Cardiff U-18's lose 3-1 to Charlton U-18 at Trefforest.

The young Bluebirds were unfortunate in their loss to the Addicks as Cardiff had a good share of the chances and a fair percentage of possesion. The watching crowd did not have to wait long for the first goal of the game as the visitors took the initiative with a well taken finish that immidiately put Cardiff on the back foot.

Charlton nearly doubled the advantage fifteen minutes later when they struck the underside of the bar from an excellent long range effort. This spurred Cardiff into life and the equalised only a few minutes later. It came from a corner that was not dealt with by the Charlton defence and Dean Hudson was on hand to smash the ball into the back of the net from close range.

This mad twenty minute period was confirmed when Charlton regained the lead. A cross in the box was met by a Charlton header that hit the cross bar and the rebound was put in the net after a cruel deflection by a Cardiff defender.

After the goal, came a steady flow of Charlton chances, the first being a half volleyed shot that Cardiff goalkeeper Josh Magennis managed to get fingertips to and push it clear of danger. Five minutees later, Charlton were on the attack again and low drive by the Charlton winger was only kept out of the net by a combination of Magennis and a covering defender.

A long range shot then whistled past a worried Magennis, but to his relief went just over the crossbar. The last chance of the half also fell to Charlton. The ball was played to Charlton's left winger on the far post and the unmarked man struck a half volley past Magennis' right hand post for a goal kick.

Half Time: Cardiff 1-2 Charlton

In a half in which Cardiff dominated, they set the tone barely two minutes into the second half. A ball lobbed into the box was met by striker Nathaniel Jarvis' head, but his effort was comfortably saved by the Charlton goalie. The intentions were there however and Nathaniel Jarvis had another chance to score with his head when a free kick found him in the box. He got all wrong, however, and it went wide.

Charlton then responded with a chance of their own after a cross from the right hand side found a Charlton man in the box. His half volley was weak though and Magennis comfortably saved the shot.

Cardiff were then to hit the crossbar as Charlton had done twice in the first half. It came from a corner and the resulting firm header hit the bar and was cleared from danger.

The cruelty of football was evident after eighty minutes when, totally against the run of play, Charlton got their third of the afternoon. Charlton's tricky right winger went on a mazy run and then cut inside. He let rip on the edge of the area but was denied by a smart Magennis stop. The danger was not over, however, as the ball rebounded to a Charlton player to blast the ball in the net and put the result beyond doubt.

Full Time: Cardiff 1-3 Charlton

Man of the Match: Adam Matthews
The young right back is assured on the ball and very rarely gives away possesion.

Coach's Comments: Cardiff U-18 Coach Geraint Twose
"How we didn't get anything out of that game I'll never know. The second half must have been the most one sided halves in history. In a game we should have won 6-2, we have lost 3-1."