Ben Margetson, the son of former Bluebirds and Wales goalkeeper Martyn, scored Cardiff City’s winner in their 1-0 Professional Development League under-18 win at Queens Park Rangers.
Coach Craig Bellamy’s young players are running into a crucial period of the season. They’ve earned four successive victories in all competitions and have two big cup ties coming up.
City have been drawn away against Hull City in the FA Youth Cup and they travel to Taffs Well in the Welsh Under-19 Cup.
Bellamy took his team to QPR’s Sipson Lane ground fun London for their fourth successive and Margetson’s winner kept Cardiff top of PDL South Division Two.
The 18-year-old scored after 25 minutes when he headed past goalkeeper Dan Middlehurst into the bottom left corner.
Cardiff produced a solid, all-round team display, but had Dan Griffiths sent off with three minutes left.
Ryan Reynolds, with a glancing header, and Dan Griffiths, whose shot was deflected wide, led City’s early charge, while the R’s had Nathaniel Carlyle and Nathaniel Orafu booked during those exchanges.
Margetson’s goal gave the Bluebirds the lead, while Isaak Davies had two shots blocked on the QPR line.
Cardiff continued to dominate with a Davies close range shot saved by Middlehurst, while George Ratcliffe, in goal for the visitors, had to have treatment on the pitch after a collision.
The best chance for Rangers came in the last 10 minutes when Carlyle’s shot flew wide, while Cardiff were reduced to 10 players in the closing stages when Griffiths was dismissed.
That didn’t stop City attacking and captain Sam Bowen raced clear of the home defence, but did not make the most of his opportunity.
Cardiff City: George Ratcliffe, Connor Davies, Ben Margetson, Ryan Reynolds, Joel Bagan, Sam Bowen (capt), Jac Davies (Sam Parsons 65), Keenan Patten, Isaac Davies, Dan Griffiths, Kieron Evans. Subs: Jordan Duffey (gk), Trystan Jones, Sam Parsons, Eli King, Ryan Kavanagh.
FA Youth Cup third round (last 64) draw was made at Wembley with clubs from the Premier League and Championship joining the competition.
Holders Chelsea have been drawn away to Manchester United.
Last season’s runners-up Arsenal kick-off their challenge at home to either Northampton Town or Swindon Town.
Manchester City face non-League opposition in Clevedon Town or Sutton United.
Third round ties must be played by Saturday, December 15.
FA Under-19 Youth Cup draw:
1 Sheffield Wednesday v Stoke City
2 Blackburn Rovers v Cheltenham Town or Gillingham
3 Everton v Sunderland or Oldham Athletic
4 Burnley v Oxford United or Barnet
5 Huddersfield Town v Peterborough United
6 Watford v Birmingham City
7 Preston North End v Charlton Athletic or Southend United
8 Leicester City v Fulham
9 Arsenal v Northampton Town or Swindon Town
10 Accrington Stanley or Notts County v Leeds United
11 Wolverhampton Wanderers v Wigan Athletic
12 Hull City v Cardiff City
13 Maidenhead United or Torquay United v Nottingham Forest
14 Middlesbrough v Sheffield United
15 Bristol City v Salford City or Crewe Alexandra
16 West Bromwich Albion v Lincoln City or South Shields
17 Liverpool v Cray Wanderers or Portsmouth
18 Manchester United v Chelsea
19 West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion
20 Southampton v Rotherham United
21 Aston Villa v Swansea City
22 Blackpool v Derby County
23 Ipswich Town v Wingate & Finchley or Andover Town
24 Bolton Wanderers v Newcastle United
25 AFC Bournemouth v Mansfield Town or Chester
26 Stevenage or Exeter City v Bury
27 Cogenhoe United or Coventry City v Crystal Palace
28 Millwall v Tottenham Hotspur
29 Port Vale or Sutton Coldfield Town v Norwich City
30 Clevedon Town or Sutton United v Manchester City
31 Queens Park Rangers v Rochdale or Milton Keynes Dons
32 Yeovil Town or Cambridge United v Reading
The draw for the third round of the FAW Under-19 Youth Cup was made at the FAW in Cardiff.
Holders Swansea City come into the competition at this stage and were first out the bag, landing a home tie against last season’s Welsh Premier Development League champions Aberystwyth Town.
Beaten finalists last season, Cardiff City, travel to Taff’s Well, while Brickfield Rangers host Cefn Druids in a derby clash.
FAW Youth Cup round three draw:
Bangor City or Connah’s Quay Nomads v Llandudno
Brickfield Rangers v Cefn Druids
Merthyr Town v Trefelin BGC
Pontardawe Town v Llanelli Town
Risca United v Cardiff Met
Swansea City v Aberystwyth Town
Taff’s Well v Cardiff City
The New Saints v Newtown
Ties to be played on Sunday, November 25.