Friendly: Splott Cons FC 3-1 CSKA

CSKA Sophia Gardens suffered a 3-1 defeat away to Cardiff and District League club Splott Cons FC in a 2pm kick-off at Splott Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Dragons entered their second pre-season friendly with the aim of learning more about their new system and giving players game time to edge closer to full match fitness. Once again, the team was missing a number of players due to holidays, work, and other commitments but the team was still packed with quality players showing the depth of this season's squad.

It was a game that started with an intense tempo as Splott Cons FC showed from the very beginning how comfortable they were on the ball. CSKA needed to be at their best in terms of pressing their opponents and defending resiliently. Splott Cons FC dominated the early exchanges with a combination of some superb early saves from keeper Alex Skinner and robust defending from the CSKA back-line ensuring the scores remained at 0-0.

CSKA were still giving their opponents something to think about on the counter attack but failure to connect the final pass or pick the right option in the final third prevented them from opening the scoring.

Given the high intensity of the first half, it was a credit to both team's defences that the scores remained 0-0. Splott Cons FC had undoubtedly looked the more likely to break the deadlock but it had been a combative display from both sides with both teams giving as good as they got in terms of effort.

The second half could not have started worse for CSKA. Splott Cons FC came out of the blocks at full speed and it only took them a few minutes to opening the scoring. A ball through was controlled well by their front man who finished well past Skinner in the CSKA goal despite desperate attempts from the CSKA defence to dispossess the danger man. It was a gut-wrenching blow because the goal had come from CSKA failing to make the most of an attack themselves at the other end showing just how effective Splott Cons FC were when they needed to implement the counter attack.

Fortunately, it was a lead that didn't last long. Just 3 minutes later, CSKA won a corner. Centre back Owen Lewis whipped in a cross that was cleared back out to him. However, instead of sending a second cross back in, Lewis spotted the Splott Cons FC keeper slightly off his line and went for an audacious lob that came off as the ball dipped just under the bar from outside the left side of the area.

It was now clear this game had cranked up a notch. Both teams increased the aggression and tempo of their play. A few meaty challenges were put in and tempers were beginning to fray but the referee managed to control the game well. CSKA were dealt a double blow with striker James Joyce and Rich Hamlett both coming off injured meaning a re-jig once again in the CSKA midfield.

Just minutes later, it was Splott Cons FC who once again took the lead. A re-organised CSKA line-up took time to settle and Splott Cons FC took full advantage. A ball down the right side of the CSKA defence was taken down brilliantly by the Splott Cons FC striker who then finished clinically to give his team a 2-1 lead after 55 minutes.

The second half soon became a barrage of Splott Cons FC attacks as a now bare 11 CSKA side started to suffer in terms of fitness. The defence held firm and there were still a couple of chances at the other end on the counter attack with Kris Dolby nearly equalising and Aiden Martin having a header from a corner cleared off the line.

Still, the pressure that had been applied by Splott Cons FC eventually told and with just 13 minutes remaining they made it 3-1 as an attack saw the Splott Cons FC midfield given time to line up a shot on the edge of the box and finish well into the net.

As legs became tired, CSKA did well to hang on and not concede any more. It was a disappointing score-line given how disciplined and dogged CSKA had performed but it was probably a fair reflection on the quality of the game.

CSKA Sophia Gardens Manager Steve Day said "This was exactly the sort of game we wanted in pre-season. Splott Cons FC are an organised, physical, and decent side who picked at every weakness we had. We went toe-to-toe with them and I couldn't have asked for more effort from the lads. We didn't have a natural central midfielder out there today but the lads who stepped in to play in those roles did an outstanding job.

He added "We know where we need to improve on after today and a lot of the lads got a good 90 minutes of game time in today. It was also pleasing to see a few players who have been recovering from injuries come through this game without any issues. We want to wish Splott Cons FC all the best for this upcoming season and we certainly learned a lot about ourselves from this game which is just what you want from these pre-season friendlies."

CSKA Line-Up

GK: Alex Skinner

DC: Owen Lewis

DC: Owen Kingsbury

DC: Ed Lewis

RWB: Chris Lusted

LWB: Huw Williams

MC: Dan Owen

MC: Aiden Martin

AM: Rich Hamlett

FC: James Joyce

FC: Kris Dolby

Subs: Jack Gibbs and Owen Jones

Goal: Owen Lewis

Assist: N/A

Three Stars: Dan Owen, Owen Lewis, and Alex Skinner