THE MATCH THAT CONFIRMED PROMOTION TO DIVISION 2.
Leo scores City's 1st
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Leo and City's
secind (165 kb)
Hat trick hero
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Report from NigelBlues.
What a day, what a weekend and what another mess on your emotions as
Cardiff
City put us through the slicer yet again. But THE BLUES ARE GOING UP, the
tables now show (P) after our name (and, for some, the joy was increased for
some by seeing (R) after Swansea's!) and this time, surely, we're not coming
back.
We all know Sam's finances and leadership have helped make the difference
from a club that would have struggled badly without him but maximum credit
must go to Alan Cork who came in at a difficult time and has steered City
from 14th to 2nd and to the players, nearly half of them experiencing their
first full season of first team football. Whatever have been the
deficiencies we have all felt existed at times, they all did their job
overall. Cardiff City are going up because they fully deserve it.
It is a shame they threw the title away when it seemed to be there for the
taking but I've little doubt which of the promoted teams will go on to do
well in Division Two. The Blues are back!
A memorable weekend started for me on Friday night in York, a beautiful roman
city, with a walled city, an outstanding cathedral, outstanding central area
BUT, most importantly of all, a fantastic selection of pubs. It's sods law
that as I go in the first pub, I met Tony Jefferies of the Supporters Club.
I asked him about the 100's of City fans he mentioned on Real Radio last
Thursday and he revealed it was Alun and his missus standing 30 yards away
shouting Bluebirds while he was on air! Top Man.
One headache (and fairly sleepless night) later, it was time to get some
brekky and the place was already filling with Bluebirds. But what caught my
attention most was a middle aged guy buying a pastie wearing a Nationwide
Football League blazer and tie. I grabbed him and asked if he was the ref,
"no, the 4th official", he said. So I told him to get a York player sent
off
(the 4th official did it to Leggy this season) and make sure the ref gave us
a penalty and disallowed anything York scored. Maybe York's penalty, which
never was one, was because of me.
Unbelievably, the 4th official then said to me, "there seem to be a lot of
Cardiff here, is it an important game for you?". I had to explain if we won
or other results went our way, we were promoted. I couldn't believe that he
didn't seem to have the slightest clue where we were in the table and what
the game meant - he did by the time I'd finished with him!
What made the day special was the friendliness of York, not just the police
but the pubs too, it was a credit to them and an example to every other
football town in the country, the ones City visit anyway.
The pubs all had doormen, although and were in the same checked blazer and
tie uniform, but all seemed more than happy to allow groups of City fans to
drink in them. After a 250 mile journey, that's all you want. With Man Utd
vs Man City on Sky for early arrivals, the atmosphere was soon being whipped
up.
One of the groups I drank with included a mad City fan, last seen skipping
down the road with his mate chanting the Blues are going up!, who is an agent
and another City fan who is a teacher mentioned he now works with Ben
Thatcher of Spurs's old teacher. Cue a call to Ben Thatcher who called his
old teacher a **** but got to sample the atmosphere of City fans 'warming up'
for the match.
Bootham Cresecent, York City's ground, is 5 minutes walk from the centre but
plonked at the bottom of 4 or 5 residential streets and totally invisible
from any direction. It's amazing how all the City fans found it on time
(it's amazing how our group managed to get out of the pub on time too!). The
main walk towards it was down a road of B&B's, many had Welsh flags draped
out of their windows.
The ground was pleasant but lower division fayre but ideal for us as it had
all the room needed for the travelling support. Again, I can't praise the
police enough for their welcome. They were so low key it was such a
contrast to everything seen in recent times which has been totally over the
top and today proved it. There were no cameras, no searches, only a couple
of police standing around outside, all were smiling. It was just £8 to get
in and once inside, you could transfer to a stand for £1 more, savour it
because we'll pay a lot more next season!
City had a large open terrace behind one goal and about half of both stands
on either side of the pitch. The main stand to our right was about 30 yards
long either side of the touchline and between that and our terrace appeared
to be half a dozen substitute manager dugouts and a lime green cylinder tower
(the colour was as bad as Matt Gabb's shirt!) that looked like Dr Who's
Tardis gone wrong. What was it??
The York terrace opposite us was named the David Longhurst Stand after a
striker of theirs who died of a heart attack in a game a few years ago and it
was especially poignant today as the game was proceeded by one minute silence
for Mike North, the referee who tragically died in similar circumstances at
Southend on Easter Monday. It was observed impeccably but, as always
happens, once that 60 seconds has elapsed, a huge roar comes out and today's
was deafening.
As they came out, the whole City team came down to us and applauded, they
looked well up for it and that's how it looked when the game started to and
City were dominant and in control. Willie Boland was running the match and
Jason Bowen plus Paul Brayson worked tirelessly to make themselves available.
York City looked a poor side and it was fairly easy to see why they were
recently bottom of the table and more difficult to understand how they had
only lost 1 of their previous 12, a run which has just about made them safe
from the drop to the Conference. I guess they deserve credit for getting a
result today but, in truth, City should have buried them and gone up in real
style.
They were poor defensively. Their gangly ginger left back, Potter, was about
the poorest defender I've seen this season and it was no surprise to see City
exploiting it. The crosses from Andy Thompson, Willie Boland and Matt
Brazier were superb, the only criticism was that City weren't attacking them
enough.
In the opening 5 minutes, Scott Young and Leo placed headers over the bar.
And in the period afterwards, Paul Brayson had an effort blocked, Jason Bowen
was narrowly wide and a couple of saves were brought out of York's keeper,
all of it being warmly applauded by the City faithful.
York had little answer in the early phases, their most dangerous outlet was
Colin Alcide who turned Leggy dangerously but was stopped for an unproductive
free-kick then, later, he put an effort well wide.
It was obvious within the first few minutes that one player were far more
hyped up than in recent times, Mr Leo Fortune-West. City fans were already
sensing he could be our hero and he was putting himself about, chasing the
ball, showed one great run down the wing (past the inept Potter) and was
winning the physical challenge. And for the first time I can ever recall,
City fans chanted for him to ayatollah and he responded, a breakthrough at
last.
Leo went on to become the hero, and everyone City fan present loved it. It
was easily his finest game in a City shirt. Some will now inevitably say his
critics have been out of order but, in fairness, if he showed the same
commitment and attitude in every game for City, he wouldn't have any critics
at all. He scored a fantastic hat-trick with a couple of classic headers
and, in the first half especially, he could have had a couple more if he had
reacted to headers.
Let's all hope Leo has now set a standard he will strive to maintain because,
in this form, Leo is unstoppable but it was way ahead of what we have been
seeing in recent times.
His first goal sparked a riot of joy, we can't have scored a scrappier goal
but who cares? Rhys Weston, who had a great game and seems to be
progressing, met a 38th minute with a downward header but the ball was
blocked on the line and looped high into the air. As it did, Leo was not
going to be stopped and charged for the ball, treating the York defenders and
keepers like human skittles and sending them everywhere as the ball went in
off his head and nestled in the corner of the net. Television replays later
showed the keeper punched it onto his head but couldn't have missed it really
with Leo inches away.
City were on the way and York never looked like they had an answer but you
can't account for referees can you? The first time York got into City's area
was two minutes after our opener. Lee Nogan drifted wide, Rhys Weston got in
a great tackle, Nogan fell to ground and penalty. From 100 yards away, we
knew it was a travesty and it was compounded by the furious reaction of City
players. Eventually Young and Brazier were booked but it was obvious City
had been 'done', television replays later showed it to be an outrageous
decision by a referee who seemed more overweight than Lennox Lewis, how did
he pass his fitness tests? There's hope for me yet!
Brass, York's captain, sent Muggleton the wrong way with the tannoy
announcing he was as "hard as nails". He didn't look like it when Leo
knocked him about earlier though, he had 'Brass in (his) pocket'.
City fans and players alike were stunned and deflated but in injury time,
they were back ahead with a superb goal. Andy Thompson and Willie worked the
right wing (and that man Potter who could make my works team), Thommo layed
the ball back to Boland in space who whipped a superb ball across goal where
Leo got up and nodded home the classic centre-forward's goal by beating two
defenders in the air and nodding into the bottom left hand corner giving
Northern Ireland international, Fettis, no chance at all. The way Leo stood
up looking at City fans statue like showed how pleased he was with it. It
was a header so good that Keith Jones (Tonygwynlais Blues) forgot he had a
broken arm in his celebrations! (Yes, before you ask, City fans on the
terrace do come up to me and ask me to mention them in reports these days!
It's like a request show - anyone got an anniversary or special occasion they
want me to mention next week?)
Shortly after, City went off but there was an incident as Rhys Weston was
still clearly upset over the penalty award against him that he sought out the
referee and made some comments. It looked worrying for a moment as the ref
reached for his back pocket but on rushed Bobby Gould to haul Weston off and
the ref let it go. So that's how Gould earns his wages these days! (joking
Bob)
Half-time York 1 CITY 2
The second half never matched the intensity of the first half but as news
drifted through that Rochdale were losing and Orient were drawing but down to
10 men, it was becoming apparent that City were likely to go up automatically
today as long as they didn't lose so the promotion celebration chants were
starting.
Cardiff were still in total control and almost extended the lead in the
opening minutes as Scott Young showed his newly found goalscoring instinct
and maturity by lashing a 15 yard volley that Fettis somehow saved with his
legs, it was luck more than judgement.
City were cruising to promotion and there didn't seem anything to stop them
but we can never forget that we have a fragile defence who seem to cost us a
goal most games, today arguably, they cost us two. Anyone know when was the
last time a team got automatic promotion despite conceding well over 50 goals
in a season?
On 62 minutes, York equalised out of nothing. A long ball towards the area,
Young was beaten in the air and a flicked header saw Lee Nogan (Kurt's
younger bro') with nobody near him 12 yards out that he flicked instinctively
past Carl Muggleton who seemed to be out of position and wrong footed,
seemingly expecting the ball to go to his left rather than right.
Nogan loved it and turned towards City fans pointing to the name on the back
of his shirt. I'd forgotten what it was like to see a Nogan score in a City
match, thanks for reminding us what it was like Lee.
It was a bad goal to give away but it got worse 5 minutes later as Matt
Brazier somehow let a ball drop behind him and a player get behind him in the
same instant. The player crossed with the ball running out of play and
Alcide crashed home a downward header from 2 yards all in front of us again.
I'm not sure where Thompson was and why Brazier found himself on the right
side all of a sudden but it was another defensive nightmare.
It shook City and for a few minutes, it looked ominous as some heads were
bowed and Leggy seemed to temporarily lose it but this team have shown the
character, steel and quality that are found in promotion sides so often this
season and back they came again just 4 minutes later.
On 71 minutes, Leo tried to break towards goal on and was brought down 30
yards out. Andy Legg curled in one of his trademark crosses and, gleefully,
Leo got there again on the far edge of the 6 yard box to loop a header over
Fettis and in off the underside of the bar. It was a magical moment,
unbelievably a hat-trick for Leo, and the party was back on.
Amazingly, it was City's 90th league goal of the season and the 142nd seen in
our 43 league games. Only Oxford fans, with 144 goals, have seen more but
they've conceded 96 of their total. Nobody can complain about value for
money with goals.
There was no way City would let it go this time and the last 20 minutes were
tense but exciting as the buzz and noise increased. New was now coming
through on mobiles and radios that Orient and Rochdale (and Swansea) were
losing and then when Orient had gone two behind, everyone, except the players
possibly, realised City were up providing they didn't lose.
Chants of "going up", "Division Two welcomes you", "Sam Hammam My
Lord", "The Jacks go down quicker than a Russian submarine", "we're
going up in a minute" and loads more were revving up. The excitement increased
as you could
literally feel the full excitement going through the air on the City terrace.
I can only feel sorry for anyone who doesn't like sport or football who
never gets to understand how fantastic and amazing it is to experience a buzz
like this, they type that makes the several thousand miles of journeys this
season and feeling of emptiness coming home from places like Blackpool, Hull
and Darlington after miserable games worthwhile.
Earnie, on as sub, for Bowen so nearly clinched the winner as he broke
through a defensive mix up and steered a shot narrowly wide that appeared to
be on its way. There was another huge cheer as Scott McCulloch made a long
overdue appearance.
Two minutes of added time ... please let it qo quick ... come on! City fans
were now moving towards the front of the stand of terrace and the police and
stewards smiled, knowing the blue tidal wave was ready to invade York's pitch
and then the final whistle went and it was like the start of the London
Marathon as ever City fan charged onto the pitch in celebration and to grab
their heroes. Each one was mobbed and chaired off.
Leo, now a cult (he was called something
sounding similar but not as
praiseworthy last week), was all smiles. Earnie was beaming. Paul Brayson
looked shocked, it dawned that many players had never experienced promotion
before and didn't know what to expect. Leggy had been there before with City
and when lifted in the air, he waved his fists in passion and kept roaring
out "c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon" to huge cheers back. Cardiff City, the
club, the fans, the experience is a passion thing, more so than any other
club I know or want to know and this was emotional.
In contrast to the tears of upset 12 months ago at Gillingham were tears of
joy. The black humour needed to survive a turtuous 12 months supporting City
last season were replaced by laughter and joy. This is it lads!
Everyone was now in the stand or on the pitch in front out of players tunnel.
Looking on, and as proud as anything, were Steve and Chris Borley, Kim
Walker and Mike Price - all there two seasons ago who gave it everything for
Cardiff City and started the ball rolling. We ended up coming back but it
interested Sam Hammam and what a man we've got.
He's as passionate (and bonkers) as any of us. He identifies with us and
levels with us more than any owner in our history and he's got the know how
and finance to make sure this is our starting step. Rather than being
excited about promotion, he was disappointed we're not going up as Champs.
Rather than being excited about Division Two, he declared it's no place for
Cardiff City. Rather than wondering if we'll now start asset stripping and
selling our best players, we're talking about 5 r 6 quality additions and
spending even more.
This is the stuff of dreams for us, the future has never been so good in all
my years supporting this club.
And it all showed as Sam Hammam came out holding a "We're going up" flag,
followed by the players who all took off their shirts and threw them at us
followed by Alan Cork who took a fully deserved ovation. The chanting and
cheering and scenes lasted for 10 to 15 minutes and as they ended, every City
fan started hugging everyone they came across inside and outside the ground.
It means so much to us.
The scenes outside were fantastic too as City fans carried on cheering and
singing but once the main crowd had gone home, those of us who stayed behind
went flat for quite a while. The emotions drained totally by the events of a
day that will live with us forever, the real start of the rebirth of Cardiff
City - once we recovered from that, we drank and sang well into the night -
and then take two days recovery to write match reports about it all!!
Report from www.sports.com
A hat-trick from Leo Fortune-West secured Cardiff City's promotion to
Nationwide Division Two after a thrilling 3-3 draw at revitalised York City.
At the final whistle 1,500 visiting fans
invaded the pitch to celebrate promotion with their manager, chairman and players who
appeared in the directors' box.
Cardiff, the league's leading goalscorers
with 87 before today's game, attacked York from the outset.
Kevin Evans' cross from the right was missed
by defender Mike Basham but Leo Fortune-West failed to take the opportunity.
Andy Legg used his long throws to create
danger in the York defence. and from one such effort Scott Young headed narrowly wide at
the far post.
York hit back with Basham's looping header
sailing inches wide from Graham Potter's free-kick.
After 12 minutes Fortune-West headed down a
cross to Paul Brayson but Mark Bower made a vital block. Fortune-West then set up Evans in
similar fashion but the midfielder screwed his shot wide from a good position.
York hit back with the hard-working Lee Nogan
getting away from Matt Brazier and laying the ball off to Potter. His inviting cross just
eluded the onrushing Colin Alcide.
After 37 minutes Cardiff went ahead from
their first corner of the game. Legg's inswinger was met by York defender Chris Brass but
his attempted clearance went straight up into the air and Fortune-West rose highest to nod
home from two yards.
Within three minutes the MInstermen won a
penalty when Nogan went down in the box under a challenge by Rhys Weston. Defenders Young
and Legg both went into the referee's notebook for dissent before City's captain Brass
scored from the spot right-footed to Carl Muggleton's left.
As the game entered first-half stoppage time
Cardiff took the lead for the second time. Willie Boland's right-wing cross was met by
Fortune-West and his diving glancing header beat Alan Fettis to his right before nestling
in the bottom corner of the net.
The end-to-end attacking and entertaining
football continued after the break. Centre-back Young saw his left-foot volley from Legg's
corner strike Fettis' outstreteched leg and spin over the bar for another corner.
Muggleton then got down well to save Alcide's
low drive on the run from 18 yards.
City equalised in the 61st minute. Bower's
cross from his own half was headed down by Alcide into the path of Nogan who volleyed home
right footed from 12 yards.
Five minutes later York were in front. Darren
Edmondson got to the by-line and his pinpoint cross was glanced home by Alcide with a
near-post header.
Fortune-West completed a hat-trick of headers
in the 71st minute. Legg's free-kick from the left was headed home via the underside of
the bar to signal further celebrations from the large contingent of Cardiff fans.
The final whistle was the signal for a pitch
invasion by the Cardiff fans as the promotion celebrations began.
Report from www.skysports.com
A hat-trick from Leo Fortune-West secured Cardiff City's promotion to Nationwide
Division Two on a day that confirmed arch-rivals Swansea to the reverse journey.
Fortune-West was a big money £300,000 buy from Rotherham,
and has contributed 12 league goals to the Bluebirds' cause. The giant striker scrmabled
home the opener after 37 minutes from on the goalline, and his second gave Cardiff a
half-time lead when heading home Willie Boland's right-wing cross.
In between a controversial penalty from Chris Brass levelled
it up after Lee Nogan was felled by Rhys Weston.
York levelled it for a second time when Nogan hit home Colin
Alcide's knockdown after 62 minutes, and five minutes pater the promotion party seemed to
have been pooped by the safe Minstermen when Alcide celebrated his 50th York league game
by heading home Darren Edmondson's cross.
But the visiting 1,500 were happy again after Fortune-West
headed home an Andy Legg free-kick four minutes later - and when promotion was confirmed
by Leyton Orient's defeat at Mansfield the party could begin.
Report from www.thisisyork.co.uk
YORK City and Cardiff City shared the spoils after a six-goal
thriller at Bootham Crescent.
Results elsewhere meant the Bluebirds promotion to Division Two was
guaranteed but the point may well prove a priceless one in City's
drawn out bid to finally kill off the threat of relegation.
Cardiff took the lead on 37 minutes when Leo Fortune-West bundled the
ball home from an Andy Legg corner after City skipper Chris Brass had
hacked Rhys Weston's header off the line.
Cardiff's celebrations were short-lived however as just minutes later
Cardiff-born Lee Nogan was upended by Weston and Brass calmly put away
the resultant penalty for his first Minstermen goal.
Deep into stoppage time and Cardiff made City pay for defensive
lapses when Willie Boland was given far too much time to deliver a
cross from the right.
He picked out Fortune-West, who got in front of his marker and
arrowed a header past Alan Fettis in the City goal.
The goals continued to flow after the break and Nogan got City back
on level terms just past the hour mark when he latched onto Colin
Alcide's flick and coolly slotted the ball past Carl Muggleton.
Six minutes later and Alcide nudged City in front, powerfully heading
home Darren Edmondson's carefully flighted-cross.
The lead lasted just four minutes however as Fortune-West sealed his
hat-trick with yet another header, this time looping the ball over
Fettis from Kevin Evan's free-kick.
The final whistle sparked a pitch invasion from the delighted Cardiff
fans, who have bounced back to the Second Division at the first
attempt.
Report from www.yorkcityfc.co.uk
Cardiff sealed their promotion to the second division with a
thrilling 3-3 draw at Bootham Crescent. A bumper crowd of 3,881 went
home happy after seeing City come from behind to take a 3-2 lead, only
to be pegged back five minutes later as the ever-unpopular Leo
Fortune-West completed a hat-trick to give the Bluebirds the point
they needed to assure promotion.
In an end-to-end game, both sides missed chances before Cardiff took
the lead after 38 minutes. City failed to clear a corner and
Fortune-West was on hand to force the ball home from close range. The
visitors' lead was short-lived as just two minutes later the
Minstermen were awarded a penalty when Lee Nogan was brought down in
the area by Rhys Weston and skipper Chris Brass stepped up to calmly
slot the ball home from the spot. However, City went in at the
interval trailing 1-2 as Fortune-West helped himself to a second goal
in first-half stoppage time. Willie Bolland crossed from the left and
the gangly striker rose highest to nod the ball home.
City started the second half in sluggish fashion and Scott Young
nearly punished their slow start when the ball arrived at his feet
from a corner but fortunately the ball clipped Alan Fettis' legs and
spun over the bar. Thereafter, City's defence settled as the
Minstermen went in search of an equaliser. Not to be denied, the goal
arrived after 62 minutes when Mark Bower's long ball found Colin
Alcide and his flick found Nogan who volleyed home his sixth goal in
ten starts since signing from Luton in February.
It got even better for York just five minutes later as they completed
a quick-fire recovery with a third goal. Mike Basham's free-kick found
Darren Edmondson on the right-edge of the penalty area and he got to
the by-line before crossing for Alcide to head home - his fifth goal
of the campaign. Cardiff, however, were not finished and when City
conceded a needless free-kick on the left, Fortune-West was on hand to
head home via the underside of the bar and complete his hat-trick.
At the final whistle, the majority of Cardiff's 1,500 away following
invaded the pitch to celebrate their elevation to the second division.
City, meanwhile, were applauded off by their fans after an
entertaining game, with the draw seeing the Minstermen slip to 18th
place in the third division.
Report from www.guardian.co.uk
The old Wimbledon Crazy Gang influence at Cardiff - initiated by
chairman, Sam Hamman, Director of Football, Bobby Gould and manager,
Alan Cork - led to promotion from the Third Division for the Welsh
club yesterday.
Cardiff did it the hard way, with a 3-3 draw at York after being
twice ahead. They seemed to be heading for defeat when Colin Alcide
gave York a 3-2 lead, but Lee Fortune-West, the scorer of the first
two Cardiff goals, came to their rescue again by clinching a
hat-trick. The other helping hand for them came from Mansfield, who
beat Leyton Orient 2-0.
Cardiff's achievement reflects particular credit on Cork, whose own
playing career as a striker was highlighted by his record as
Wimbledon's highest-ever scorer. When he was brought to Cardiff in
October, by Gould, the club were 14th in the table.
His celebrations yesterday provided a sad irony for Swansea, the club
he managed in the 1997/98 season. They were relegated as a result of
their 2-1 home defeat by Oldham.
Report from www.teamtalk.com
Cardiff have been promoted to Division Two with a 3-3 draw away at
York City, and it was all down to a majestic Leo Fortune-West
hat-trick. Three goals in eight minutes brought high drama to this
end-to-end clash at Bootham Crescent.
Relegation battlers York were more than holding their own in an open
game against the high-flying Bluebirds when they went behind following
a goalmouth scramble.
Andy Legg took the Welsh side's first corner of the match in the 37th
minute, and when the attempted headed clearance from Chris Brass
produced plenty of height but no distance, it was left to the tallest
man on the pitch in Fortune-West to rise above everybody else and head
home from two yards.
To their credit, York replied with a swift attack of their own,
earning a penalty when Scott Young was adjudged to have fouled home
striker Lee Nogan in the box.
Young and Legg were booked for their protests, but defender Brass
stayed calm to atone for his earlier blunder with a deft right foot
finish from the spot.
The level scoreline seemed a fair reflection of an entertaining
opening spell as the game went into first-half stoppage time, but
Fortune-West had other ideas.
When York centre-back Mark Bower lost possession wide on the left,
Willie Boland floated a cross into the area for the Bluebirds'
frontman to beat Alan Fettis in the York goal with a superb diving
header.
The flowing football continued in a thrilling second half, with three
more goals served up.
Terry Dolan's side levelled when Colin Alcide knocked a Mark Bower
cross into the path of Nogan - the Welsh striker volleying home on the
run from 12 yards out with a spectacular strike.
Five minutes later the Minstermen were ahead when Alcide produced a
lovely glancing header from Darren Edmondson's cross.
But that man Fortune-West popped up to deny York the victory when he
completed his hat-trick of headers 19 minutes from time.
Beating the home defence to a Legg free-kick, the man-of-the-match
powered his effort past Fettis, against the underside of bar, and into
the back of the net.
Meanwhile, The Bluebirds' promotion will be all the more sweet as it
is on the day when their arch-rivals Swansea City were relegated.
The point for York means that barring a catastrophe, they are
guaranteed Third Division football next season. |
