The game, like just about all FAW Premier matches, was no classic. It's hardly surprising when both sides featured a host of players who rarely play, let alone play together.

However Cardiff City were the better side, more organised, showed extra composure and teamwork rather than rely on individual moments so the half-time lead was fully deserved.

The goal was very well taken from a sharp move. Spencer Prior threw down the pitch from near halfway, Paul Brayson dummied his marker and peeled off, Leo chested wide back to meet him (since when did Leo suddenly learn to chest the ball?). Brayson received the ball level with the penalty area on the angle to burst inside evading a poor challenge and cross low. The ball deflected across the area off a Wrexham leg and in came GETHIN JONES to hit a superb left footed drive back across goal and inside the far post.

You would question the defending if City conceded that goal but credit to the Bluebirds for an excellent move.

Cardiff created other chances too. The best of them fell to Des Hamilton who hit over the bar on his left foot as a corner was pushed out to him, Leo was much closer meeting a David Hughes Route One ball belted inside City's own half which he nearly flicked on over Wrexham's keeper,

The defence with the School of Science Centre Backs (Spencer Prior, David Hughes and James Collins) coped well with what little Wrexham threw at them. The pick for me was David Hughes who really has been very unlucky to be overlooked by City for most of this season. He's a no nonsense defender, simply getting and clearing the ball. A couple of them were superb 40-50 yard passes.

Midfield did well but were not natural either. It featured Disco Des, Gethin Jones (who played well) and, eventually, Kevin Evans, freshly returned from 1 month loan and just 1 match for non-league Boston.

Evans started as sub but Josh Low became the latest player to depart with what seems to be a hamstring injury. That may appease those fans who would prefer him nowhere near the first team currently.

Wrexham, for their part, looked disjointed. They had a few of their better players on show including Daddy's Boy - Darren Ferguson, Craig Faulconbridge and the ever dangerous Lee Trundle.

City's defence handled Trundle well. As usual, he wanted to do it all on his own so players knew what to do to snuff him. He did have one effort turned away by Walton and they had 2 shots narrowly wide but that was about it.

Half-time: Wrexham 0 CITY 1

the first chance of the second period fell to City after 50 minutes and, in keeping with many first team fixtures, it was wasted.

Kevin Evans took a throw, Leo flicked on and the ball fell to Brayson with clear sight of goal. Brayson though timed it wrong as the ball dropped, his effort limped to Wrexham's keeper.

A few minutes later, City changed David Hughes for Martin Giles. Hughes wasn't happy, understandable when he has had so little action this season, and City were solid and in total control at the back. I can only assume City treated the game as a training exercise and always had it in their minds to give Giles half hour. It signalled a frantic period.

Wrexham's half-time Trinidadian sub, Richie Blackwood, had a chance to equalise on the hour as the ball fell to him as City half cleared a free-kick. It was identical to Des Hamilton's first half chance and had an identical result too, the ball sailing over the bar worrying nobody. High quality football at FAW Premier games, isn't it?

The game was starting to open up but a lack of quality again ruined chances at either end within seconds. Leo fluffed a free header, from a free-kick, the ball rolled to Wrexham's goal. Then came Wrexham's best chance, a cross dropped behind Prior, Faulconbridge missed his header but the ball ran off his chest from close range and Walton jumped to block for the ball to luckily just about stay out by striking his foot without him really knowing.

Wrexham were starting to pressure, the substitution of Giles for Hughes unsettled City. Blackwood blasted over, James Collins made a superb block as Trundle seemed set to score, Layton Maxwell headed off the line and Faulconbridge brought a stop out of Walton with a header.

With 17 minutes remaining, Tony Wallis appeared for the tiring Des Hamilton (isn't it time we made "I saw Des play 90 minutes" badges??). I don't remember Wallis' name being mentioned again but Leo signalled the change with one of his specials, he met a free-kick and placed his soft header 20 yards wide!

Ian Walsh as BBC Wales' tv summariser annoyed City fans and showed his lack of knowledge by praising James Collins' centre-half performance as "he is really a centre-forward". No, he's not! He's a centre-half who, for once, played his normal position. Only Alan Cork believed he was a centre-half, enough said. Collins was however performing really well and out-muscling Lee Trundle, few players do that. It made you wonder why Corkie wasted his time trying to make Collins a centre-forward when he showed tonight where his talents lie.

Then, just as the game seemed to have died on its feet, with both teams accepting the result, LEE TRUNDLE showed why he is a talent. Having done nothing much for 84 minutes, he received a ball on the edge of the penalty area with his back to goal, completely fooled Spencer Prior sending him in the opposite direction as he turned and tucked a low shot inside the far post from 15 yards giving Walton no chance. The FAW is no Premier Cup and yet again, Prior hardly looked a Premier player either.

It has to be said, City lost their way once David Hughes was replaced, Wrexham only created and looked a threat once that happened. City had the initiative and grasp and gave it away when there didn't seem any need to.

Both sides were knackered. Most of the players have been involved in so few matches or action or a regular basis that it was taking its toll. Extra-time was the last thing either needed but they got it although it needed Kevin Evans to clear off the line in injury time. City livened up wanting to finish the game in normal time but lost their composure near goal.

Full-time: Wrexham 1 CITY 1 Extra-Time Required

Extra-Time dragged on as extra-times usually do. They're often tedious, you just wait for the most tired team to make the mistake that lets their opponents score.

Wrexham had 2 chances, blocked or hit wide. City had the best chance, their first corner kick for more than an hour caused a scramble, Spencer Prior turn the ball towards goal with his thigh and a defender scrape the ball off the line with Cardiff players saying it was over. TV replays showed it was on the line but not over it.

This was tv hell, on a par with the old BBC testcard for 2 hour. As cameras focused on a 3 year old in the Wrexham crowd, BBC commentator said, "I thought he was going to fall asleep, he's doing well to still be awake". I thought he was talking about us, watching it at home.

Extra-Time1st Period: Wrexham 1 City 1

The second period of extra-time usually means both teams will try to win, try even more not to lose and take their chances on a penalty shoot-out. This was no different. In fairness to the players. The 2 hours many produced tonight was more than many had played in a couple of weeks, it had to tell.

City should have scored when Leo flicked on but Martin Giles snatched at his shot which limped weakly wide (CITY WASTE A GOOD CHANCE shocker!).

Trundle nearly won it for Wrexham at the death when he turned City yet again but Walton saved the day.

And that was it.

Extra-Time1st Period: Wrexham 1 City 1 penalties required

There were some complaints about which end to take the penalties, it was either in front of the empty Kop End or the away end containing 25 or so City fans. City won the day and it was in front of the Holyhead Blues and those who made it up from South Wales.

Wrexham had the first penalty

1st penalty: Sam stroked it right, Walton dived the other way. Wrexham 1 City 0

2nd penalty: Brayson hit a near identical penalty, Walsh did the same dive. Wrexham 1 City 1

3rd penalty: Trundle took a long run up and messed up -WAHEY!! He hit it straight at Walton who got down and held on. Wrexham 1 City 1

4th penalty: James Collins awarded man of the match found the same corner as Sam and Brayson, Walsh dived the right way and it just got under him. Wrexham 1 City 2

5th penalty: Edwards went left, Walton went right Wrexham 2 City 2

6th penalty: Identical to Edwards, taken by Kevin Evans Wrexham 2 City 3

7th penalty: Faulconbridge identical to Edwards and Evans Wrexham 3 City 3

8th penalty Maxwell went right, so did Walsh but not far enough Wrexham 3 City 4

9th penalty and Wrexham's last one Darren Ferguson, who should know what penalties are about with his Man United managing dad, hit weakly to the right. Walton saved comfortably.

Miracle of miracles, City win a penalty shoot-out!!! Wrexham's supposed stars, Trundle and Ferguson, were the ones who messed up.

So it's onto the FAW Premier Cup final, having only needed to play 2 matches in it this season. Do any football trivia experts out there know if any professional team has got to a cup final having played fewer games??

They've been there twice before but lost both to Wrexham, we've got rid of them this time.

The Bluebirds will face either Swansea or Barry at a venue to be decided once the other semi is played next week. Win it and City get £100,000 - just about enough to pay Peter Thorne's wages during the summer break. Hurrah!