Sat 17th Mar 2001.

Subs not used.
Lightbourne
Evans
Muggleton
McCulloch

Carlisle Utd
Glennon
Winstanley
Morley
Whitehead
Birch
Maddison
Galloway (Hopper 60)
Prokas (Cullen 57)
Dobie
Stevens (Halliday 75)
Connelly

Subs not used.
Carr
Hemmings

Goal hero Paul Brayson
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Paul Brayson opens the scoring (219 kb)
Brayson gets his second (281 kb)
Jason Bowen scores his first and City's third (296 kb)
Bowen scores again to make it 4 - 0 (260 kb)

Report from NigelBlues.
The Bluebirds took another big step to the automatic promotion with another four goal blast. In truth, they played most of the game at half pace and cruised impressively to one of their easiest wins of the season. It wasn't always entertaining but there were goals of the highest quality.

The only question now seems to be not if, but when, City will be promoted. All the other Top 6 sides drew so City opened a 10 point gap between themselves and the chasing pack and closed to within 10 points of Chesterfield with a game in hand and the leaders to visit Ninian. City have, on paper, the easiest run in off the promotion contenders with 6 of the final 9 fixtures against teams in the bottom half of the table and could well go up with 3 or 4 games remaining (Easter Monday at home to Chesterfield??).

The day started for about 80 City fans at a lunchtime meeting with Sam Hammam. He only expected 10 fans to arrive but word of mouth gets around very quick these days.

Sam revealed that our future is the new stadium (perhaps 3 years away) so will not invest heavily in Ninian Park but there are worries that capacity will be a problem if City are promoted and perform well in Division 2. Sam believes the current team would make the top half of Division Two and although he highlighted the club are losing a fortune currently, he is still looking between 5 and 7 new players post-promotion. Three or four to be first teamers, others to boost the squad. Sam mentioned that he has already agreed terms for a fast striker to come to Ninian in the summer as support for Earnie.

Given some assurances that a successful City side could command 12-15,000 in Division Two, it was agreed that the Bob Bank terrace will be re-opened next season with no roof while the Grange End will be covered. The total work will only be about £250k but increase capacity from the present 13,000+ to around 20,000. The meeting went on longer than necessary but it was superb news, the first time I've ever heard Cardiff City plan to get bigger and better after promotion. In recent history, this is usually the point where we sell our best players and go backwards again!

Onto the game, Andy Legg returned from his 3 match suspension and a huge ovation for his Wales call up but was used in midfield. Rhys Weston remained in central defence and Kevin Evans was on the bench with new loan goalkeeper signing, Carl Muggleton, from Stoke who had his fellow club mate, Kyle Lightbourne, also on loan, next to him. There had been rumours that Lightbourne would start but Leo passed his late fitness test.

The Bluebirds had a dream start with a second minute lead and if ever a player signalled his return, it was Leggy. Attacking the Canton Stand first half, he ran through midfield and played the ball wide for Gabbidon to win a throw near the left corner flag. All action Leggy then sent the ball boy away to get a towel for future throws, dried the ball in his shirt, threw a huge low throw into the centre of goal, Leo flicked on and Paul Brayson turned home under pressure from 2 yards at the far post. Simple, effective, everyone knows what's coming but so often they are powerless to stop it.

For the opening 15 minutes, City were rampant and Carlisle were so obviously inferior. The Cumbrians are fighting, yet again, for league survival - finishing 91st seems to be the extent of their ambition these days which is a shame for a potentially big club - but had only lost 3 of their previous 14 league games and beat Orient at home in midweek. It would be easy to judge them a poor side but it would be an injustice to Cardiff, an outstanding team at this level with outstanding players who showed once again why they are way too good for Division Three.

City stormed at them with Legg, Brayson, Bowen, Boland, Gabbidon and Low causing panic and terror. Scott Young had a header cleared off the line, Low was just wide, Hughes was just over, Bowen and Hughes had perfectly legitimate penalty appeals declined, the football was flowing and best emphasised by a stunning second goal on 14 minutes.

I hope television shows the full move because it will reveal City putting together 20+ passes and pulling Carlisle in every direction. A Josh Low run and cross was totally missed by Paul Brayson but played out and City built again. After a Bowen head back, Legg shimmied to pass to Bowen who magically flicked onto Brayson and then he showed immaculate technique to side step a marker and brilliantly hit a rising shot across goal from 15 yards which curled wickedly inside the far right hand post. It was a move and finish that belonged to a far higher level of football and had the whole ground raving about it.

Carlisle were getting niggly and nervy at the back, not helped by their keeper Glennon, who didn't catch one ball in the whole 90 minutes but struggling to hold City in other areas and out to stop us playing. There were a couple of minor flashpoints with Low and a Carlisle player and then Legg and Prokas, remembered for a horrific unpunished foul on Arsenal's Viera in the FA Cup recently. Brayson and Bowen were also coming in for treatment but the referee was lenient, annoying both teams at times, and annoying the crowd with his erratic decisions and fussiness, how many times did he demand free-kicks and throw-ins were moved one or two yards?

City's intensity stopped and the game had little goalmouth incident. Carlisle had one shot wide from 20 yards whilst more Mark Walton hesitancy saw him lucky not to concede a soft goal as a header hit him when he was hopelessly out of position but overall, City was holding Carlisle with ease and in a low gear.

Just before half-time, City made it 3-0 and killed of any remaining doubts about where the three points were going with another superb move and goal. It started with Carlisle attacking and having a throw level with City's penalty area but the taker was judged to have foul thrown and the ball was given to City. Hughes launched it upfield, Leo and a marker battled with each other rather than for the ball and in a split instant, Paul Brayson showed more quality as he turned a marker and hit an outstanding ball 40 yards through the middle on the outside of his boot. Jason Bowen's finish was cool as he raced clear of the final defender, rounded the keeper and then with a defender racing back to goal, he held the ball for a moment, saw the gap and rolled it past him into the far right corner from 15 yards. Quality, quality, quality!

Half-time: City 3 Carlisle 0

City started the second period and they started the first, in total dominance, leaving Carlisle chasing shadows. Gabbidon had a close range effort blocked within 2 minutes of the restart before ref Stretton turned down City's 3rd penalty appeal of the afternoon and the most obvious one all season. Brayson rode one foul and was given play on then raced into the area turning the last man, as he shaped to shoot, he was hauled down with a tackle that belonged to the France vs Wales rugby game rather than this match. It was astounding to see play on awarded. Moments later, Stretton awarded City a free-kick when a defender jumped into Brayson 30 yards out which only added to the derision he was receiving.

When City won their next edge of area free-kick, Stretton played a pivotal role again asking City to move it 10 yards forward and forcing Carlisle to put just about all their 11 men on the goalline. It disadvantaged City who had a better position initially but then they disadvantaged themselves by Boland's drive being blocked and cleared by another City player inadvertently!

It was a matter of time before it was 4-0 and it came courtesy of another composed Bowen finish. A short corner from Legg to Bowen was returned and whipped in by Leggy. Leo nodded back, Gabbidon effort was blocked and with Carlisle under siege, Jason Bowen turned to send two or three defenders racing out the wrong way and unleash a drive into goal from 12 yards. The goal also succeeded in sending a few Carlisle fans home on their 5 hour drive home, an hour at Ninian Park was more than enough for them!

It was City's 80th league goal of the season and, incredibly, the 8th time they have scored 4 or more goals in a league game in 22 starts. It was the 4th time Carlisle had conceded 4 this season, two of other teams were Brighton and Chesterfield emphasising the gulf between top and the rest.

With half an hour to go, City relaxed. The game was won and they didn't need to bust a gut and they many in the Ninian crowd into a slumber too but even at half pace, it was only Bluebird players who stood out. Josh Low beating his two markers time after time and his crosses were usually excellent too, some great variation but what is it about Leo?? Carlisle said he was their biggest problem and, yes, he was involved in two goals but they seemed to be his only contributions of the afternoon. There were headers he didn't jump for, balls he didn't chase, his ball control and hold up play were non-existent and he does seem unhappy. He also doesn't help himself by never attempting to have any rapport with the fans, he never acknowledges chants for him and even when he is substituted with the whole ground applauding, he doesn't applaud in return, the only player at the club like this.

City also produced two chances in the final half hour and looked set to make it 5-0 as another stunning Josh Low run and cross to the far post was headed by Brayson for Glennon to make a superb block and deny his hat-trick, the ball fell to Bowen also aiming for a hat-trick but he was squeezed out too. David Hughes whistled a 35 yard drive a foot over the bar but with the final 10 minutes ticking down, City switched off totally and it was only then that Carlisle created real chances for the first time all afternoon.

The best players today were undoubtedly Bowen and Brayson, Jase was awarded man of the match but Brayson was arguably slightly better for me and I also thought Rhys Weston showed a welcome return to form. Show of his touches and the way he played himself out of problems in the second half was immense. And Josh Low was as exciting as ever, one of those playes who creates a buzz every time he gets the ball.

The main highlights for most City fans of the quiet closing stages were funny ones rather than magic moments. The Bob Bank chanting for Jason Bowen to ayatollah. As they did, the ball was played to him for Bowen to slip his marker and pass the ball back inside while simultaneously ayatollahing, hilarious.

And then there was Sam Hammam. He took up his customary second half position behind the goal looking like a freedom fighter dressed all in black with a black puffer jacket and all the ground saluting him with "Sam Hammam My Lord".

He also spent a couple of minutes with a Welsh flag tied around his neck making him look like the Lebanese caped crusader that he is! And when he finally returned to the Grandstand, it was to a standing ovation which he milked for all it was worth.

City had a couple of let offs and spoiled their afternoon slightly by conceding a last minute goal but it was probably what they deserved for the way they shut down too early. A good move and quality finish as our rearguard were opened with some crisp passes, Halliday turned his man and squeezed a shot inside a post from 10 yards.

It sent one Carlisle fan into raptures and he ran back and fore the Grange terrace dancing up and down in joy and had City fans clapping him. He nearly upstaged his bald mate who had been getting some stick too and left early showing his beer belly to City fans before waving bye and getting clapped out of the ground.

An unsatisfactory finish by City but another satisfactory afternoon. Current expectations are so high and maybe unrealistic that we now expect City to put 6 or 7 past teams in this form. If we kept going, we may well have done so but football doesn't work like that.

You only have to think back to Carlisle away last October for the contrast, we were mid-table going nowhere, sacked 2 managers (Ayre and Gould within a fortnight) and the 250 or so of us there that Tuesday night at Alan Cork's first game in charge saw City go two behind in the half hour against opponents who had lost 7 on the trot and hadn't scored for 10 hours. That's when things were bad at City, not now when they're winning 4-0 and can't keep it going for 90 minutes!!

All that mattered were the three points and we could them without the slightest trouble - I salute you City!

Goal hero Jason Bowen
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Report from www.sports.com
Cardiff City's unbeaten home record was never in doubt after they opened the scoring in the second minute, and their only mistake was to allow Carlisle a last minute goal.

The Cumbrians were yards off the pace, and Cardiff were able to stroll their way along before almost declaring with the score at 4-0 in their favour.

Strikers Paul Brayson and Jason Bowen netted their 12th and 11th goals respectively, before both being denied hat- trick efforts late in the one-sided match.

It was hard to rate the Cardiff performance, so easy was it made for them that they hardly missed their injured leading scorer Robert Earnshaw.

Home captain Andy Legg had the Carlisle defence in disarray as his long throw caused panic in the second minute with Leo Fortune-West pushing it on to Brayson at the far post, who slid the ball back into the net.

That was really the end of the contest, as Cardiff's head coach Alan Cork said afterwards: "I am pleased with the way we played, but early goals can sometimes work against you."

There was no need for Cork to worry, though, as Cardiff went further ahead after 14 minutes when Brayson netted again, this time with a curler that left the visiting defence standing and staring.

There was no response from Carlisle, and Cardiff were now able to stroll and push the ball around, much to the delight of Cork and his staff.

A third goal was always looking likely and Brayson this time was the provider as he caught goalkeeper Matthew Glennon sleeping. His lobbed pass sent Jason Bowen through to round Glennon and pick his spot.

The second half went the same way as Carlisle's Ian Stevens and Richard Prokas were booked and Prokas eventually taken off, though he was his side's best competitor.

Cardiff's fourth was scored after 57 minutes when three players had shots blocked before it came to Bowen, who sent three defenders the wrong way and scored with ease.

Atkins brought on three substitutes for Carlisle, although the door had already been closed and one of the new faces, Jon Cullen, missed badly with a header from a Scott Dobie cross.

Cardiff were now far too casual, and although both Brayson and Bowen were denied hat-tricks at one end, it was Carlisle who scored a late consolation goal.

Substitute Steve Halliday went through on his own in the final minute to defeat Cardiff goalkeeper Mark Walton with ease.

Josh Low "skins" his man
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Report from www.ananova.com
Double strikes from Paul Brayson and Jason Bowen powered Cardiff City to an easy 4-1 victory over struggling Carlisle.

It only took two minutes for the home side to open the scoring when Brayson managed to put the ball in the net following an Andy Legg throw-in.

He netted his second 12 minutes later with a superb swerving shot which easily beat Matt Glennon in the Cumbrians' goal.

Bowen got in on the act a minute before the interval and again after 57 minutes when once again the Carlisle defence failed to clear.

Despite being four goals to the good it was not a vintage City performance - Carlisle proving to be one of the poorest teams seen at Ninian Park for some time.

But Cardiff's 13th home league win of the season was spoiled slightly when substitute Steve Halliday reduced the arrears on the final whistle.

Report from www.totalwales.com
CITY could be virtually assured of automatic promotion from Division Three even before they play their next game in a fortnight.

The Cumbrians kept battling for a consolation goal. It came in stoppage time when substitute Steve Halliday eluded a couple of flimsy tackles as City switched off.