Professional Under-23 Development League
Colchester United (u-23) 0, Cardiff City (u-23) 2
Will Vaulks has sent a timely reminder to Neil Warnock that he’s ready for SkyBet Championship action.
The £2m signing from Rotherham United has struggled to break into the starting line-up with the consistency of Marlon Pack, fast-improving Leandro Bacuna and energetic Joe Ralls keeping Vaulks out.
He was outstanding, though, for the Bluebirds under-23 team, playing the full 90 minutes and scoring their first goal on a rainswept afternoon at Florence Park.
Vaulks was joined in the development team by Sol Bamba and Jazz Richards, who continued their rehabilitation for injury, plus goalkeeper Joe Day.
Young Bluebirds Cameron Coxe, Shamar Moore and Ciaron Brown, who have all played for City in the League Cup, were also in. The starting XI. Brown played alongside Bamba at the heart of defence.
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Welsh international Vaulks went close with a fierce strike, but his effort was tipped around a post by goalkeeper Bailey Vose.
Coach Andy Legg’s team controlled the flow of possession throughout, and finally found a way through the determined home defence with 20 minutes left.
Tom Sang’s dangerous cross fell to the influential Vaulks, who powered his shot into the bottom right corner of the net.
Right-back Jazz Richards replaced by Ryan Pryce shortly after the opening goal, while Bamba played full 90 minutes.
Pryce cleared off his own goal-line near the end and then, during injury time, Shamar Moore broke on a counter-attack and finished clinically to complete the win.
The U’s had won their previous two Professional Development League fixtures, beating Millwall and Bristol City.
Player-coach Jamal Campbell-Ryce played for Colchester, but he could not the team to victory.
Louis Dunne and Michael Fernandes for the U’s linked on the right. Dunne lifted a shot over the bar and an effort by Fernandes was just wide of post.
Cardiff were also threatening and Tom Sang went close from a free-kick, while a shot on the turn by Vaulks went just wide on 34 minutes.
The U’s then had their best chance of the half when Matt Weaire won the ball and found Fernandes, who turned and ran at the defence, but was then fouled 30 yards out.
The free-kick was touched by Cameron James to Fernandes and Bluebirds ‘keeper Day did well to tip the well-struck shot over the bar.
It was then Cardiff’s turn to have their best opening of the half as Sang played the ball inside to Vaulks but U’s keeper Bailey Vose was equal to his shot in making a smart save, low down to his right.
City took the lead on 65 minutes. A ball into the home box by Sang bounced up and when the ball ran loose to the edge of the box, Vaulks struck a firm shot to the left of Vose for the opening goal.
In time added on at the end, Cardiff scored again when Shamar Moore fired a low shot past Vose to wrap up a 2-0 win for Cardiff.
Colchester United: Bailey Vose, Luke Ige, Danny Collinge, Matt Weaire, Miguel Scarlet, Louis Dunne, Michael Fernandes, Dean Ager, Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Cameron James, Ollie Sims. Subs: Diogo Freitas-Gouveia, Jake Hutchinson. Unused subs: Callum Coulter, Callum Anderson, Marley Marshall-Miranda.
Cardiff City: Joe Day, Richards (Ryan Pryce 70), Sol Bamba, Ciaran Brown, Joel Bagan, Sam Bowen, Will Vaulks, Laurence Wootton, Cameron Coxe, Shamar Moore, Tom Sang (Jacob Evans). Subs not used: Ben Margetson, Matthew Hall (gk), Tavio D’Almeida.
Professional Under-23 Development League
October
Monday 28: Cardiff City v Crystal Palace
November
Monday 4: Cardiff City v Birmingham City
Monday 11: Bristol City v Cardiff City
Monday 25: Cardiff City v Charlton Athletic
December
Monday 9: Watford v Cardiff City
Monday 16: QPR v Cardiff City
January
Monday 6: Cardiff City v Coventry City
Monday 13: Cardiff City v Colchester United
Monday 20: Coventry City v Cardiff City
Monday 27: Crystal Palace v Cardiff City
February
Monday 3: Millwall v Cardiff City
Monday 10: Cardiff City v Bristol City
Monday 17: Charlton Athletic v Cardiff City
March
Monday 2: Cardiff City v Watford
Monday 9: Cardiff City v Ipswich Town
Monday 16: Cardiff City v QPR
Monday 23: Leeds United v Cardiff City
Monday 30: Cardiff City v Burnley
April
Monday 6: Crewe Alex v Cardiff City
Monday 20: Cardiff City v Hull City
Monday 27: Wigan Athletic v Cardiff City
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Professional Under-18 Development League
Millwall (u-18) 3, Cardiff City (u-18) 0
Millwall scored three goals in 20 minutes to earn a comfortable win against a young Bluebirds line-up.
Captain Hayden Muller (38, 49 mins) and Harry Brooke (58) scored for the home team in a Professional Under-18 Development League match which was closer than the scoreline suggests.
City dominated the early proceedings and Eli King went close, but Muller headed home from a corner to give Millwall a first half lead.
Sam Parsons was Cardiff’s captain and his team worked hard to get back on level terms, but Muller scored his second and Brooke completed the scoring.
Australian ‘keeper Jamie Cogman was given the nod ahead of substitute Brad Jones in goal.
Coach Matthew Bloxham and his players will analyse the team performance and three-goal defeat, but there were positives along with negatives.
Millwall: Leighton Fanshawe, Bennett, Ezennolim, Munting (Donaldson 60), Alex Mitchell, Hayden Muller (capt), Brooke, Sean O’Brien, Bate, Leahy, Hefzalla. Subs not used: Pitterson, Smith, Okoli, Braney.
Cardiff City: Jamie Cogman, Aidan McNamara, Sam Parsons (capt), Owen Pritchard, Josh Rippon, Eli King, Cian Ashford (James Crole 78), Tom Chiabi, Ntazana Mayewmbe (Rhys Schwank 81), Rubin Colwill (Taylor Jones 74), Isaak Davies. Subs not used: Brad Stewart (gk), Jac Clay.
