Premier Under-23 Development League:

Cardiff City 4, Charlton Athletic 3 

Anthony Pilkington fired a hat-trick for Cardiff City’s development team in their victory against Charlton Athletic at Cardiff International Sports Campus.

Mark Harris also netted for the young Bluebirds, but was sent off after midway through the first half.

Pilkington might have scored four goals, but he had a second half penalty saved.

Goalkeeper Lee Camp, Callum Paterson and Pilkington were all over-age players in the development team, aiming to improve on their match fitness.

Camp, in particular, is closing in on a challenge to be starting goalkeeper in the Championship.

Cardiff went ahead when Pilkington scored following a Jamie Veale corner after seven minutes, while Harris made it 2-0 from a penalty after he was brought down.

Reeco Hackett-Fairchild pulled one back for Charlton when he beat the offside trap and scored, while Harris was dismissed on a straight red card after an altercation with a Charlton defender.

Joe Cummings headed in to make it 2-2 and Hackett-Fairchild scored a third for the London club, who looked in control against 10-man Cardiff.

Pilkington’s 63rd minute penalty, awarded when Cameron Coxe was fouled, was saved and at that stage the Bluebirds looked in trouble.

But they made it 3-3 when Pilkington buried a beautiful effort in the bottom corner from the edge of the box after 68 minutes and he completed his treble after a Charlton defensive error by goalkeeper Jordan Beeney.

He dropped the ball as he tried to catch and Pilkington reacted quickly to score the winner after 77 minutes.

It was a spirited and deserved win for Cardiff, who kept battling after Harris was dismissed and emerged worthy winners.

Cardiff City: Camp, Paterson, Abbruzzese, Veale, Duffus, C.Young, Coxe, Reynolds, M.Harris, Pilkington, Waite. Subs: Byrne, Proctor, Madden, Jones, Humphries.

Charlton Athletic: Beeney, Yao, Edwards, Cummings, Blumberg, Lapslie, Carter, Sarpong-Wiredu, Maloney, Yamfam, Hackett-Fairchild. Subs:  O’Neil, Bowry, Mascoll, Yao, Anderson.

The match against Charlton was Cardiff’s final development fixture during September. Their matches in October are:

October

Monday 9 v Colchester United (away, CUFC training ground, 1pm)

Monday 16 v Millwall (away, Dartford FC, 2pm)

Monday 23 v Watford (home, Cardiff City Stadium, 7pm)

Monday 30 v QPR (away, Harlington Sports Ground, 1pm)