September
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City created several chances and were worthy winners. The line up was..

Kendall, Thompson, Hughes, Jones (Jordan), Giles, Low, Maxwell, Bonner (Evans), Brazier, Nugent and Collins. Subs not used. Ingram, Wallis and Evans (GK).

The reserve team are still unbeaten after 7 games in the league.

Full report from Neil David.
A 50th minute wonder goal from transfer listed Matty Brazier was enough to separate these two strong top six combination sides and maintain Cardiff's unbeaten league record this season.

With Ian Butterworth again taking charge, he opted for all the usual suspects in a team full of squad players but in a marked change from the first team and previous reserve outings he decided to try out a 4-4-2 formation. All in all City can look back on a game they really should have won by far more but, a combination of bad finishing and bad luck meant they have to happy with a single goal win against such close rivals. I have heard criticism of the standard of this league lately, those who have wondered how City can go undefeated in their first year back with a bunch of players who aren't making it at first team level. However, the reality is you have to take a closer look at the reserve team. Not only have all the 3 players on show this afternoon got a huge amount of football league experience, but 7 of which have been in or around the first team this year.

It seems the standard approach adopted by Butts/Cork is whoever made the bench last Saturday is picked to start in the next reserve match, it was no different today. Mark Bonner, who had developed a noticeable dip in form in recent weeks (especially against Peterborough), was back to his old self bossing the midfield. Maxwell returned to the position he took up in midfield for his all too brief appearance last Saturday. Josh Low and James Collins were both true to form each showing glimpses of what they are capable of, followed almost immediately with almost comical errors where they fail to do even the simplest things right.

The first 20 mins were a pretty even affair, with both sides creating half chances but City making some of the most basic mistakes in build up play and slowly Millwall started to take control of the game. It was during this 20 minute period the game was probably won. The defence expertly controlled by David Hughes was completely solid. Gethin Jones as his partner looked far more comfortable than he has ever done at right back. Martyn Giles looked enthusiastic while Thomo (more on him later) seems to read the game far better than those that get picked week in week out for the first team. But with City on the back foot for 20 mins or so Millwall never really got a shot on target and I would think Hughes would have done more than enough to get himself back into contention for a place in the first team/squad. It was during Millwalls most effective period, one of the most bizarre occurrences I've ever seen at NP happened. Around about the 30 minute mark, Milwall had won a corner, their player (Matthew Lawrence I think) tripped over the corner flag as he was taking the corner, the ball rolled barely 10 foot, the player going one way, the corner flag going the other! Probably more out of embarrassment than anything else the player got up, picked up the corner flag and threw it, javelin style into the empty away supporters area on the grange end. With the ball played out for a second corner and Millwall keen to take it quickly,stopped the game, then made him wait until some poor sod made his through the gates way across the Grange end, finally getting to pass back the post with a distinctly sad looking corner flag half hanging off it! It was probably the most entertaining bit of the first half and the javelin star even got away with not being spoken to by the ref.

From this point on, City got into their stride and took the game to Millwall. With Maxwell/Bonner and Brazier all working hard and winning every thing in the middle while Millwalls left back Alan Dunne being given a torrid time trying to contain Josh Low. He need not have worried, everytime Josh beat him he would end up giving the ball away with the silliest of mistakes.

The most memorable attempts of the first half came from set pieces. First a Bonner free kick from 30 yards, extracting a quite brilliant full length save from Millwall keeper Gueret after a Nugent size hole had been left in the Millwall wall. 5 minutes later David Hughes also went close from a well-worked Bonner corner to the near post. In amongst these two there were several almost unforgivable misses. With the Millwall defence now being regularly split by some wonderful midfield through balls. Both Low and Collins (twice) fluffed one on one attempts with the keeper and City went in without scoring and the rest of us wondering how we weren't at least 3 up.

Half Time Cardiff Millwall 0,


The City directors box was noticeably fuller with scout types than normal,maybe it's the success this team has generated in the combination but along with the corks/woods were lots of note takers and City old boy Gazza Thompson (now number 2 at Brizzle Rovers). Joe Jordan also made an appearance but this was explained by his son’s appearance as sub replacing Jones at half time. Kevin Evans quickly replaced Bonner within a couple of mins of the restart and this move proved decisive. City went ahead within 5 mins of the restart. A Millwall attack was broken down by a combination of Thompson and Maxwell followed by a mighty hoof from Hughes ball, which was chased into the final third by Evans. Whilst trying Millwall tried to play it safe across their lines the ball ran loose to Brazier 25 yards out, his first touch knocked the ball up and then he hit it on the half volley as it came down. The Ball screamed into the opposite right-hand corner with the keeper completely stationary, it was a wonderful goal. Probably worth the entrance fee alone. I couldn't help wondering if it was the last we will see of Brazier given all the
apparent interest in him. From that point on it was all city. With the chances we had I can't understand how we didn't score a hatfull with Nugent, Collins and Low all missing good opportunities. The nearest City came was from a tentative 30 yard volley from Kevin Nugent which again had the keeper completely beaten but agonisingly hit the bar to run safe. By now Sam Hammam had appeared in the director box, sitting next to Brayson and Walton (the only players watching) and City were rampant. Nugent played through a wonderful offside trap beating ball to Collins who ran 10 yards clear again with only the keeper to beat he messed up and pass it lamely to the astonished and probably grateful keeper.

The most noticeable thing about City was how balanced they really looked. Thompson, apart from controlling the right hand side magnificently also played some wonderful deep crosses, which we’ve been crying out for all year. It does make you wonder when his contribution is going to be properly noticed. With the game more or less won,   Millwall were reduced to trying to play on the break and as a result were well controlled by a tight midfield and some more solid defending. The one sad note was how Kevin Nugent looks to have slowed, never the fastest of players as the game wore on he faded badly however you could see his contribution today was massive. The way he coaches the players on the pitch shows he still is valuable to city even if it's just bringing the younger guys on. Hopefully he can give some advice on finishing to Collins and Low.

Entertaining stuff again. In truth,  I still don't see too many players here to worry the first team but Bonner, Maxwell, Brazier, Thompson and Hughes all put in great performances and must be at least in with a shout of making the cup side Saturday.

Full time Cardiff 1 Millwall 0