Willams winner sends U18s through in Youth Cup

AFC Bournemouth Under-18s are through to the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup after a 1-0 victory at home to Cardiff.

Khavarn Williams netted the only goal of the game with a neat first-time finish, James Oliver being the provider 24 minutes in.

Alan Connell was without top scorer Christian Saydee, who picked up an injury in the last round against Barnet. Williams came into the side, having scored a hat-trick against Portsmouth this time last week.

The first chance of the game did indeed fall to the Cherries, after some lovely play down the right-hand side. 

Luke Pardoe made a great run, before squaring to Euan Pollock. The forward met it just outside the area and hit a first-time shot at goal, but Brooklyn Genesini got in the way and Cardiff rushed to clear their lines.

It was then the visitors who threatened up the other end of the pitch, Sam Parsons playing it through to Siyabonga Ligendza, but Cherries captain Harvey Bertrand did enough to keep the shot off target.

With conditions worsening, both teams exchanged possession, but it was the hosts who found a breakthrough first.

Some superb play from Oliver down the left saw him run 30 yards with the ball, before a low cross found Williams in the box, who finished first-time beyond Jaimie Cogman.

Cardiff then began to put pressure on the Bournemouth goal, with Kavanagh playing through Ligendza, but Cameron Plain won the race and smothered the ball into his hands.

The visitors were on the attack moments later as Ligendza was involved again. He played it to Pinchard, who was racing through but Bertrand was there once again to clear.

As the second half kicked-off, the Welsh outfit continued as they had left off, with Plain immediately called into action.

He rose highest to catch Parsons’ cross, as Ligendza was closing in.

It was then over to substitute Kieron Evans to try his luck, but he hit a tame shot from 20 yards that didn’t move the Cherries shot-stopper.

As Cardiff looked to find a leveller, it allowed Connell’s side to hit them on the counter-attack and that’s exactly what Oliver did with 20 minutes to go.

Bursting down the left, he looked to tee up Pardoe, but City captain Joel Bagan got there in the nick of time to clear.

Cardiff were soon on the attack again, however.

This time, second-half substitute Rubin Colwill hit a low shot through the legs of Bertrand and Plain did well to save having clearly seen it late.

The visitors were added another boost with ten minutes to go as the Cherries were reduced to ten men.

A foul from Pardoe on Taylor Jones saw referee Ross Martin show a straight red, as the latter received treatment on the sideline.

A final chance would prevent itself to City as James Crole chased down a Plain clearance. As the ball looked to be going over the line, the ‘keeper recovered and slid to clear at the final opportunity as his side held on to win.

The under-18s will now go on to face Millwall at home in the fifth round, with a date and ticket details to be confirmed in due course.