June Newsfile

Newsfile Archive

Shamrock Rovers arrived in Cardiff unbeaten this pre season, their matches have included a win over Argentinian stars Boca Juniors. What they did not expect was to find Jason Bowen in lethal form as he picked up a second hattrick within 5 days. Bowen opened the scoring on 11 mins when his header was judged to have crossed the line by the referee and the goal was given. Dai Thomas picked up his second penalty goal within 4 days when he slotted home the most cooly placed kick I've seen, Dai took one step back and I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he intended it to go as tight in the corner as it did. The penalty came when sweeper Jason Fowler was brought down in the box. Jason Bowen was put through one on one on the stroke of half time and he did enough to push it under the keeper to make it 3 - 0 at the break. At half time Shamrock had not registered shot on goal and they were toiling under the free flowing and mightily impressive City. With 10 minutes of the second half starting Bowen completed his hattrick. As Shamrock restarted City took possession and another flowing move move brought a perfect finish from Danny Hill to complete the scoring. City continued to threaten but Shamrock were allowed more time on the ball and they were most effective when they ran through the City heart and forced Jon Hallworth into several fine saves.

My comments to make were. City were never tested at the back. They showed how skillful they could be going forward and I'm sure next season matches will be more likely to end 3 - 3 than 0 - 0.

Most positive point of the day was the Shamrock Rovers fans. They were brilliant. About 150 - 200 were there and they sang all game. After the poor performance by their team in the first half they were shouting for City. They cheered every pass by a City player and as City made 3 - 4 second half substitutions they gave each Bluebird a standing ovation as they went. In the second half the Rovers fans started chanting stand up if you hate Swansea, which of course went down a storm.

They saved the biggest cheer to the first Rovers player to have a shot at goal. That came around 60 minutes.

Excellent entertainment this afternoon. It was only a friendly,it will be different next week. Next season will be one of the most entertaining for years I'm sure of that.

City team
Hallworth - Never troubled. Dealt with anything Shamrock had to throw at him.

Faerber - Good game, made the bye line several times and was solid enough in defence. He did the Ayatolah he came off. This prompted the Shamrock fans to do it as well.

Legg - As solid as ever. Will have a massive influence on the team next season.

Jarman - Boy can that lad pass a ball, he produced some stunning passes today. Was solid enough but rarely tested.

Eckhardt - Mr 110% as ever. Again not really tested.

Fowler - Sweeper. never did anything wrong and help create chances all game, was strong going forward. I think Jason could stay there if we had two good centre backs.

Boland - Quiet game but when he did get involved you could tell he is a quality player. Helped create plenty of chances.

Bonner - In my opinion even quieter game than Boland but still helped to create chances.

Hill - Scored a goal and never made a mistake. Good player.

Bowen - Awesome. This bloke will be the star next season. I think with the confidence and form he is showing he will be our 30 goal striker.

Thomas - Dai worked hard. He got his reward with the penalty but still managed to miss a few sitters. He is definately sharper and fitter than last year though.

Subs
Brazier came on for Hill, Hughes for Bowen, Middelton for Faerber and Lee Phillips came on for Eckhardt or Jarman (cant remember).

No getting carried away becuse it was only a friendly but my appetite is well and truly whetted after seeing 13 goals in 5 days. I cannot wait until next Sat.

Report by NigelBlues.
Cardiff City (3) 5 Shamrock Rovers (0) 0
Bowen 3
Thomas
Hill

Att: didn't hear announcement 2,000 approx Shamrock: 150 of the best supporters around Weather: PHEW, IT'S HOT, what a scorcher! 85 degrees. Atmosphere: ok for 2,000, Shamrock superb, Cardiff saving it for next week

Team:
Hallworth Fowler Eckhardt Jarman Faerber Legg Boland Bonner Hill Thomas Bowen

The real action begins next week although City celebrated this win by having  John Charles on the pitch to award them with the Centenary Cup. That's a  good enough excuse for me to go out tonight and celebrate at the Centenary  Dinner!

Ninian hasn't changed at all except the Grange End now has straightened  barriers, the catering points have been tidied and the Bob Bank t.v. gantry  has been chopped to a third of its size ... and the club shop was still  sparsely stocked with fans unable to buy City shirts in most adult sizes,  some things never change!

As far as the game was concerned, Shamrock came with a decent enough  reputation and buoyed, in the media if not themselves, by a pre-season draw  with St Johnstone and beating top Argentinian team Boca Juniors. However it frequently looked like men against boys (bhoys?) as Cardiff played the green and white hooped side off the park comprehensively and, quite simply, blew them away.

What seems to longer be in doubt is that City have potentially one of the classiest sides in the Division with Bowen, Legg, Hill, Fowler, Brazier , Boland and maybe Faerver as good as you get at this level and give time and space to play will rip sides apart as they have done to Bath, Cwmbran and Shamrock scoring 18 goals and could have had double that. Whether the side will cope under pressure is to be established as City cracked against Dunfermline, Clyde and Carmerthen letting in 12. We may well be the Keegan-type Newcastle of Division 2, winnning big and losing big. But we're going to enjoy City on-song and today was superb entertainment in blistering heat.

I missed the first goal due to City's usual professional admin antics. This time it was season tickets as the office was in disarray. I honestly could have picked up loads and walked away. Instead, they found 3 of my 5 before the game, another at half-time and I have to go next week to see if they can find the other one. If you're one of the 2,000 plus fans to collect your ticket, get it sorted early next week.

Back to the game, Bowen scored with a low shot that thekeeper tried to save and the linesman ruled that the ball had crossed the line after 13 minutes. Yes, I was still in the office!!

City were in total control, the moving and passing was exceptional. Fowler and Jarman, under no pressure whatsoever playing at the back, were producing long passes of the highest quality. A few fans were muttering that Fowler could become a sweeper, surely not?

It was 2-0 after 20 minutes shortly after a superb 60 yard Fowler pass put Dai Thomas through on goal, his hard and low shot from 20 yards missed the far post by a fraction. From the goal kick, another flowing move put Fowler clear on goal. He seemed to show the pro's trick of diving for a penalty and got it. It was harsh but minutes later, he was cruelly hacked and the ref waved play on. These things even out. Dai made no mistake with a cooly taken penalty. He took one step backward and buried the ball low into the corner.

It was obvious that we were going to win the cup :>), it was just a case of how many we would score. Credit to the players for producing a quality of football that Shamrock couldn't live with. Hill was close after a superb move, Bowen was a class above anything on the pitch, Legg was exceptional on the left and one of his special throw ins from the halfway line put Bowen clear on goal for the keeper to make a good save and the right-footed Faerber (no left foot though), had some great touches and excellent unrewarded crosses that Nugent will love when fit again although Dai Thomas can take some credit in a decent performance.

Jon Hallworth was a virtual spectator as City produced move after and a well deserved third was converted on the stroke of half-time as another Jason Fowler thorugh ball put Jason Bowen clear. He was composed to drill a low shot home but their keeper could have got down more quickly a Bowen didn't exactly bury it in the corner. Jason Bowen looks totally sharp and is now justifying a start in a striking role with his pre-season form. He tore Shamrock's defence to shreads.

H/T City 3 Shamrock 0

The second half carried on in the same vein with City pushing forward, feeling little or no pressure whatsoever at the back and were rewarded with 2 more goals within 30 seconds in the 56th minute, both the results of quality, sweeping moves.

The 4th goal, probably the best of the game, started outside City's penalty area as a headed clearence saw Fowler tread on the ball but Hill got behind and swept the ball wide to Boland on halfway. Boland moved inside and played to Thomas who hit a ball across goal for Bowen to hook back from the far side and collect his 2nd hat-trick in 5 days. Can he produce regularly? On this irresistible form, it's difficult to see why we desparately need someone else ... but we still do.

Almost from the kick-off, another move from the right wing saw a great low cross met by Danny Hill on 6 yards in front of goal and swept home.

The remaining half-hour was more or less played out and City introduced, Brazier even annnounced on the tannoy as "the people's signing", Faerber was replaced by Middleton and stood on the halfway line Ayatollahing to all the fans following Billy Ayre's prompting and Jamie Hughes replaced Bowen.

What needs special mention here is the Shamrock fans. Having seen their team humiliated, they decided to enjoy themselves anyway and rather than criticise their side, they applauded City. They stood up and applauded every City substitution, they cheered every time City p[assed the ball, they cheered when they had a shot and they started the chants of "If you all hate Swansea City, clap your hands" and "stand up if you hate Swansea" before singing "we'll meet again" to City fans. Next summer in Ireland will do me! Couldn't fault them at all and City fans responded by joining in with them and clapping them too. Not sure it will be the same with Millwall next week though!

Shamrock had slightly more success in the closing quarter as Hallworth had to save a couple of shots, they looked more dangerous especially when runnning at City's defence and were unlucky with one effort that came back of the inside of the post. City were still creating but overall, it was comfortable enough and entertaining and definitely will put the support in the mood for the real stuff next week. It's just hard to know whether to say City will be at the top or mid-table, we won't be anything less. It's going to be fun to watch whichever way it goes. Bring on the Millwall!

So City won the Centenary Cup in a one sided final with quality football against oputclassed opponents. Who would have thought this when the tournament was initially to include the likes of Leeds, Celtic, Aston Villa and Real Madrid!!