
Jake Jones equalised after 47 minutes, but Druids quickly regained the lead through Lambert’s looping headed (49) and they added their third through Williams (51).
Jack Rimmer netted four goals for Aberystwyth Town in a 5-1 win against Cardiff Met with Liam Doherty completing the tally.
Tomos Roberts (3) and Ben Vincent scored for Caerau Ely in a 4-0 success against Cambrian and Clydach.
Evan Williams and Luke Mildenhall were the Briton Ferry Llansawel marksmen in their 2-0 win at STM Sports.
FAW Youth Cup Second round draw results: Caernarfon Town 6, Holywell Town 1; Newtown 0, Connah’s Quay Nomads 12; Airbus UK 3, CPD Porthmadog 2; Rhyl 1, Flint Town 4; Barry Town United 2, Pontardawe Town 1; Cefn Druids 3, Bangor City 1; TNS 0, Llandudno 2; Cardiff City 5, Merthyr Town 0; Cardiff Metropolitan 1, Aberystwyth Town 5; Villa Dino Christchurch 11, Caldicot Town 1; Garden Village 1, Swansea City 4; Caerau Ely 4, Cambrian and Clydach 0; Monmouth Town 1, Afan Lido 4; Risca United 0, Newport County 4; Carmarthen Town AFC 5, Port Talbot Town 3; STM Sports 0, Briton Ferry Llansawel 2.
Last 16 draw to be made.
