June
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Kendall
Young
Hughes
Jordan
Low
Simpkins
Hamilton
Bonner
Bowen
Fortune-West
Earnshaw

lined up from the start in a 3 - 5 - 2 formation. Jordan, Hughes and Young were the centre backs, Simpkins and Low the wingbacks, Hamilton, Bowen and Bonner in midfield with Leo and Earnie upfront. There were few goal scoring chances and little to report on the first half showing. Des Hamilton controlled the middle of the park and looked a quality player. Lee Kendall had a run out and was rarely troubled. Leo and Earnie were quiet and I recall the only serious effort on goal came from a Michael Simpkins drive that rose high and wide.

and for the second half

Alexander
Weston
Prior
Gabbidon
Legg
Maxwell
Boland
Evans
Gordon
Brayson
Jeanne

Now this was more like it. The whole tempo of the game changed. City lined up in a more orthodox 4 - 4 - 2 with Weston at RB, Prior and Gabbidon in the middle and Legg at LB. Maxwell was right wing, Jeanne left wing, Boland and Evans in central midfield with Brayson and Gordan upfront.

Jeanne was the star. He was clearly unfit but it did not stop him performing plenty of tricks and repeatedly beating his man down the wing. With Andy Legg playing behind him Jeanne was continually fed the ball, Legg was coaching and shouting to him all the time. Jeanne responded with some great wing play and it was his cross that Layton Maxwell headed home mid way through the half. Jeanne has instantly become a fans favourite. He reminded me of Rodney Jack when he played against us last January.

Maxwell was quick, a difficult player to mark with quick feet. He surprised Merthyr with his pace because he does not look fast. Prior and Gabbidon looked good.

City should have scored a couple more. Jeanne provided plenty of crosses and Gavin Gordan missed an apparant sitter of a header, which looped high and over. While not wishing to be critical of Leo he was a million miles from Gavin Gordan last night. Gordan won just about every ball he went for in the air and his flick ons and control were of a far better standard than Leo's. All the players in the second half played well. Kevin Evans and Rhys Weston looked "up for it" and they put a lot of effort in. Neil Alexander in goal had very little to do. He was nearly beaten by a quickly taken Merthyr free kick which clipped the bar but apart from that I don't recall a save being needed.

But its early days. These matches are to help the squad come together and at the end it was £5 well spent.

Att 1209.

Report from NigelBlues.
The relentless summer hype and excitement with developments is nearing its end and, at last, it was time to start seeing the reality. Cardiff City 2001/2002 are an outstanding prospect of paper but will they cut it on grass?

In truth, tonight was never going an occasion to make any judgments. As a game, it was no real spectacle – well contested, at times close to boiling over - a dire first-half gave way to a better second-half. Nothing more than a useful opening workout, despite our anticipation, it was never going to be anything else.

The only impression left on most fans were the first glimpses of a couple of debutants as City played a different side, and formation, in each half. Merthyr with a totally rebuilt young side and five first-teamers missing will be delighted with their efforts. Cardiff just about deserved the win on an evening when many would have expected a bigger margin.

As a workout, it was successful. Merthyr pull in 300 to 600 fans for FAW Premier games and less for the majority of their league fixtures. Tonight, one month before the real action starts, Penydarren Park probably had its best crowd of the season already. Strikers Bar alone was packed before the game, including John Fashanu (agent/advisor to Leon Jeanne) sitting in the lounge with members of Leon’s family. The crowd looked quite a few more than the 1,209 officially declared.

Bluebirds fans invaded the place - it was difficult to see/hear pockets of Merthyr supporters. It was a great sight to see so many City fans wearing the new shirts, which look more distinctive and stylish close up then they had in media pictures. It was a novelty too as CCFC replica kits don’t normally go on sale until 3 or 4 months into the season …but we’re a different club now.

Alan Cork selected a 1st/2nd half team and formation.

The 1st half side playing 5-3-2 were Kendall, Low, Young, Hughes, Jordan, Simpkins, Bonner, Hamilton, Bowen, Earnie, Fortune-West.

The first half was boring, sending quite a few fans back to Strikers Bar, others buying cans which you could drink on the terrace, and chatting to each other about what they’ve been doing since May, the hype of the past few weeks was evaporating now we had to watch City rather than talk about them.

Little was learned of players we’d already seen. Low, Young and Bowen were quiet and out of sorts, Hughes did ok in a workmanlike back line, Bonner tidy and effective, Earnie had no or little service while Leo produced more audible laughs around the ground than Andy Jordan, he won 5-3 on my count. Leo’s runs and ‘skills’ down the channels deserving special mention. He was having an over-the-top physical battle too.

Of the debutants;
- Kendall has been at Ninian for several months but tonight was his first senior bow. He was nervous, short for a goalie, but recovered. Not much to do but he shouted and organised well, has a good kick, able to spray accurate 60 to 70 yard passes upfield and got lucky when he charged out of his area once to just win a tackle. Seemed quite happy afterwards.
- Simpkins had a terrible start, almost gifting a goal in the first couple of minutes tapping the ball straight to a Merthyr striker 10 yards out which came to nothing, but got over it. On first impression he looks ordinary, but he links well, shooting is a bit wayward though as he had City’s only two efforts of the half, both shots from distance on the wide left flew mightily high and wide.
- ‘Disco’ Des Hamilton is going to be acrowd favourite. Hard working, very committed in the tackle, able to ghost past players but needs to settle more,his passing will surely get better too. But a City idol in the making, have no doubts.

Half-time
Merthyr 0 (and 1 on-target shot,three well over the bar)
City 0 (2 shots nearly out of the ground)

The second-half was much, much better and a relief. The formation of 4-4-2 undoubtedly helped too but some of the players seemed to show a bit more effort and enthusiasm. It should also be remembered though that City introduced 22 full-time, professional legs while Merthyr retained the same 11 part-time players who were more tired.

The Merthyr side included ex-City players Jimmy Rollo and Tom Ramasut whilst their manager was ex-City star, John Lewis. Their vice-president was an ex-City player too, Paul Sugrue, whose figure has never recovered from the drinking sessions I remembered having with him and Jimmy Mullen in Canton years ago - Mind you, nor has mine!!

The team was Alexander, Weston, Prior, Gabbidon, Legg,Maxwell, Boland, Evans, Gordon, Brayson, Jeanne.

The star of the half, by some distance, and speed, was Leon Jeanne who become an instant icon with chants of Leon, Leon, Leon echoing around the ground. (As someone said, ‘doesn’t that sound much better than chanting Leo, Leo,Leo?”!!).

He was massively short of match fitness, every run left him panting and wheezing. This was his first real game for 8 months but his potential and quality was there for all to see. There is no way he will be start against Wycombe, he clearly has a lot of work to do on his fitness but if City can sort his head, settle him, and get him match and physically fit, we have an instant star.

His every touch was mesmerising. He set up the goal by brilliantly turning his marker inside out near the corner flag then hitting the perfect far post cross for Leighton Maxwell to power a header high into the net. It was noticeable how every player made a point of coming over to Jeanne to congratulate him for his part and he linked well with Andy Legg who is going to be his on-pitch father..

His best moments were an outstanding flick over his marker followed by a beautiful natural cross off the outside of his left boot and one run where he started 10 yards behind his marker and then, running like Michael Johnson with arms pumping high, finished 5 yards ahead of him. One City fan shouted, “I think you need to work on your pace Leon”. Leon was too knackered to smile back but just managed an ayatollah.

There was also an impressive debut by Leighton Maxwell, signed from Liverpool. Although he is described as potential in waiting and a sqaud player, he gave the best midfield display of the night. He is the oldest looking 21 yr old I have seen, a short stocky midfielder with balding ginger hair (he plays Mini Me to Scott McCulloch!) but his tackling, hunger and passing were superb, he was at the hub. It was noticeable how he nearly always passed along the floor too, obviously benefiting from his time at Anfield.

Spencer Prior will be an on-pitch leader and players like Gabbidon, playing alongside him, plus Weston at right wing back, will develop by having him there. The back four looked fairly solid but hard to make judgments as Merthyr spent the 2nd half being pushed back.

Can’t really comment about Neil Alexander either. Didn’t quite look as big as his 6‘2” billing, he has a stick like build but his handling, when rarely required, seemed excellent. He possesses a good kick too. Nearly beaten on the hour, just before City’s goal, from a quickly taken 25 yard free-kick that bounced back off his crossbar.

Of the others, Andy Legg did well at left wing back but his constant shouting, cajoling and moaning at others must get on their nerves, Willie Boland and Paul Brayson (Brayson must have lost well over a stone, looks much skinnier) were quiet, Kevin Evans is no midfielder (we already knew that) but a special mention to Gavin Gordon.

I hope he stays fit and we see him more this season. He looked good, chased the ball down both wings, held it up allowing others to come forward and worked hard. Not the awkward nuisance of Leo in the area but made his presence known, he maybe should have scored one or two but steered headers over the bar. But good to see him out there.

The only disappointment for me was that over the 90 minutes, City really didn’t create that much. There were few efforts at goal and Merthyr looked comfortable, even if the 2nd half was much tougher going for them. I think most City fans present expected more than they, and better than 1-0, but went away happy due to Leon.

It is very, very early days. The players will need, and get, more games and more time to gel. There’s still well over 3 weeks and bigger tests to sort them out.

Report from a Merthyr supporter.
The level of anticipation in the crowd of over twelve hundred (before H-T)at Penydarren Park was equally matched by the competitive nature of this opening friendly of the season, as a star-studded Bluebird's side were given an excellent work out by a well drilled Merthyr team that was unrecognisable from the side that finished the season just two short months ago. With the average age under-25, there were a number of familiar faces in the Martyrs line-up as Tom Ramasut, Craig Lima, Dean Birkby and Lee Farrell all made their return to Penydarren Park.

A mature performance from former Ton Pentre player Wayne Savage, along with the experience of Dean Clarke and Jimmy Rollo gave the Martyrs a well balanced midfield platform while youngsters Mark Parfitt, signed from Llanelli, and Gareth Elliott both caught the eye with their precocious defensive qualities. With very few chances created by either side in the first half the main entertainment was provided by the running fued between Leo Fortune-West and Craig Lima.

The only goal of a highly competitive game, when it came after 62 minutes was probably created and scored by two of City's most creative performers in the totally revamped side fielded for the second half. The quick feet of Leon Jeanne on the left touchline created enough space to allow him to whip a ball to the far post where Welsh Under-21 International Leyton Maxwell made no mistake from close range. Only minutes earlier Dean Birkby's quickly taken free kick caught Neil Alexander off guard and the ball clipped the top of the crossbar, but that was as close as the gallant Martyrs came to finding a way through a City defence well marshalled in the second half by the very impressive Spencer Prior, a close season signing from Manchester City.

Merthyr Team: Neil Thomas: Gareth Elliott (17), Mark Parfitt, Craig Lima, Grant Thomas, Jimmy Rollo (X-City), Dean Clarke, Wayne Savage, Tom Ramasut, Andy Mainwaring, Dean Birkby, Mark Dodd, Lee Farrell, Grant Thomas (17) and Ian Edwards.

Report from the Western Mail.
Reformed wild boy Leon Jeanne enhanced his chances of earning a City contract with an eye-catching second-half display in last night's friendly at Penydarren Park.

The Wales under-21 international has admitted dabbling in drugs and being banned for drink-driving. He was kicked out of Queens Park Rangers after going missing on numerous occasions.

City have given him a second chance and may give the exciting Cardiff winger a contract before his trial period ends.

Watched by his agent John Fashanu he showed glimpses of genuine pace and silky skills. He cleverly created the winning goal for Layton Maxwell, one of six summer signings, to become an instant hit with predominantly Bluebird fans in the 1,209 crowd - probably the biggest Merthyr will have this season.

Manager Alan Cork was encouraged by Jeanne's display but said he needs to shed about half a stone. Cork fielded entirely different teams in each half, the second showing more shape. Gavin Gordon missed several headed chances to give City a more comfortable victory.

Cork included two of his six new boys in the first period - former Chesterfield defender Mike Simpkins and midfielder Des Hamilton, signed on a Bosman ruling from Newcastle.

City began with the system that took them up last season - Simpkins and Josh Low the wing-backs with Scott Young, David Hughes and Andy Jordan central defenders.

Merthyr started with seven of their 10 newcomers, one of them Tom Ramusat making timely tackles on Leo Fortune-West and Low to check early danger.

Simpkins gave the ball away with his first touch but Hughes was covering to deny Andy Mainwaring a shooting opportunity.

Hamilton, who cost Newcastle £1.5m from Bradford, was committed in the tackle and twice cleverly turned his man with a dip of his shoulder.

But City lacked penetration to trouble the Merthyr defence during the first half in which the home side looked more likely to score.

Dean Clarke set up a chance for new signing Dean Birkby who returned the favour for Clarke to shoot over from 20 yards.

Keeper Lee Kendall, making a rare first-team appearance, had to sprint out of his area to beat Birkby to a through-ball and was well-placed to save a full-blooded-free kick from Wayne Savage in the 36th minute - the first on-target shot of the match.

City's only reply before the interval was a stray shot by Simpkins. But their second-half team produced a more forceful display as Cork switched to a 4-3-3 system he may favour in the Second Division.

Centre-back Spencer Prior, a £700,000 capture from Manchester City, played alongside Danny Gabbidon with Andy Legg and Rhys Weston as full-backs.

Merthyr went closest to breaking the deadlock. A quickly-taken free-kick by Birkby caught 'keeper Neil Alexander by surprise but the ball clipped the crossbar.

City responded with the winner three minutes later. Jeanne rounded his marker to cross for Maxwell to net at the far post with a header.