12/04/2025
12/04/2025
Peterborough United Under 18
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Cardiff City FC Under 18 Academy

cardiff18s

Peterborough United Under 18s begin a three-game week, as they return to base to host Cardiff City on Saturday morning (11am). 

With only six games left in the calendar, our Under 18s play are set to play a host of them over the next week, starting with the Bluebirds’ visit on the weekend.  

While our youngsters fell to defeat last time out in Bournemouth at Under 18 level, the same group took to the pitch at Vicarage Road on Friday afternoon, claiming a 2-1 victory over Watford. 

Looking to pull the momentum into tomorrow’s fixture, Jimmy Unwin’s side are tasked with Cardiff City, who are a mixed bag when it comes to form, winning once in their last five. 

Making the trip from the Welsh capital, Tom Hutton’s side head into the bout having most recently been held to a 3-3 draw with Wigan Athletic at the Cardiff City Stadium.  

TEAM NEWS   

A young team is expected to be fielded, as a large chunk of the group travelled with the Under 21s to Watford on Friday to cover for injuries.  

THE OPPOSITION   

Cardiff City are sat fifth in the southern section, having picked up 39 points from 25 league matches. Tom Hutton’s young Bluebirds have seen 12 victories, three draws, and ten defeats over the course of the term. The Welsh side had the edge over our youngsters last time the two sides met, winning by the odd goal on the coast. 

FROM THE MANAGER   

Professional Development Phase (Under 18s) Lead Coach Jimmy Unwin said ahead of the game: “It will be a really young group on Saturday, but it’s a good opportunity for some of the younger players to step up to the mark, and see what they’re all about like we did last week at Bournemouth. We’re looking forward to the test, and we’ll have to be right at it, but it will be nice to see the boys tested at different levels."  

UPDATES  

Updates of the game will be available on The Posh Academy X account.   

VENUE   

The fixture will take place at the idverde Training Ground.  

 

George Holley

An incredibly young Peterborough United Under 18s were beaten by Cardiff City in the Professional Development League on Saturday lunchtime.  

Jack Sykes found the net on five minutes, before a Riley Hilaire-Clarke double and a stand-alone strike from Mannie Barton put the contest well beyond Jimmy Unwin’s side. 

City were quick out of the traps, and landed the first blow within five minutes - with their first attempt on goal. The ball was fed over to T-Jay Parfitt on the left hand side, who picked out SYKES in the penalty area, smashing home the opener.  

The blitz from the visitors continued on 13 minutes. This time, Robert Tankiewicz – who would prove to hold a presence in midfield – picked out the path of HILAIRE-CLARKE, whose strike wrongfooted Ben Westcott.  

And then our youngsters might have reduced their deficit to one – but Danny Higgs had other ideas. George Holley stood up to a dead ball and took aim for the bottom corner, forcing the City ‘keeper into a stop at full-stretch.  

Buoyed by their early two-goal lead, the away side continued to attack. The ball was knocked free to Tankiewicz inside 12-yards, but Westcott was quick to close the angle, forcing the midfielder to opt to support out wide, where Hilaire-Clarke’s effort was well defended.  

Now, with the bit between their teeth, the momentum shifted in our favour, as Junior Crozier made up ground to advance into the final third – but his strike landed wide. 

City – as they had done an hour earlier – found the net within minutes of the whistle when HILAIRE-CLARKE fired past Westcott.   

The action didn’t let up with the woodwork coming to our aid, as Bamlak Dagne’s back pass escaped Westcott. 

Our wide options seemed the best avenue to try and break down the masked ranks of grey shirts. In doing so, Dagne made up 20-yards, before shifting the ball onto his left foot and whipping across goal – with the strike sailing over the crossbar. 

But we were rocked on our heels once more in the 69th minute. BARTON was allowed room to drive at goal, arrowing an effort past Westcott into the bottom corner to complete the action. 

Posh: Westcott, Crozier (sub Fraser 78min), Joseph, Holley, Aikins, Arber, Simmons (sub Mlityalwa 56min), Christoudias, Davies, Beech, Diagne (sub Sudakaran 78min). Unused sub: Bucknall, Komolafe. 

Half-Time: Posh Under 18s 0-2 Cardiff City Under 18s                                                     
 Full-Time: Posh Under 18s 0-4 Cardiff City Under 18s 

 

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