Saturday
17th October 1998

Cardiff City
Hallworth
Fowler
Ford
Mitchell
Young
Carpenter
Bonner (Middleton 72)
Brazier
Thomas (Williams 68)
Nugent
O'Sullivan

Subs not used
Phillips

Cambridge Utd
Marshall
Chenery
Mustoe
Duncan
Joseph
Campbell
Wanless
Taylor
Butler
Youngs (Preece 82)
Russell

Subs not used
McNeil
Ashbee

City started very confidently attacking towards the Canton Stand facing a very
stiff breeze which made through balls and crosses very awkward.

Showing up early were Jason Fowler, Wayne O'Sullivan with superb runs into
space and Kevin Nugent. Nugent is getting better every week - just a shame
the partnership will not produce the 65+ goals City will need for promotion.
Nugent, for all his attributes, is not going to damage the goalscorers list.
This would be no problem if his partner was a fit uninjured Dale but it is Dai. He could have had a first-half hat-trick as he was played in by others but his shots were wide or straight at the keeper. We desparately need a poacher.

The ref's notoriety started on 20 minutes when a ball played to the far post
saw Nugent move in. A defender was struggling, fell backwards and clearly
handled. No ordinary effort either, he pushed his arm out and upwards to do
it.  The ref was 3 yds away with a perfect view but waved play on. Frankie went
ballistic, Knight seemed to to acknowledge the handball but, presumably, not
deliberate. It is a penalty that I've seen given 100 times out of 100!

Bizarre decisions continued as City were denied several free kicks,
particularly near the edge of the area, but Cambridge had no trouble getting
them. It was frustrating and infuriating. The "less than half-full stadium(!)"
cheered Knight whenever he awarded a decision to City.

Fowler was unlucky when he beat 4 Cambridge players and hit a great shot
which was well saved by their reserve keeper who had a superb game. Cambridge should have scored on half-time when John Taylor (still effective despite those  years with for Duran Duran) hit the crossbar from close range and City just about survived a goalmouth scramble.

H-T City 0 Cambridge 0

Another sign that this wasn't City's day was that the wind miraculously
dropped at half-time so any advantage City would have had with the wind behind
them had gone. Sort it out Rev Joe or we'll campaign for Eileen Drewery to be
chaplain!

City applied pressure but failing to cut through. Mr Knight (not in shining
armour although he could have done with it!).

He struck again on the hour as a ball was played just inside City's area
(amazing how many incidents/goals have happened around the 60 minute mark this season). It was John Taylor again who, before you could say "Wild Boys",
cleverly fell to the floor in a very innocent looking collision. Mike Ford
looked at him with a "View To A Kill" but was astonished to see a penalty
awarded. Ford walked away in disgust.

After 30 or more seconds, the ref called him back. He spoke to him for ages
and then showed the red card! If it was a penalty, Taylor made a meal of it, it
was never a red card offence. I can only assume Ford called Mr Knight  something, if so, the whole ground should have been sent off with him.

Hallworth stayed calm throughout and was leaning to the left of his goal but
correctly dived right to push away quite a poor kick. The ground erupted in
joy and ref faced conitual abuse from all sections.

City were showed superb fight and passion, still trying to take the game to
Cambridge - Frankie screaming them forward. He was going for 3 points
bringing on Williams and Middleton (for Thomas and Bonner) to aid the quest.

Cambridge were very useful attacking on the break as it was easy to see why
they have won 6 out of 8 aways in league and cup. They were denied 3 or 4
times by stunning Jon Hallworth saves. He rightly won man of the match,
Cambridge's keeper was probably their best player.

John Williams had City's best chance to win late on after a good move but he
scuffed his shot wide from 10 yards.

The ref continued his antics to the final whistle but had a special at the
end. He signalled to the assistant to show 3 minutes injury time. At that very
moment, John Taylor broke free down the wing, cut in the area put and shot
into the opposite corner. Hallworth didn't deserve it, City didn't deserve
it. The ref even got caught up in Cambridge's goal celebration. City kicked off ran down the wing, O'Sullivan shot wide and the final whistle blew.

There were 25 seconds of action after the 3 minute board was displayed, about
90 seconds allowing for the celebtration and restart.

Knight stayed in the middle waiting for the linsemen and stewards to surround
him. This did not stop 1 City fan running from the Family Enclosure to get at
him. He was prevented by stewards.

So the unbeaten run is gone and we were robbed appallingly by a buffoon.
However we've had luck along the way too, think of Chester's own goal
equaliser for us, the "get out of jail free" card used to win at Halifax,
Plymouth's own goal in the 88th minute that started the winning run. These
things even out as the cliche goes.

City were excellent and showed we will still be there or thereabouts. We had
the chances to have won this by half-time which should have made the referee's
performance irrelevant. If we start another run against Orient on Tuesday, we
can put this behind us and we're still only 1 point off the top. Can't
believe I'm being philosophical as I am still gutted.

Report from Matchfacts.

A late strike from United's John Taylor sank The Bluebirds as tempers
flared at a stormy Ninian Park.
Controversial referee Barry Knight was the focus of City's fury as he sent
skipper Mike Ford packing on thehour and waved away two clear cut penalty
appeals. John Hallworth was a collosus for City as he saved a 59th minute spot-kick from United's Martin Butler, but was helpless as Taylor struck in the first minute of added-time

GOALS:
0-1 Cambridge 90 mins Taylor former Rovers hitman John Taylor showed his
class as he steered his left-foooted shot wide of the advancing 'keeper John Hallworth

MATCH RATING 3/5