This was no fluke, City thoroughly deserved to beat Leeds with a supreme performance. The Bluebirds were the better team in all areas of the pitch, they tackled better, they passed better and, to a man, they were heroes. If anything, it just made it a bit more frustrating that they haven't produced this form and results consistently in league action but today's not the time for that, let's celebrate and large it.

Anyone who ever thought that a team like Leeds with international superstars used to playing in hostile environments wouldn't freeze or feel inferior at Ninian Park can think again. They weren't up for it, they were shellshocked and made to look second best throughout by a wonderful City display.

The atmosphere was epic throughout. You sensed it was going to be special long before the game as pubs were full to bursting and, strangely enough, the more drinks everyone had, the more convinced they became that City would win!

Ninian was packed a good 20 minutes or more before kick off, everyone was out to enjoy the day. It can only be City who knew what the crowd would be but still not print enough programmes to sell to them as they sold out long before kick-off but they got it right inside with the tannoy turned up, the crowd getting excited and as passionate as only we can. City made it more special by having ball boys waving Cardiff City flags every 10 yards around the pitch and when the p.a. asked each part of the ground to ayatollah in turn (including Leeds fans and some did) and then got the whole ground doing it unison, it was a fantastic sight.

The magic and fever pitch was magnified as both sides came out headed by a legend, the Gentle Giant John Charles. The noise was deafening, the atmosphere incredible, it was hotter than the countryside around Sydney! As the teams were announced, the City players had magnificent roars as their names were announced, I didn't hear the Leeds players at all such was the din and chorus of boos.

All it needed was City to do themselves justice on the pitch, they more than performed and exceeded expectations. When we marvel at the £10 million Sam has spent at Ninian since taking over 15 months ago, it's all put into context when you look at Rio Ferdinand worth £18 Million alone and despite key players like Kewell and Robbie Keane missing, Leeds still had almost £100 Million of signing on the pitch.

Leeds must have been confident coming to Ninian with 3 straight wins and no goals conceded taking them to the top of the Premier League. They previous performance against West Ham was frighteningly powerful and it seemed ominous against a Cardiff team far better than their league position having only lost twice in their previous 18 league and cup games but went into this clash after a disastrous Christmas period for promotion prospects collecting 3 of the last 12 points on offer.

The game kicked off and the first 45 minutes was sizzling football as Cardiff took the game to, and largely embarrassed, Leeds. I would have been a happy if we went away with just those memories but instead, I'm still delirious because of what followed.

Straight away, you knew City fancied it. A key tactic was that City obviously identified Ian Harte and just as Reading and Bristol City ran at Dean Gordon to open City in previous league games, so did City in the guise of Earnie playing wide and Danny Gabbidon too. It worked a beauty.

Leeds were in trouble the first time Earnie went at Harte, he couldn't cope with his pace or quick feet. His next run saw Earnie power away from Batty then Harte as he cut into the area, desperate defending cleared the ball.

On 8 minutes, there was a Leeds bodyblow as Rio Ferdinand was fairly challenged by Gavin Gordon. Gordon tackled fairly 25 yards out but Ferdinand suffered more than hurt pride as it was immediately apparent that he wouldn't continue. Off he went marching around the perimeter of the pitch with the Canton Stand and Grandstand all singing and waving "cheerio" and "what a waste of money" to him.

Leeds brought on Michael Duberry to replace Ferdinand - after all the court revelations of the last month, who would have thought that Duberry and Woodgate would be Leeds defensive pairing and have Lee Bowyer playing in front of them?

Bowyer had inevitable taunts early on - the whole ground serenading him to the Hey Baby tune with Hey Lee Bowyer, ooh aah, I wanna knowwww, why you're not in jail. But the quality of City's game was so supreme and had everyone purring that most chants with supporting our side rather than focusing on the opposition.

Then, against the run of play, City went and did it again, gifting a goal through their own poor play. This time, Spencer Prior, tried a sweeping pass upfield but got it horribly wrong as the ball was easily cut out by Robbie Fowler on halfway, he slotted the ball ahead and MARK VIDUKA latched onto it and hit an unstoppable shot with real venom (Sky measured it at 78 mph) past Neil Alexander who had no chance. A fantastic strike and you felt City may fall apart.

Who would have believed that it would turn out to be Leeds only real shot of the match!? Robbie Fowler scooped one over the bar near half-time and got Alexander to make a comfortable save from a low, harmless edge of area shot on half-time which had your heart in your mouth as he strode forward but that was it. Testimony to the brilliance that City produced.

Cardiff weren't put off their game at all, stayed composed, and quickly recovered. Amazingly, Leeds were being overwhelmed, Cardiff had an honest midfield, Leeds had Lee Bowyer! Bowyer, who Leeds fans will tell you is their key player, never got in the game, he was overshadowed by great powerhouse displays from Kavanagh (his best ever City game, truly inspiration), Brayson who worked tirelessly - did anyone ever see Danny Mills attack? - plus Boland and Bonner snapping at, winning and bringing the ball away time after time.

Some half-chances came, Leeds seemed in trouble and not sure what to do when Leggy launched a couple of long throws, they got lucky. Earnie was first to react and meet a Kavanagh corner but his header flew harmlessly over the bar than Kav opened Leeds but Gavin Gordon hit a meek effort at goal but it was great to see.

On 21 minutes, City were back with an outstanding equaliser than had Ninian rocking with fever and atmosphere. Andy Legg went on a swerving run that took him past two before he was upended by Lee Bowyer. Kav stood over the ball but 25 yards out and only 15 yards in from the touchline so well wide of goal too, everyone expected a floated ball into the middle. KAVANAGH had other ideas and clipped the ball to perfection over Leeds' poor wall, it swerved and made 'England's No 1' Nigel Martyn look silly as he was nowhere near the ball as it hit the top corner. It was better than Beckham!

The celebration was just crazy, fans engaged in mass hugging and shouting, Kav ran off, down the touchline and over to the City dugout where he pounced on Alan Cork. The noise never died down after that, singing was in every part of the ground as City were willed to attack. Few, if any, other club can match that.

Leeds looked vulnerable every time City attacked, they were clearly worried at the back with 'England's No 1' Nigel Martyn unsteady and unsure, just as well they didn't have a confident keeper like Neil Alexander..

City were thrilling as they played free, flowing football, dominated possession and territory and you wondered who were the Second Division side and who were the Premier team. Another exciting Earnie run through the heart of the Leeds defence was stopped by a great Woodgate tackle, Gabbidon had a fantastic run too that took him past Batty, Bowyer and Harte but he went a touch too far and the ball went out as he tried to cross. Kavanagh hit a fantastic goalbound 20 yard drive as the ball came out of the area after more bombardment which looked goalbound but Duberry blocked it with his body. It was sensational stuff, no praise is high enough.

Just before half-time, there was more amazing drama. A ball cleared out of defence, Alan Smith tried to turn Legg on halfway, Legg wouldn't let him by and they tangled but as he tried to turn, Alan Smith swung around leading with his elbow which connected with Legg in his face. Referee D'Urso issued a straight red card, it seemed more stupid than malicious but Smith had only himself to blame. He's 21 and that was his 6th sending off, enough said. Leggy was also booked for the incident.

It was an amazing half and I'd have been more than satisfied if City had lost but turned over the current best team in the Premiership, as Champions League semi-finalists not so long ago, one of the best teams in Europe too. But as we all know, things got even better!

Half-time: CITY 1 Leeds 1

The second half was a tighter affair and if it wasn't a full blooded cup tie with the atmosphere generated by 22,009 passionate fans (how did they manage that with a declared capacity of 21,001?), it would have been boring, there was little action or significant moments. But it was pulsating in its own way.

Chances were now at a premium, Cardiff were still on top but were tiring but, to be honest, you couldn't see a winner going. As always happens, Leeds were better organised and disciplined with 10 men although it was incredible to see them rely on Route One football. Cardiff never quite looked as effective playing 11 vs 10 as they did when it was even numbers, we may have been better ourselves if Smith hadn't been sent off.

There was a moment of danger as Leeds were awarded a free kick just over 25 yards out, a harsh looking decision but very worrying as Ian Harte stood over the ball in a prime position. As the ball was touched to him, Willie Boland charged out and threw himself in front of the ball to block Harte's volley although Andy D'Urso didn't agree and asked for it to be retaken. City understandably protested, the decision seemed wrong, D'Urso brought the ball forward to the edge of the area. It was snuffed again to a fantastic roar.

Fresh faces and ideas were needed and whilst a draw and replay at Elland Road would have been a brilliant result, Leeds were there to be beaten now and City were never going to have a better chance. Gavin Gordon was shattered and everyone felt Leo's unpredictability would have influence, Josh Low would surely have finished off Ian Harte whilst Jason Bowen could have opened them.

Gordon got sight of goal and let fly with a 20 yard drive but it was too close to 'England's No 1' Martyn who held it comfortably. Martyn however was less assured every time a corner, throw or cross came over, I hope he's in goal for England in World Cup 2002!

But the minutes kept ticking away and City were nearly finished as a through ball saw Viduka looking offside but racing clear and bearing down on goal. This was a day for heroes and the biggest hero of them all today was The Local Boy in the Photograph, Scott Young, who chased back and with Viduka entering the area and shaping to shoot another howitzer, Young from behind him, stretched his leg around and hooked the ball away to Spencer Prior. Moments later and from a slightly less dangerous situation, he won another awesome tackle to set City on a move. Brilliant stuff.

Then, with 10 minutes remaining, Cork made a change that ultimately changed the game as Leo replaced Gavin Gordon who again never looked like scoring, never had a chance either, but worked himself to a standstill. Leeds' central defenders had a hard time against him.

They say the best things in life are worth waiting for … I never thought having watched City beat Real Madrid as a very young kid that I'd have to wait over 30 years to see a moment to match it but it was well worth the wait.

The Bluebirds cranked things up for a big finish and Leeds creaked. They won 3 successive corners, looking unsure what to do as the ball came over as Prior, Young and Leo were around them and just happy to get the ball away. The third corner will go down in CCFC history right up there with the 27 Cup Final winning goal, Clarkie's header that beat Real Madrid, Peter Sayer's volley versus Spurs and Blakey's curler vs Manchester City.

Leggy whipped the ball to the far post, it cleared Martyn and Leeds defenders, Leo pounced at the far post above Duberry and nodded down, the ball hit David Batty (the one Leeds midfielder who had played well) and with the instinct of a goalpoacher, SCOTT YOUNG seized the moment to steal in and smash the ball home from 6 yards with a shot that left 'England's No. 1' Nigel Martyn floundering.

That was the moment when I lost my voice as I grabbed anyone and everyone near me and just screamed and roared, it was orgasmic and definitely better than the ones you get during sex. It was supreme and made all those drives home from nondescript places like Halifax, Darlington, Cambridge and Carlisle after abject performances and 1-0 defeats worthwhile ... nearly!

There were 3 minutes of play remaining, 3 minutes of injury time too, I lost my nails as well as my voice. But on the field, City stayed calm and played it comfortably despite the heart-stoppping last gasp corner kick. A streaker provided the lightest of entertainment, can we have a female do it one day please?

The final whistle blew and it was the party and celebration to end them all. Own up if if shed a few tears of joy? I did, can't remember the last time I felt so proud of our team.
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Ninian erupted, it was a special moment, a historical moment and it was there to be enjoyed. Fans celebrated in all parts of the ground, many on the pitch, Sam came out and took his bows and tv pictures later showed that he dyes his bushy eyebrows as Earnie covered him in shampoo and water. He's mad but I love him!

It is dismaying that such a momentous game is being overshadowed by the failure of an element of our fans to misbehave yet again. There is little trouble at our games these days, despite what the media will now have you believe, and some of the well reported troubles are being greatly blown out of proportion by 24 hour sports news tv and radio stations with airspace to fill but we gave them the excuse to do it.

Why do Scum wish to attach themselves to this club and overshadow the greatest day we have had for 30 years do by throwing coins and bottles then instead of having a celebration on the pitch, they prefer to go and provoke the Leeds fans (an element of their fans were as bad though)?

Reports of thugs on the pitch were wrong as I can confirm that they were all back in the Leeds dressing room by this stage!

David O'Leary proved what most people have always known about him, he's a bad loser of the highest order. For him to be upset about Sam walking behind the goal, as he always does, and put the media's focus on that as a smokescreen to his own team being outplayed comprehensively to a team 53 places lower than his own shows his true colours.

His points about the coin throwing were valid though, City were let down by a section of our fans who disgraced the club and I wish would never set foot inside Ninian Park again. Let's hope Cardiff City scrutinise their excellent CCTV, find these people and make sure that they never do either.

I'll admit being on the pitch myself because that's what you do when you celebrate an incredible cup victory but the worst thing I did was get on my hands and knees and kiss the pitch where Kav took his free-kick!!

It's a day to go down in Cardiff City folklore and a game we'll remember for the rest of our lives and that's the way it should be. I salute every player, each one a hero, they'll always be remembered.

Neil Alexander had nothing to do other than get Viduka's shot out of his net but he was always available.
Danny Gabbidon, looked supreme and comfortable.
Andy Legg who truly outstanding. He battled, fought, thought and was Mr 110%
Scott Young, what a man, what a hero and he's the local lad - magnificent
Spencer Prior - very nervy start but he was a rock, he also had a far easier afternoon than he ever could have expected
Mark Bonner - foot here, foot there, foot everywhere
Willie Boland - another who eclipsed the Leeds midfield prima donnas
Graham Kavanagh - that's why he cost £1 million
Paul Brayson - sacrificed his creativity to make City more solid and did it fantastically.
Gavin Gordon - led the line really well, Leeds knew all about him
Earnie - no real chances today but the man's a star
Leo - the best ever substitution in City's history!

Some of them - Gabbidon and Earnie especially who surely showed they can play in the Premier League - may go onto better things but they may never have a better day than this one. I just hope I haven't got to wait another 30 years to see something to match this!!

What a game, what a day, what a club, how lucky we are to be Cardiff City fans!

Blooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds!!!!!!