Hugely disappointing result here at the soulless Cardiff International Sports Campus (in other words, Leckwith Stadium – a terrible venue to watch football, spectators being a considerable distance from the pitch).
Chris Llewellyn assumed temporary management duties and selected an adventurous 3-1-4-2 formation, with Harlan Perry holding in front of Ben Phillips, Brogan Popham and Carter Heywood. This caused us some anxious opening moments as we needlessly lost possession right in front of our area.
On the first occasion, we conceded a free kick in a dangerous central position. Cardiff skipper Thomas crashed a shot against the crossbar. We didn’t learn our lesson, lost the ball cheaply again moments later, Tankiewicz snapping up the chance to put the home side ahead on 4 minutes.
It’s no exaggeration to report that that was pretty much the last that was seen of the Cardiff attack during the first half.
We dominated possession, Thomas Woodward having a headed equaliser ruled out and Ramon Rees-Siso causing numerous problems for the home defence. Morgan Bates somehow didn’t get on the end of a tempting Deacon free kick deep in the Cardiff area. He went near again ahead of half-time before Rees-Siso tricked his way into the box, his final shot being cleared by the keeper’s legs. A goal at that stage would’ve made a great difference.
As it was, Cardiff got to half-time ahead.
The 2nd half was scrappier. We fell into the trap of mixing it with the opposition. Our chances dried up, none of our changes worked and we got continually picked off on the break.
5-0 sounds and feels like a humbling.
Winger Barton ran the length of the Swansea half – we lost possession from our own corner – to get a convincing 3rd. He rubbed salt in the wound with a cheeky rendition of Swim Away.
There was still enough time for a couple more late goals and for Cardiff centre half Parfitt to get himself dismissed for throwing a punch at Perry.
We looked a quite disheartened and bedraggled XI at the end, at which point we were fielding 3 U16s.
A weekend to forget for all our teams, it seems.
Tom Wright; Ben Phillips, Brogan Popham, Carter Heywood (s – Caio Ifans 87m); Harlan Perry; Billy Clarke (s – Callum Jones 62m), Tom Woodward (s – Alex Godfrey 87m), Milo Robinson (s – Aidan Higgins 70m), Callum Deacon (captain); Morgan Bates, Ramon Rees-Siso.
Unused sub: Wahab Ojetero.
Goals: Tankiewiscz 0-1 4m; Tankiewiscz 0-2 62m; Barton 0-3 66m; Ola (pen) 0-4 79m; Barton 0-5 90+5m.