By Terry Phillips
Under-23 Development League
Cardiff City 3, Coventry City 1
Craig Bellamy took charge of Cardiff City’s under-23 development team and there were signs that he has blossoming talent to work with.
The Bluebirds won 3-1 thanks to goals from Semi Ajayi, MacAuley Southam and Mark Harris with Bellamy, their newly-appointed player development manager, looking on thoughtfully from the technical area.
Bellamy shouted encouragement, instructions at times, and the players produced an impressive performance.
A number of Cardiff development players, including Tommy O’Sullivan and Theo Wharton, will be moving on in the near year or closer to the end of this season.
Former Wales and Bluebirds striker Bellamy took the chance to give younger Academy players experience at under-23 level.
Sion Spence, a 16-year-old midfield player from Barry, was sent on for his debut at this level. The Wales youth international first joined Cardiff at under-8 level and impressed after going on just after the hour.
Cameron Coxe, a full-back from Merthyr Tydfil who celebrated his 18th birthday on Sunday, was sent on when French centre-half Jordan Blaise limped off after 68 minutes. Coxe slotted in alongside former Arsenal player Ajayi.
Cardiff manager Neil Warnock has offered teenage striker Mark Harris a senior contract and the 17-year-old, whose birthday is later this month, caught the eye with his ability and awareness.
The Wales under-19 international, nicknamed ‘Sparky’ by club-mates, scored their third goal.
Cardiff added a little extra experience by selecting former Swansea and Manchester City goalkeeper Brian Murphy along with first team fringe players Declan John and Matty Kennedy.
The home team went ahead when Belgian midfield player Marco Weymans fired in a long cross and Ajayi, at the far post, volleyed into the net after eight minutes.
O’Sullivan sent Southam running clear with a delightful pass, using the outside of his boot to swerve the ball in front of his team-mate. Cardiff-born midfield player Southam fired his shot back across the keeper and into the top right-hand corner.
George Thomas pulled a goal back for Coventry on 72 minutes and it was Harris who clinched Cardiff’s victory.
O’Sullivan smashed in a shot from just outside the area and it looked a comfortable save for keeper Corey Addai.
But the teenager failed to hold on and Harris reacted first to tuck the loose ball into the corner and completed a 3-1 Cardiff win.
Cardiff City: B Murphy, D Rees, S Ajayi, J Blaise (C Coxe 67), D John, T Wharton, M Southam, T O’Sullivan, M Weymans (S Spence 62), M Harris, M Kennedy (J Waite 46). Subs not used: L O’Reilly (gk), R Abbruzzese.
Coventry City: C Addai, J Whitmore, B Sayoud (J Shipley 66), C Maycock, J Finch, C Harries, D Kelly-Evans, B Stevenson, J McBean, G Thomas, J Jones (J Panticelli 75). Subs not used: K Skuza, J Thompson, T Bayliss.