Cardiff City 3, Coventry City 3

Kieron Evans, a teenager from New Tredegar, struck a crucial late blow for Cardiff City in their under-18 fixture against Coventry City.

The Sky Blues were 3-2 ahead deep in second half injury time when Evans scored his second goal of the match.

Evans was spotted by Bluebirds scouts playing at the ‘Basin’ playing for Bargoed YM at the age of eight.

The 17-year-old has been with Cardiff for almost a decade and is on a two-year contact.

He is a creative, athletic and tricky 17-year-old midfield player who has scored nine goals for the under-18 team this season.

Heolddu Comprehensive School pupil Evans is intent on following fellow New Tredegar boy Darcy Blake into the first team ranks with Cardiff.

Defender Blake, who has now retired, played for Wales, Cardiff, Crystal Palace and Newport County.

This was City’s 20th Professional Development Under-18 League match of the season and they stay top of Division Two South.

They are unbeaten in 2019 and went into the clash with Coventry following a 4-0 win at Crystal Palace a week earlier when Sion Spence, Sam Bowen, Kieron Evans and Rubin Colwill were the scorers.

Evans put Cardiff ahead after 25 minutes from an accurate Harry Pinchard pass, while Ross McParland equalised with 52 minutes gone.

Sion Spence restored Cardiff’s lead when he scored on 64 minutes and almost added a third four minutes later when his shot flew just wide.

George Hunt netted to make it 2-2 after 78 minutes and Coventry went ahead for the first time with seven minutes left when Costelus Lautaru was on target.

At 3-2, Coventry looked likely winners, but Evans popped up with Cardiff’s third three minutes into injury time.

Cardiff City: Jordan Duffey, Ryan Kavanagh, Ryan Reynolds, Jac Davies, Trys Jones, Keenan Patten Rubin Colwill 58), Sam Bowen (capt), William Warnock (Sam Parsons 46), Harry Pinchard, Kieron Evans, Sion Spence. Subs: George Ratcliffe, Rudy Knott, Owen Pritchard

Coventry City: Bilson, Aaron Whitmore, Forsythe, Fixter (capt), White, Endall,  Lautaru, Rowe, Crowther, Bapaga, George Hunt. Subs: Costia, Fallows, McLeary, McParland, Burroughs

Remaining Cardiff City PDL youth fixtures

• March
• Saturday 2 v Ipswich Town (away, 11am)
• Saturday 9 v Nottingham Forest (home at Cardiff International Sports Campus, Leckwith, Noon)
• Saturday 16 v Leeds United (away, 11am)
• Saturday 23 v Bolton Wanderers (away, 11am)
• Saturday 30 v Sheffield Wednesday (home at Cardiff International Sports Campus, Leckwith, 11am)
• April
• Saturday 6 v Crewe Alexandra (away, 11am)
• Saturday 13 v Burnley (home at Cardiff International Sports Campus, Leckwith, 11am)