So yet another defeat for a Cardiff City reserve/Under 18 side, but , when you consider the sides that were put out today there was no disgrace losing the game against opponents who had a stroner looking team than the one that beat our second string 5-1 in another friendly between the sides earlier in the season.
Whereas City had Darren Purse, Darcy Blake, Jon Brown and Warren Feeney (who played the full ninety minutes on his return from the injury he sustained while on loan with the jacks) and a bunch of Academy youngsters, the wurzels fielded a side that featured first teamers Weale, Orr, Keogh, Carey, Murray, Noble, Vasko and Trundle.
Apart from at centre back, the wurzels were comfortably bigger than City all over the park as well and the visitors advantage in terms of experience and physique was reflected in a first half which resembled one way traffic for most of the time. Play was constantly heading towards the City goal, but Polish trialist keeper Erwin Sak didn't really have too much to do as shots (many of them by Lee Trundle) flew too wide or too high. It has to be said as well that there was also some good last ditch defending , notably from Anthony Acheampong, by the City team, but, for much of the time, it seemed a question of when the wurzels would score not if.
However, despite being under the cosh for so long, City then enjoyed their best spell of the match in the ten minutes either side of half time - visiting keeper Weale was finally called into action when he made a routine save from Gallagher after a nice City move and then he held on at the second attempt after Darcy Blake got in a shot after he had run powerfully with the ball for fully fifty yards.
Just after the interval, another strong run by Blake set Kaid up to cross low from the right and Feeney's close range effort came back off the upright with the keeper beaten. A sharp turn and fierce shot by Jon Brown called Weale into action again shortly afterwards, but, after that, apart from along range effort by Blake which Weale saved easily, it was more backs to the wall stuff by City as the wurzels put the pressure on.
For a long time, it looked like City might hang on for a draw. Keeper Sak could do with growing three or four inches, but he impressed me today initially with some clean handling (the ball seemed to "stick" with him a lot) and then, as he was forced into more difficult saves, good reaction stops from a Trundle free kick and a close range effort by Artus.
Unfortunately, though the keeper was beaten when the ref allowed Murray (who had seen an early effort clear the crossbar by a whisker with Sak beaten) to take a free kick on the edge of the area while he was still lining up the wall and the winger curled the ball low into the corner of the net to win the game.
By this time, City had an even more inexperienced team on the pitch because Purse had gone off to be replaced by Brad Middleton, but, by and large, the youngsters didn't do too badly today. I've already mentioned Sak who was pretty impressive and of the others, Acheampong gave one of the better performances I have seen from him, Aaron Morris didn't do badly at right back again and Blake and Carlile battled hard in central midfield.
One other player I must mention is Zac Evans who came on for the last twenty five minutes or so in place of Jack Carlile. I thought he looked very comfortable in central midfield as he always made himself available and played quick, sharp passes that invariably found their man - based on this evidence, he could be one to keep an eye out for in the next couple of years or so.