The Sky Blues Under-23s fell to defeat against Cardiff City at the Alan Higgs Centre.
The visitors had the first chance of the game and it came through a mix up at the back which enabled Jaami Quereshi the chance to test Tom Billson, but the City ‘keeper was alert to produce a fine save.
At the other end, a ball into the box was cleared only as far as Jay McGrath, but his shot from the corner was blocked by a Cardiff man on the edge of the six yard box.
City welcomed four Trialists into the side and one of those had the Sky Blues best chance of the half as he had a chance from range, but his effort drifted wide.
Tom Davies went close for the visitors to finding the first goal, as his free-kick came back off the wall and then the follow-up forced Billson into a fine save.
Billson was awarded for his fine saves when a mix-up between the Cardiff defender and Goalkeeper enabled Fabio Tavares to latch onto the error and find the back of the net.
HALF-TIME: Sky Blues 1-0 Cardiff City
The Sky Blues started the second half the brighter of the two teams and Trialist almost doubled City’s advantage when he was on the end of a Jodi Jones free-kick, but his header drifted wide.
Just before the hour mark, the visitors were back on level terms and it came through unfortunate circumstances when Trialist put into the Sky Blues net and gave the visitors a route back into the game.
City looked to restore their lead immediately and they had a chance through Jordan Shipley, but his shot on the edge of the area went over the bar.
Jodi Jones had an opportunity when he won a free-kick from around 25 yards out, but he couldn’t trouble the goalkeeper as his set-piece went over the bar.
Billson was called into action again with 20 minutes left on the clock as he had to do well to get across to his left to deny Quereshi from inside of the area.
City thought they should have had a penalty with five minutes left on the clock when Will Bapaga was brought down in the area, but his appeals were waved away.
Cardiff would go straight up the other end and capitalised on an opportunity which presented itself and it was Isaac Jeffries who found the back of the net to make it 2-1 to the visitors.
During the Cardiff celebrations, City were reduced to ten men when Jordan Shipley was shown a second yellow card.
Sky Blues Xl: Tom Billson (GK), Trialist, Jay McGrath, Trialist, Trialist, Jordan Shipley, Josh Eccles, Jodi Jones, Will Bapaga, Trialist, Fabio Tavares.
Subs: Luke Bell (GK), Ricardo Dinanga, Jonny Ngandu, Aidan Finnegan, George Burroughs.