Cardiff City 7-1 Penybont: Callum Robinson scores twice in convincing friendly win

Callum Robinson played a starring role as his two goals helped Cardiff City defeat Penybont at Leckwith in a comfortable 7-1 triumph.

The Bluebirds welcomed the Cymru Premier side to the capital for their third friendly of the season and, truth be told, they made light work of it.

Robinson scored two early goals, both with stunning finishes. The first came thanks to a fine run from Callum O’Dowda, who then set him up 20 yards from goal and he fired into the top corner.

The second came when teenager Ronan Kpakio got past his marker and played a fine pass to Robinson, who calmly lifted the ball over striker Adam Przybek.

And Kpakio, 17, was in action again just a few minutes later when, just after the half-hour mark, he ran circles around his opposite man and found his way to the byline before delivering a quick cross towards goal. O’Dowda was the obliging recipient and he slammed home from just a yard out. The young right-back was not getting hurt in front of the watching Erol Bulut.

Robinson had a golden chance to score his hat-trick just after the break when a corner was deflected to him at the far post. His low shot from close range was well saved by Przybek.

Shortly afterwards, however, half-time substitute Raheem Conte, fresh from a contract extension, added a fourth with a first-time finish from the edge of the box.

Penybont could not live up to Cardiff’s hopes. Another half-time change, Ollie Tanner, did the damage with some fine footwork down the right before crossing low to the edge of the box where Kieron Evans was waiting. The winger curled a low shot into the bottom corner to make it five.

Penybont did have a consolation, however, as Chris Venables leapt and headed home from a late set piece to put the visitors ahead with 12 minutes remaining.

But Cardiff would have the final say, with Joel Colwill coming in thanks to a fine build-up play involving Cian Ashford and Ollie Tanner before scoring from close range. And Ashford himself would provide the finishing touch, scoring first time after being found by a low cross.

Cardiff XI: Alnwick (Dennis 58); Kpakio (Conte 46), McGuinness (Gbadehan 58), Goutas (Fagan-Walcott 46), Collins (Bagan 46); Turnbull (J. Colwill 58), Ralls (T. Davies 58); Evans (Jefferies 69), Robinson (Ashford 58), O’Dowda (Tanner 46); Etete (I. Davies 58).

Top scorers: Cardiff – Robinson x2, O’Dowda, Conte, Evans, J. Colwill, Ashford.

Penybont – Venables

21:19Key Event

FULL-TIME! Cardiff City 7-1 Penybont

21:15Key Event

GOAL! Cardiff City 7-1 Penybont (Ashford 87)

Great strike! Ashford, like Evans, whips the ball into the bottom corner to add a seventh. Beautiful finish.

21:12Glen Williams

84

Tanner denied! A low shot with his right foot is saved thanks to a strong save from Przybek.

21:10Key Event

GOAL! Cardiff City 6-1 Penybont (J. Colwill 82)

Joel Colwill scores from close range after a fine move involving Ashford.

21:09Glen Williams

79

Fagan-Walcott wins a challenge on foot with James Crole, with the former Cardiff striker charging towards goal.

21:07Glen Williams

GOAL! Cardiff City 5-1 Penybont (Venables 78)

Goal! Chris Venables with a lofted header from a set piece to score a goal for Penybont!

21:01Glen Williams

73

Bagan dances into the box but the ball is stolen from him before he can pull the trigger.

20:58Glen Williams

70

Close! Isaak Davies picks up a loose ball on the edge of the box and shoots with his left foot – it goes just wide of the post.

20:57Glen Williams

69

Conte does some brilliant work down the right and crosses, but the ball is headed over the bar by a Penybont player.

20:55Glen Williams

67

Tanner passes to Colwill 20 yards out but his first-time shot goes over the bar.

20:51Glen Williams

63

Bagan releases Evans down the left but the winger’s cross for Isaak Davies is deflected wide.

20:46Glen Williams

58

Robinson, McGuinness, Etete, Ralls, Turnbull, Alnwick out.

I. Davies, J. Colwill, Gbadehan, T. Davies, Ashford, Dennis on.

20:41Key Event

GOAL! Cardiff City 5-0 Penybont (Evans 53)

And another! Tanner with some impressive footwork on the far side and he pulls back a low cross. Credit to Evans, though, who fires one into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

20:39Key Event

GOAL! Cardiff City 4-0 Penybont (Count 50)

Great strike from Conte! Cardiff make it four.

The right back enters the area and shoots hard, first time, past the goalkeeper. Well used.

20:35Glen Williams

47

It should be a hat-trick for Robinson! A corner is cleared at the near post and Robinson gets in and slides the ball towards goal – but it’s a good save from Przybek low down.

20:33Glen Williams

46

Back on track

Conte, Fagan-Walcott, Tanner and Bagan.

Kpakio, Goutas, O’Dowda and Collins leave.

20:17Key Event

INTERVAL! Cardiff City 3-0 Penybont

20:14Glen Williams

44

O’Dowda again with a lovely cross to the far post and Evans fails to connect with the volley, which goes wide.

20:10Glen Williams

40

Turnbull tries the ball from 30 yards out but it whizzes past the post.

20:04Key Event

GOAL! Cardiff City 3-0 Penybont (O’Dowda 34)

Goal! O’Dowda!

Kpakio again! Wow, what a haul this kid is having. The right-back tears his marker to shreds, flaying him down the flank before curling a superb ball across goal. O’Dowda slams home from literally a yard out.

20:02Key Event

GOAL! Cardiff City 2-0 Penybont (Robinson 32)

Goal! Robinson again!

What a lovely finish, but again, what about that build-up play? Ronan Kpakio did himself no harm in front of Erol Bulut here tonight. He cuts inside and plays a delightful pass straight into the path of Robinson. The striker lifts the ball past Przybek who charges into the top corner.

20:01Glen Williams

31

O’Dowda again found space and crossed well into the box, but Przybek saved.

19:59Glen Williams

28

Evans with a strong run outside a Penybont player, who slid in to dispossess him before a cross could be delivered.

19:52Glen Williams

22

Great chance. Kpakio does well to deliver a low cross into the box and Etete comes out of goal and shoots on the curve, from 12 yards out, but lifts it over the bar.

19:49Glen Williams

19

Evans comes down the right and hits one with his left, rippling the side netting.

19:47Glen Williams

17

TUrnbull makes a wonderful pass into the box and Etete approaches but is unable to head the cross home.

19:41Glen Williams

10

O’Dowda causing problems again. Uses his speed to get to the byline and cross to the back post. Evans is outjumped, however.

19:38Key Event

GOAL! Cardiff City 1-0 Penybont (Robinson 8)

GOAL! Robinson with a beautiful finish.

It’s a big strike, but it’s all about O’Dowda in the build-up. The Irishman circles around his defender before diving between two others who are trying to bring him down. As he’s wrestled to the ground, he sets up his compatriot 20 yards from goal and he shoots into the back of the net – top left corner of the goal.

Sweet ending.

19:37Glen Williams

6

Ralls sells Alnwick a little short with a back pass. Reffell tries to steal the ball but Alnwick manages to clear it.

19:35Glen Williams

4

City’s attacking lineup is as you’d expect. Turnbull operating in that deeper role like Ramsey did at the weekend. O’Dowda and Evans hold the width while Robinson plays behind Etete.

19:31Key Event

START!

Here we go, we’re on our way to Leckwith. Penybont puts us on our way.

19:23Glen Williams

Players retreat through the tunnel

18:57Glen Williams

Players come out for warm-up

The sun is shining here at Leckwith, setting up an incredible evening with the players already out on the pitch.

18:32Key Event

TEAM NEWS

Cardiff XI: Alnwick; Kpakio, McGuinness, Goutas, Collins; Turnbull, Ralls; Evans, Robinson, O’Dowda; Etete.

Subs: Dennis, Conte, Fagan-Walcott, Bagan, T. Davies, Gbadehan, J. Colwill, Tanner, Ashford, Jefferies, I. Davies.

18:20Glen Williams

Young man goes on loan

He signed this month.

https://x.com/GlenWilliams12/status/1813243362549346387

Glen Williams

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