Tommy Taylor and Ash Boatswain were on target as Town’s U21s drew 2-2 with Cardiff City in Professional Development League Two South at Cardiff International Sports Stadium this afternoon.

Blues summer signing Tudor Mendel-Idowu, playing wide on the right, forced the first save of the game from home keeper Jake Dennis in the third minute, the former Anderlecht and Chelsea youngster exchanging passes with Taylor before hitting a shot from a tight angle.

Two minutes later for Cardiff, Michael Reindorf played through Mannie Barton on the left of the Town box but the former Wales U16 international shot wide of Woody Williamson’s right post.

The home side had a goal ruled out in the 13th minute when Reindorf cut in from the left and hit a shot which Cardiff captain Freddie Cook diverted onto the bar. The ball returned to Cook but this time his looping header was palmed from under the bar by Williamson. Luey Giles followed-up to put the ball over the line but the linesman’s flag had been raised.

A minute later, with the Bluebirds seeing most of the ball, Cody Twose struck a shot from distance which struck a defender and looped into Williamson’s arms.

On 20, Town’s Montserrat international striker Ash Boatswain struck a low shot on the turn from the 18-yard line which Dennis claimed down to his right, before Twose found space to shoot on the edge of the Blues’ box but Town skipper Jacob Mazionis got across to block.

Town, in their maroon away kit, began to take charge and in the 27th minute, they were awarded a penalty. Taylor exchanged passes with Mendel-Idowu, who threaded a pass through from the edge of the box and Tom Davies pulled the Blues striker back. The referee pointed straight to the spot.

Taylor (pictured) took the kick himself and found the net despite Dennis getting a strong boot on the ball as he dived the wrong way, taking his total of U21s goals for the season to five.

Cardiff quickly looked to get back on terms, Tanatswa Nyakuhwa hitting a shot from a tight angle on the right which flew over Williamson’s crossbar. On 29, skipper Cook headed wide at the far post from a deep corner from the right.

Three minutes later, Cardiff broke swiftly from inside their own half and Dakarai Mafico played Nyakuhwa in on goal but the Wales U19 international blazed well wide when he should have done much better.

The poor finish was something of an escape for Town but it was the Blues seeing most of the ball at this stage and in the 35th minute midfielder Steven Turner’s shot from the edge of the box was blocked.

A minute later, Jesse Ayoola made a vital interception from Barton’s low left-footed cross with Reindorf behind him preparing to tap home from a couple of feet.

And as the half moved into its final five minutes, a right-wing cross was nodded down to Trey George, whose shot was deflected wide by Ayoola.

Cardiff were now on top and in the 43rd minute they levelled. Giles crossed from the left following a throw and Reindorf escaped his marker to loop a header past Williamson to the Scotland U19 international keeper’s right.

The Welshmen were finishing the half strongly and in the final scheduled minute Nyakuhwa struck a powerful effort which Williamson did well to save to his right.

But seconds before the whistle, the Bluebirds took the lead. Ayoola sought to head back towards Williamson but only succeeding in putting Barton through on goal and the left-sided wideman confidently beat Williamson.

Having got the lead via the penalty, the Blues had been on top but as half-time approached they had allowed the home side to take charge and Cardiff goals had looked to be coming.

Town should have levelled two minutes after the restart. Boatswain seized on a poor pass back towards Cardiff captain Cook, took the ball on into the area on the left but shot across the face of goal and wide.

But in the 52nd minute, Boatswain did find the net. Taylor’s powerful shot from distance was pushed onto his right post by Dennis but the Montserrat striker was quickly onto the loose ball. Dennis saved again but Boatswain was able to hook the second rebound into the roof of the net to level.

The Bluebirds went looking to restore their lead and on 58 Davies clipped a cross to the far post but Nyakuhwa was unable to make a clear contact with his header when well placed.

But Town were on top as the game passed the hour mark, home skipper Cook blocking a Turner shot from just outside the area on 63.

Seven minutes later, Town swapped forward Matty Roberts, a former Wales U16, U17 and U18 international, with Northern Ireland U19 international Rio Morgan, while Cardiff switched Barton for Baylin Johnson.

On 73, Oli Davis took over from Mendel-Idowu, who had shown glimpses of his pedigree down the right flank, then six minutes later Jesse Nwabueze took over from Taylor.

Chances had been rare at both ends since Town’s equaliser but on 83 Nyakhuwa volleyed from a tight angle on the right across the face of goal.

A minute later, Morgan air-kicked a dangerous ball from the right, then moments later the sub scuffed an effort wide.

There was a big scare for the Blues in the 88th minute when Reindorf robbed Ayoola and lifted the ball over Williamson from distance but saw it bounce off the bar to the relief of the keeper.

As the game moved into injury time, Mafico was booked for pulling back Morgan as the forward broke towards the area.

Morgan took the free-kick himself and Dennis did well to get across to his right to push past his post.

From the corner, Town headed over and moments later the whistle ended an entertaining encounter which both sides will feel they could have won.

The Blues were well on top at 1-0 but allowed the Bluebirds back into it and then conceded the two goals just before the break, both the result of defensive errors.

Town didn’t allow that to affect them, however, and came out strongly after the break, Boatswain grabbing a predatory equaliser having been unable to take an earlier opportunity.

The Blues had the better of it from there but both sides had chances with the Welsh side coming closest with Reindorf’s late effort off the bar.

Cardiff: Dennis, Jefferies, Giles, Twose, T Davies, Cook (c), Nyakhuwa, Mafico, Reindorf, George, Barton (Johnson 70). Unused: Thomas, J Davies, Watts, Debono.

U21s: Williamson, Jambang, Lewis, Mazionis, Ayoola, Turner, Mendel-Idowu (O Davis 73), Okunowo, Boatswain, T Taylor (Nwabueze 79), Roberts (Morgan 70). Unused: Curtis, Fleischer.

Photo: TWTD

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