Sion Spence took his Cardiff City goals tally for the 2017-18 season to 20 by netting four times against Aberystwyth Town in the Welsh Youth Cup.
The young Bluebirds powered to a 7-1 win in their quarter-final, joining holders Swansea City, Connah’s Quay Nomads and Airbus Broughton in the last four.
Central midfield player Spence, from Barry and aged 17, has been playing in the Cardiff City Academy since the age of seven and is continuing to improve and progress. He scored two goals in each half.
Sam Bowen, a former Caerleon Comprehensive School pupil, scored twice for Cardiff, while Harry Pinchard was their other marksman.
Jack Bodenham had a powerful header from Bowen’s seventh minute corner blocked and it took coach Craig Bellamy’s youngsters 24 minutes to open the scoring.
Spence scored twice, while Isaak Davies set up Bowen and he made it 3-0 just before half-time.
Cardiff added further goals through Spence (49 and 83 mins), Pinchard (62) and Bowen (77).
Bellamy’s under-18 team return to Professional Development League South action on Tuesday (February 13) when they are at home against Millwall at the Vale Resort (1pm).
Cardiff City: Burwood, Reynolds, Jones, Bodenham, J. Davies, Patten, C. Davies, Pinchard, I. Davies, Spence, Bowen. Subs: Sharif, Ratcliffe, Margetson.
Aberystwyth Town: Fairbrother, T. Evans, Rowe, Morgan, Jenkins, Coleridge, R. Evans, Rimmer, Horwood, Gittins, Doherty. Subs: Rees-Jones, Crowl, Cottam, Berner, Pennock.
Welsh Youth Cup holders Swansea won 6-1 against Newport County, who are coached by former Cardiff City defender Byron Anthony.
Both the Swans and County were automatically put through to the second round of this seasons competition because they earned a place in the semi-finals during 2016-17.
Newport suffered defeat during extra time against Swansea, who went on to beat Cambrian and Clydach in the final.
Owen Taylor, Owura Edwards, Tom Hillman and Josh Williams scored for County in a 4-0 win against Risca United, while they defeated Caerau Ely 5-0 with Liam Bishop, Hillman, Williams and Jay Foulston (2) on target.
Swansea have won the Welsh Youth Cup in eight successive seasons, although Cardiff City did not enter the competition for some time.
The Swans defeated Barry Town United 4-0 and Garden Village 4-1 on their way to the quarter-finals where they fired six goals past Newport at Landore Training Ground.
The match was far closer than the scoreline suggests and County were only 2-1 down at half-time. Oliver Cooper put Swansea ahead after five minutes and he made it 2-0 on the half hour, while Liam Bishop pulled one back just before half-time.
County went into the second half believing they could make life difficult for the Swans during the second half, but Kris De Boer made it 3-1 after 47 minutes, while Brandon Cooper (55), Jack Fox (78) and Finley Hazell (83) completed the scoring.
Newport goalkeeper Lewis Webb made a brilliant save to tip Causso Darame’s shot away for a corner in the closing stages.
Newport County: Webb, George, Hunt, Savigar, Murray, Beckett, Hillman, Press (capt), Bishop, Touray, Collins. Subs: Williams, Edwards, Taylor, Jones, Benham.
Swansea City: Lang, Davies, Blake, Price, Cabango, B Cooper (capt), Darame, De Boer, Cullen, Fox, O Cooper. Subs: Williams, Evans, Wynter-Coles, Hazell, Shepperd.
Airbus Broughton won a hard fought quarter-final against Llandudno FC 2-1. Oli Lanceley fired Airbus in front at half-time and Harvey Ellis made it 2-0, but Llandudno fought back hard, pulled a goal back and threatened to force extra time.
Airbus held on to take their place in the last four.
Fellow Flintshire club Connah’s Quay Nomads joined Airbus in the semi-finals which will be played at neutral venues on, or before Sunday, March 18.
Welsh Youth Cup quarter-finals: Swansea City 6, Newport County 1; Carmarthen Town 1, Connah’s Quay Nomads 4; Llandudno 1, Airbus Broughton 2; Cardiff City 7, Aberystwyth Town 0.
