Report by
NigelBlues
Cardiff City are 6 points clear at the top of Division 3 - their biggest
leading points margin in any league since 1947. It was hard earned but easily
deserved. ln attrocious conditions, City's style and passing was better than
the South Wales public had any right to see from any Division 3 side, let
alone a team playing in these conditions. They are in imperilous form.
The fact that the game was completed at all can only be due to great work by
Wayne Nash (Head Groundsman) and team. Whilst all is not well with the
stadium, City have one of the best playing surfaces anywhere. The weather on
the eve, morning and during the game was dire with heavy rains and high winds.
The pitch was passed fit after a 10.30am inspection. Kate Winslet and Noah
would have felt comfortable in the flooded Canton Stand walkways but it was
superb for "singing in the rain" impressions.
Ninian Park was overflowing with more than water when we got there. I got to
the ground at 2.40pm to find queues 6 wide for the Canton Stand stretching
back into Sloper Road. The Bob Bank was already full. The swelled crowd
outside were certain that kick-off would be delayed so imagine our shock when;
(1) there was no dedicated turnstile for season ticket holders
(2) the teams ran out at 2.55pm with a couple of thousand still outside
(3) a smug Phil Suarez announced over the tannoy that the Canton Stand was
full so fans should move to the open, soaked Grange End
(4) the Canton Stand carried on allowing spectators into the ground
regardless. When I got in, there were no seats left and the crowd had to
stand on the "yellow" walkways. It was still safe as space was available to
enter/exit. If anything, it added to the atmosphere.The one thing today proved is that City must act to develop Ninian Park or a
new stadium with more haste. It's not realistic to wait until the team are
pushing onto Division 1 if the support is there now. There is undoubtedly a
good times feeling back at Ninian and it is superb to see the boys performing
in front of the larger crowds - we have too often been let down in recent
years. Sort the Bob Bank and the Grange End too, Cardiff City.
Moving to matters on the field, City showed one change from the team of recent
weeks. A fit and well again Jason Fowler was recalled to play at right wing
instead of an unlucky Craig Middleton. Middleton, married on Christmas Eve,
had played well enough recently to deserve a place.
Cardiff (1) 3 Shrewsbury (0) 0
Williams 40 mins
Nugent 49 mins
Hill 53 mins
Att: 12,452
Shrewsbury: 150 (est.)
Weather: raining, windy, wet and miserable (first-half)
raining, windy, wet and miserable (second-half)
Pitch: Superb (considering the weather)
City must have won the toss as they were defending the deep end a.k.a. the
Canton Stand. Before I got in, Shrewsbury apparently brought a save from Jon
Hallworth (his hair was a right mess today and he's got a crown!) straight
from the kick-off. The only other notable Shrews efforts were a floating
header tipped over the bar (unlike last week) and a good distance shot on 70
minutes which fizzed over Hallworth and then the bar.
Apart from that, Shrewbury were totally snuffed in attack. They were also
overwhelmed in midfield and struggled all game in defence. After stuffing them
3-0 at their ground early in the season in similar one-sided fashion, they
must be glad to see the back of us.
The pitch made it a leveller although Cardiff's greater passion and comittment
ensured they had the lion's share of the possession and play. Yet again,
there were no poor performers in the side. Delaney and O'Sullivan ran
themselves into the ground. Mitchell, Ford and Young were dominant and only
in trouble when passes stuck in the occasional pond. In midfield, Carpenter
is getting better by the game. He revelled in the conditions, winning tackle
after tackle, often by brutal but honest sliding efforts and supplying Fowler
and Hill.
Fowler and Hill are simply too good at this level. Fowler's passing, runs,
and crossing were tremendous whilst Danny Hill is sheer quality and was easily
man of the match. His vision and passing were the highlight of the game for
me. Up front, Williams was again impressive and Nugent had a fantastic game
winning his battle with Shrewbury's donkey no 6 by 2 falls and a submission in
an epic encounter.
There was time for a cameo appearence and a couple of wonder crosses from Andy Legg which
made many of the crowd go 'woahhh' in astonishment.
The goals all had an element of blame on Shrewbury's beanpole keeper making
his Nationwide debut but credit City for keeping making him busy all match and
forcing him into action. The conditions were condusive to errors and City
capitalised.
The goal account was opened in the 40th minute. Shrewsbury's keeper failed to
hold a hanging ball under pressure and John Williams stole in to take the ball
around him and steer into the net from 5 yards. It was his 10th goal in 11
matches. The cheer all around the ground was immense and fans braving the
Grange End waved their umbrellas in unison.
Half-time City 1 Shrewsbury 0
Many fans near me felt it was just as well that a goal was scored. There was
a feeling that if it had been 0-0 half-time, the game may have been abandoned
but the show had to go on in front of that crowd and with City leading. Just
as well as a steward confided to me that no refunds were to be given if the
match was abandoned at any time after kick-off.
In fairness, the pitch was playable and the ball was rolling but the worst of
the floods seemed to be towards the Bob Bank and in the centre. At half-time,
groundsmen concentrated on the Canton Stand goal area and the left wing
nearest the Family Enclosure. This included, kid you not, one man with a
sweeping brush. Surprisingly, it did not quite clear the 10,000 gallons of
water on the field.
City came out and looked more forceful and powerful but the pitch had
deteriorated further with visible splashes as players ran on the pitch.
Within 4 minutes of the restart, it was 2-0. Good work on the wing saw
Delaney and Fowler linking. Jason Fowler hit a far post cross which was met
by Kevin Nugent on 8 yards. He headed the ball downwards but without great
power. Happily (for us!), the Shrewsbury keeper somehow managed to dive over
the ball and let it go under his body. Nugent celebrated by running along the
Canton Stand to the Grandstand doing the ayatollah all the way. It really was
impressive to hear chanting from all around Ninian Park.
Four minutes later, it was party time and game over as City made it 3-0 with
the first goal in professional football for maestro Danny Hill. After neat
interchanges between Hill and Fowler, Hill advanced on goal and shot from the
edge of the area. The Shrews keeper again slipped up as he failed to hold the
ball and simply push it away from his body. Danny Hill followed up and
gleefully slid the ball into an unguarded goal. The look on his face at
scoring was a sight to behold for any City fan.
To prove the Shrewbury keeper was decent quality, he made a fantastic tip over
save minutes later from a Richard Carpenter screamer that had "goal" written
all over it. However every time he held or kicked the ball for the rest of the game,
ironic cheers were aimed at him.
The rain stopped for 20 minutes but returned worse than ever for the final
quarter. The ptich, although not muddy, was very close to being unplayable
but it was too late to stop the game. Somehow, City still looked awesome on
it and dare I say, they really did have the look of Champions about them.
They seemed to win every 50/50, did not allow Shrewbury into the game and
played some neat football too.
At the death, Kevin Nugent was replaced by Dai Thomas. |
