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Tuesday 9th |
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| Brighton Ormerod Culverhouse Sturgess Arnott  Ryan Hobson Storer (Armstrong 67) Bennett Hart Barker (Davies 67) Nicholls Sub not used |
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Cardiff
City Hallworth O'Sullivan Legg Mitchell Eckhardt Carpenter Fowler Young Bowen (Williams 77) Nugent Hill (Bonner 80) Sub not used |
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| Report by
NigelBlues. City started as if they were on a 25 match winning run as their first half performance was as good as anything produced this season. It was outstanding at times as the game seemed to be played exclusively in Brighton's half with numerous chances and superb play and movement that was way above Division 3 standards. Brighton could not cope and rarely broke out of their half for the whole 45 minutes. City were denied an early penalty when Jason Bowen when needlessly clattered by Brighton's centre half but Gurnham Singh (who tried to stare out City fans when heckled in the 2nd half!) after taking a while to consider a decision, refused to give it. Mad Frankie was incensed. However a goal was on the cards and it duly arrived just after the quarter of an hour mark when Brighton got adventurous and tried to get into City's half! As a midfielder kicked forward, his pass was intercepted by Andy Legg who tore down the wing at lightening speed before hitting a fantastic low cross to meet Jason Bowen on the 6 yard box. Bowen's shot was well saved but ran loose to Super Kevin Nugent (fantastic game and touches all night) who drilled home on a slight angle from 10 yards. The City support went suitably mental. City didn't sit back and set about demolishing Brighton who were outplayed, outclassed and must have wished they were out of Gillingham. Their keeper had to make a couple of fine saves before a second goal arrived after 31 minutes and in a unique even for City, it came from a fee-kick routine. Honestly! Jason Fowler weaving through the Brighton defence was brought down when he seemed set to go all they way. As there was another defender in front, it produced a booking only. The free kick was back flicked to Andy Legg to curl a low, curling powerful drive around the Brighton wall and again produce a good stop from the Brighton goalie. This time who should be first to the loose ball but the Linford Christie of Ninian Park a.k.a. Scott Young who lifted the ball over the laid out Brighton keeper for 2-0. From kick off, Brighton had probably their only effort of the half (I don't think Hallworth had a save to make all match) as a snap shot from 20 yards eluded a despairing Hallworth dive and then missed the far post by inches. . At this stage, City's confidence and play was a joy and Brighton were still ripped apart. The best move of the half was a 5 or 6 man effort with fantastic movement and one touch play along the left wing, then inside ending with a glorious Fowler through ball to leave Jason Bowen clear on goal from 15 yards. Unfortunately Bowen shot straight at the keeper and the ball was scrambled away. A real shame as a move of that quality deserved a goal. Half-Time and a standing ovation Brighton 0 City 2 The second half could not live up to the quality of the first half as tactics were changed. Brighton had to attack City who were content to soak up their pressure and reduced them to a series of long range efforts. City knew they could score again on the break although it did not happen and City rarely came close again but were never in any trouble whatsoever either. The closest either side came to scoring was a great Wayne O'Sullivan run and cross (who needs Delaney?) Eckhardt met ahead of the keeper but his header went a couple of inches over. There weren't any other noteworthy incidents for either side. From a City point of view, comfortable was the key word as they knew the game was over and won at half-time and there was no need to risk pushing on for more goals. The only other noteworthy event was Huw Owen-Marketing shouting out Cambridge had drew prompting all City fans to chant "We are top of the League!". Jason Bowen came over and was given confirmation that Cambridge had a 0-0 draw so ran back to tell Frankie. Then we found out they had won 2-0 with late goals - oops! I got away late and bumped into the City coach on the M2. Pulled along alongside them as stared tooting inane terrace chants ion my car horn. As I drove away, the coach driver started flashing his lights back with the same "tune"!! Still, this was exactly the result City needed and hopefully should spur us on a good run to take us to promotion. A great night, some great individual performances and a very welcome 3 points. I could have done with getting home before 2.30am though! Report from Soccernet. Brighton manager Jeff Wood apologised to the fans after his team's fading play-off bid suffered another knock against high-flying Cardiff City. First half goals by Kevin Nugent and Scott Young earned the second-placed Welshmen, a comfortable win and left Wood in no mood to mince his words. "We were outclassed in the first half and all I can do is apologise to the fans. That performance wasn't good enough. Cardiff are a good side and that is why they are near the top of the table, but our performance was not acceptable. Players are
suffering from a lack of confidence because of our run of results and individual mistakes
and they are hiding". |
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