Cardiff City U18s led twice against hosts Bristol City at the SGS Wise Campus, but they eventually went down to a 3-2 defeat following a last minute winner.
Midfield player Ryan Kavanagh, a former pupil at Cardiff’s Mary Immaculate School, scored both goals for Cardiff City.
‘Kavs’, a dynamic, athletic box-to-box player, shone for Cardiff through the middle. He has been in Cardiff’s Academy since the age of seven.
Coach Matthew Bloxham made four changes to Cardiff’s starting line-up from their previous matches with Australian goalkeeper Jaimie Cogman, Josh Rippon, Caleb Hughes and Cian Ashford called up.
Kavanagh fired the Bluebirds ahead from a Rubin Colwill cross two minutes before half-time, while 16-year-old Prince Henry, the cousin of former Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City forward Daniel Sturridge, equalised on 55 minutes.
Cardiff regained the lead when Kavanagh struck on 75 minutes, stabbing the ball home from close range at the back post, but Will Gould netted the Robins’ second goal three minutes from time.
The visitors were edged out when Thierry Swaby struck with an injury time winner.
Cardiff City’s next PDL under-18 match is against title-chasing Watford at Cardiff Sports Campus on Saturday, February 15 (11am).
Bristol City: Smith, Callum Pearson, Khari Allen, Joe Porton, Trialist, Jago Lott, Will Gould, Alex Scott, Prince Henry, Ayman Benarous, Marlee Francois. Subs: Mark Thuo, Josey Casa-Grande, Thierry Swaby, Lewis, Cameron Salmon
Cardiff City: Jaimie Cogman (gk), Owen Pritchard, Josh Rippon, Sam Parsons (capt), Eli King, Harry Pinchard, Caleb Hughes, Frazer Thomas, Cian Ashford, Rubin Colwill, Ryan Kavanagh. Subs: T Davies, Brad Stewart (gk), Cooper, Keeping, Demery
Professional under-18 Development League South
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | D | P | |||
| 1 | Millwall | 18 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 57 | 21 | +36 | 40 | |||
| 2 | Watford | 17 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 42 | 28 | +14 | 36 | |||
| 3 | Bristol City | 19 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 46 | 34 | +12 | 34 | |||
| 4 | Charlton Ath | 17 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 36 | 18 | +18 | 33 | |||
| 5 | Crystal Palace | 17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 40 | 23 | +17 | 28 | |||
| 6 | Ipswich Town | 17 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 34 | 31 | +3 | 25 | |||
| 7 | Cardiff City | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 39 | 41 | -2 | 20 | |||
| 8 | Colchester | 17 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 33 | 53 | -20 | 16 | |||
| 9 | Coventry City | 20 | 5 | 1 | 14 | 27 | 62 | -35 | 16 | |||
| 10 | Queens PR | 18 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 25 | 52 | -27 | 12 |