Lee Barrett, Fish, Barker, Young, Collins, Hayward, Anthony, Parkins, Bowen, Fleetwood and Gordon.
FULL TIME.
Cardiff City 6 - 1 Oxford Utd.
Lee Steele scored for the visitors around the 10 minute mark. Cardiff came back into the game and dominated the second part of the first half and scored three quick goals. Michael Parkinks (2) and a direct corner from Michael Hayward all in the last 15 mins of the half.
James Collins scored with a header 10 mins into the second half and Michael Parkins completed his hat trick from the penalty spot.
Gavin Gordon rounded off the scoring to make it a resounding victory.
Report from Paul Evans
I don't want to go overboard about todays reserve match because the league we are in this year isn't as strong as the one we were in last year and, when you look at the opposition, we realy should be in there scrapping for the title, but, having said that, there were lots of things to be encouraged about at Leckwith Stadium today.
James Collins, Jason Bowen, Gavin Gordon and Chris Barker all had their moments but it really was the youngsters who took the eye today. Stuart Fleetwood gave a hard working performance for little reward and Byron Anthony was solid at right back, but it was the three teenagers in midfield who really impressed me today.
Nicky Fish gave the sort of performance regular reserve watchers have grown used to this season, doing an excellent job in a holding midfield role. If we do see out the season in mid table as Sam seems to think we will, I would realy like to see Fish given some sort of an opportunity in the first team because his displays for the second string this season have deserved recognition.
Michael Parkins was very impressive playing in a more forward role and his hat trick is a testament to how effective he was - I also thought he should some nice passing skills as well.
I have seen Michael Hayward play wide right and wide left now (he was on the left today) and with the squad being so short of wide midfield players, I think he is one to keep an eye on - his crossing today was excelent and he showed a nice range of skills in one on one situations.
As for the game, we gave away what seems our obligatory early goal when Lee Steele (one of the few players in the Oxford side I had heard of), received a header and burst past Chris Barker to score confidently.
It took us a while to get into our stride but a spell of three goals in about seven mimutes put us firmly in command. The first came when Barker and Hayward opened up Oxford down the left and the latter's low cross was converted by Parkins (surging into the box like Kav did on Saturday for his goal) from about ten yards. The second goal was very similar except this time Hayward turned his full back inside out before crossing for Parkins to score. Shortly after that, Cox the Oxford keeper made a great save to deny Fleetwood after Jason Bowen had provided him with the chance. However, the keeper was then beaten when Hayward's corner sailed over his head and into the net without anyone getting a touch - a bit lucky perhaps, but it was another quality cross from Hayward whose overall display deserved a goal.
There was also time for City to hit the crossbar and to see Gavin Gordon foiled by a good save before half time arrived with the side well worth their 3-1 lead.
The early stages of the second half saw more City domination and two quick goals put us well clear - James Collins scored with an easy header from a Bowen corner and when an Oxford defender for some reason handled the City's next corner a couple of minutes later, Parkins was given the chance to seal his hat trick from the penalty spot and he did so by confidently sending the keeper the wrong way.
Gavin Gordon got goal number six when he beat his marker and drilled a shot past Cox to end the scoring, but there could easilly have been further goals for the City with Jason Bowen in particular coming close on a number of occasions.
To be honest the game petered out once we had gone 6-1 clear and Parkins, Fish and Fleetwood were replaced by Ingram, Thomas and Parslow (which means I still haven't had a look at Cameron Jerome who was our other outfield sub!).
The best news to come out of Ninian Park this week in my view was that we are almost certain to be given Academy status, something which should guarantee some good young talent coming through the system in the years to come. However, on the evidence of today and other reserve games I have seen this season, we have some very decent young players already at the club and, perhaps, we will see some of them in first team action before too long.