Watford 0, Cardiff City 0

Former West Brom and Bangor City goalkeeper Matthew Hall was in magnificent form for Cardiff City in their under-23 fixture against Watford away.

West Midlands-born Hall, 21, saved a penalty during the goalless draw at Wingate and Finchley FC.

Hall made a series of big saves and kept out a Dan Phillips spot-kick when he made a low stop after 15 minutes.

Stuart O’Keefe went close with a close range shot which flew over the bar, while the midfield player also had a free-kick saved by Hornets’ goalkeeper Adam Parkes.

Towering defender Ben Tricker, aged 18, was a key player in Watford’s back four, while Ben Margetson did well for the Bluebirds and made a crucial block to deny Watford after 83 minutes.

It was a close-fought match which could have gone either way.

Watford: Parkes; Mullings (Suckling 87), Tricker, Mukena (capt), Leighton; Phillips, Yamfam, Adebiyi; Bennetts (Sankoh 62), Bennetts, Wise (Sesay 77). Subs not used: Bani, Kealey

Cardiff City: Hall, Coxe, Evans, Pryce, Margetson, Armstrong, Jones, O’Keefe, Clarke (Pinchard 80), Moore, Ochieng. Subs: Williams, Burwood (gk), Colwill, Griffiths. 

Cardiff City under-23 remaining fixtures:

April

Saturday 6 v Birmingham City (away, at the Autotech Stadium, Noon)

Monday 15 v Bolton Wanderers (home, Cardiff City Stadium, 7pm)

Professional Development under-23 League South

#		Team	MP	W	D	L	F	A	D	P
1		Ipswich Town U23	25	14	7	4	64	30	+34	49
2		Coventry City U23	25	12	5	8	45	36	+9	41
3		Crystal Palace U23	25	12	5	8	50	42	+8	41
4		Millwall U23	25	10	6	9	30	27	+3	36
5		Bristol City U23	26	10	5	11	43	46	-3	35
6		Charlton Athle…	25	9	6	10	39	40	-1	33
7		Queens Park Ra…	26	8	7	11	54	58	-4	31
8		Cardiff City U23	26	7	8	11	37	38	-1	29
9		Watford U23	24	5	5	14	26	43	-17	20
10		Colchester Uni…	26	6	2	18	30	72	-42	20