Brief summary by Dave Thomas

In last night's Cardiff derby the second team match was served as a starter rather than desert - but what an appetizer it was! With the recent surge in membership and the prospect of a game without having to travel to Bristol, City were well represented with 11 players turning out for the seconds. New recruit Jack McNamara made his debut a full 24 hours after first being shown a korf, and Cally made her first start of the season.

The game burst into life around the five minute mark, as Brian sunk a simple runner of the ever-presnt Gwen. Less than a minute later some good hustling from Eleri at the half way line allowed Cally to fire the over the top pass to Gwen, and Cardiff's hardest working assister made no mistake with her open shot - landing her first league goal to a great cheer from round the hall.

When Terry earnt and desptached a penalty straight from the change-over, a 3-0 lead was looking good for City against a Uni side which hadn't threatened much. All that was about to change though as the Uni's first reserves hit their stride. Braces from Ceri and Craig helped Uni into a stunning turn-around, as 3-0 became 5-3 in a matter of minutes.

A real ding dong battle was developing and it was City's turn to hit back. Brian Carswell, in the side to bring some guidance to City's rising stars, repeatedly found unmarked colleagues, and Aidan went close a couple of times before Cally marked her return from injury with a nicely taken runner. Roles were reversed as Cally then set up Brian for the equaliser shortly before half time.

Terry ignored the halftime team talk to put his shooting boots on and gave the game its second lead change with a long shot just after the restart, but Uni were not to be denied and equalised straightaway. Harry Smyth, completing his tour of the Celtic lands by entering the fray for Cardiff City wasted no time getting on the scoresheet, racing through for runner off Gwen's feed. In no time at all he was at it again and City had an 8-6 lead they would not relinquish. Two more tremendous distance efforts from Terry were countered by a pair from Uni super-sub Donna, and an entertaining clash was brought to an end 10-8 to City.

It is a credit to the progress made by both clubs that such an entertaining and high scoring fixture could take place between second teams in only the league's second season, and with both squads jostling for position and first team chances, skill levels in the area can only rise. A few pictures below...

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