Harrow Borough 2, Cardiff City (u-23) 2
Ibrahim Meite took the young Bluebirds back to his former club in London.
Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock agreed to send a team to play Isthmian League Harrow when he signed the tall and rangy Meite from Borough earlier this year.
Meite, who grew up in Roehampton, South West London, scored 17 goals in 30 appearances for Harrow before making the move to South Wales.
Cardiff’s under-23 coaches Jarrad Harvey and Andy Legg took their squad to the Earlsmead Stadium. They included five trialists, while Stuart O’Keefe was a late addition for the trip.
Former Manchester United schoolboy Oliver Byrne was in goal, while 17-year-old Warren Burwood, a former Norwich City youth ‘keeper from Gorleston in Norfolk, was among the substitutes.
Striker Mark Harris and full-back Cameron Coxe, who went on as a substitute, were the outfield players who shone. Attacking full-back Coxe, from Merthyr Tydfil, has impressed throughout pre-season.
This was Cardiff’s fourth development friendly, having beaten Hereford FC 5-1, drawn 2-2 at St Austell and lost 2-1 against Bideford before their match against Harrow, who play in the seventh tier of English football.
Warnock has tested his young guns by arranging fixtures against opposing teams full of experienced players.
Will Turl fired Borough ahead after 27 minutes, while Bajram Pashaj scored from a free-kick, firing a cracker into the top corner.
Mark Harris pulled a goal back just before half-time and then Declan John equalised in the final minute.
Harrow Borough: M Minter, H Hall, A Uade, A Richards, C Ujah, S Preddie, B Pashaj, A Cain, W Turl, M Bryan, C Banya. Subs: F Robins, G Moore, A O’Connor, T Davis-Coker, C Payne, K Cumberbatch.
Cardiff City: O Byrne, Trialist, M Weymans, T Duffus, Trialist, C Young, M Harris, S O’Keefe, I Meite, Trialist, D John. Subs: C Coxe, W Burwood (gk), J Veale, Trialist, Trialist.
