Craig Bellamy’s young Bluebirds fought out a 1-1 draw against Millwall’s Lions in their Professional Development League under-18 fixture at the Cardiff Sports Campus.
This was a clash between the top two teams and leaders Cardiff maintained their three points lead ahead of second placed Millwall.
Manager Chris Perry and his team are now unbeaten in their last seven fixtures, while City have earned 25 points from 12 PDL games.
Goalkeeper George Ratcliffe made a good early save when Millwall set off at a fast pace before Cardiff captain Sam Bowen’s shot was blocked after good work by Isaac Davies.
The home team opened up Millwall again when Joel Began picked out Kieron Evans with an excellent pass, but his low cross did not find Dan Griffiths.
Just after the half hour Ryan Reynolds crossed for Isaak Davies to go for goal, but his effort was brilliantly saved.
Millwall went ahead after 48 minutes when O’Brien scored following a goalmouth scramble.
City equalised five minutes later when Trystan Jones was fouled inside the Millwall penalty area and Griffiths scored from the spot.
Ratcliffe kept Cardiff on level terms when he made a sublime save from Barton, while substitute Ntazana Mayembe went close when he fired past the Millwall ‘keeper only for his shot to rebound off a post.
The next test for Bellamy’s young Bluebirds team is an FA Youth Cup tie against Hull City at the KCOM Stadium on Humberside next Wednesday (7pm, December 5).
Cardiff are also through to the Welsh Youth Cup quarter-finals. They won 11-0 at Taffs Well in their last game and have been drawn at home against Llanelli Town.
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FAW Youth Cup quarter-finals: Cardiff Metropolitan v Llandudno, Cardiff City v Llanelli, The New Saints v Cefn Druids, Swansea City v Merthyr Town. All ties to be played on Sunday, February 3 (1.30pm).
Cardiff City: George Ratcliffe, Ben Margetson, Joel Bagan, Trystan Jones (Harry Pinchard 72), Ryan Reynolds, Keenan Patten, Isaak Davies, Kieron Evans, Sam Bowen (capt), Dan Griffiths (Connor Davies 69), Sam Parsons (Ntazana Mayembe 58). Subs: Jordan Duffey, Jac Davies, Harry Pinchard.
Millwall: Leighton Fanshawe, Lewis West, Junior Tiensia, Billy Mitchell (capt), Muller, A Mitchell, Jay Barton, Skeffington, O’Brien (Abdulmalik 67), Harry Taylor, Jayden Davis. Subs: Bennett, Cillmore, Abdulmalik, Ezennolim.
