March
Newsfile

Newsfile Archive

There is now no doubt in my mind at all. City are going up. I've been told today that you must wait until Grandstand put a little p next to our name but I know we are going up, I'll put my shirt on it.

After going behind to a goal on the half hour City plugged away at a Torquay team that came to Ninian Park with more to offer than Barnet did in midweek. They were overrun by City for long periods but unlike Barnet they were able to muster some efforts on goal. The end stats of 16 efforts on goal from City to Torquays 5 confirms where the points were destined.

Cardiff were comfortable and if anything were guilty of over playing and not going for the jugular but at the start I wanted us to win and we did.

The flair football was played earlier in the season, we'd all love to see classics week in week out but the aim is promotion, if that means grinding out results then so be it.

City made three changes to the starting line up. In came Gavin Gordan for Leo, Brayson for Earnie and Hughes for Evans. Leo was called upon in the first half as Gordan was taken off suffering from a reoccurance of his thigh strain.

At half time City were 1 down, slack marking allowed Torquay to score on 30 mins. Alan Cork decided to go for it, Josh Low came off with suspected cracked ribs and he was replaced by the returning Mark Bonner, David Hughes was taken off and City brough on Earnie and they went to what looked like a 4 - 3 - 3 formation. The switch around saw City go with Gabbidon, Legg, Young and Weston across the back,  Bonner and Boland played in central midfield with Bowen advancing, Leo, Earnie and Brayson were upfront.

City had most of the possession and were passing the ball well but not really making an impression on goal. The breakthrough when it came was from a superb header from Paul Brayson, at about 5' 4 it was a joy to see the little striker rise up and place a great header past Petterson in the Torquay goal. City were then looking like the only winners but Torquay were still dangerous on the break. The winner came from an Andy Legg long throw. His launch into the box was met by a fortunate Leo FW who's presence made a mockery of the keepers efforts at claiming the ball and the big striker got the touch that saw the ball roll over the line in slow motion.

He may not be pretty, but his presence in the box unnerved Torquay and he got the winner for City and it was job done.

The goals were City's 49th and 50th league goals at NP this season.

Torquay nearly spoilt the party when they should have scored at the end, Mugleton made a desperate save but the linesman's flag would have saved City's blushes anyway.

Good luck to Torquay who remain bottom of Div 3. They brought a fair supoort of 150 - 200 fans (a lot more than many teams) and they made a good account of themsleves. City were too good though and we are on our way to Div 2.