Cardiff City 1, Charlton Athletic 2
The young Bluebirds suffered a first home defeat of the season in their close-fought Professional Under-18 Development League home match against title-
Tough-tackling left-back Sam Parsons, a 18-year-old Wales youth International who has been progressing through the Cardiff City Academy for a decade, scored for the home team and with 74 minutes gone the score was 1-1.
Then Billy French scored Charlton’s winner to clinch the points at Cardiff International Sports Arena.
City dominated the early stages with Ntazana Mayembe causing Charlton problems with his pace and trickery.
Siyabonda Ligendza’s shot was blocked by French after seven minutes, while Kieron Evans forced a big save from Charlton goalkeeper Nathan Harvey after 22 minutes.
At the other end City ‘keeper Brad Stewart made a low save to deny Richard Afrane-Kesey just after the half hour.
Mayembe opened up Charlton when he picked out a Kieron Evans run after 34 minutes, but his effort was saved.
Aron Henry put the visitors in front from a set-piece just before half-time, while Cardiff equalised when Evans went for goal and his shot was blocked and the ball flew away for a corner.
Parsons, who celebrates his 19th birthday this month, made it 1-1 when he scored from a sublime volley on 54 minutes and at that stage Cardiff were taking the game to their visitors.
Taylor Jones produced a magnificent tackle to dispossess Tyreece Campbell midway through the second half, but French completed the 2-1 scoreline on 74 minutes.
Mayembe produced an overhead kick which flew just wide, while Cian Ashford had two goalbound efforts saved.
Cardiff now play Millwall away in their next under-18 fixture and will then travel to face South Division leaders Watford on Saturday, October 26.
The next home match for coach Matthew Bloxham and his City youth team is against Bristol City on Saturday, November 2 (Cardiff International Sports Arena, 11am).
Cardiff City: Brad Stewart, Pritchard, Sam Parsons, Taylor Jones, Joel Bagan (capt), Eli King (Tom Chiabi 67), Kieron Evans (Ryan Kavanagh 46), Harry Pinchard, Ntazana Mayembe, Rubin Colwill, Siyabonga Ligendza (Cian Ashford 75). Subs not used: Jamie Cogman (gk), Josh Rippon.
Charlton Athletic: Harvey, Buhari, Aidoo, Henry, Barker, French (capt), Albon, Appiah (Ageyman 11), Thompson-Fearon (Chin 60), Campbell (Barton 83), Afrane-Kesey. Subs not used: Barton, Watkins, Chin, Gavin.
Professional Under-18 Development League South
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | D | P | |||
| 1 |  |
Watford U18 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 9 | +11 | 19 | ||
| 2 | |
Charlton Athle… | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 7 | +10 | 18 | ||
| 3 | |
Millwall U18 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 10 | +10 | 16 | ||
| 4 | |
Bristol City U18 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 8 | +10 | 14 | ||
| 5 |  |
Ipswich Town U18 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 9 | +4 | 14 | ||
| 6 | |
Crystal Palace U18 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 13 | +6 | 12 | ||
| 7 | |
Cardiff City U18 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 14 | -1 | 9 | ||
| 8 | |
Colchester Uni… | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 18 | 26 | -8 | 9 | ||
| 9 | |
Coventry City U18 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 25 | -13 | 6 | ||
| 10 | |
Queens Park Ra… | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 24 | -13 | 4 | ||
