| Report
from NigelBlues 3 wins and 9 points in
7 days - it just don't get any better than this. It's
slightly ironic that we're not playing as well as the beginning of the season
when we were losing or drawing but who cares if we win?
Nightmarish drive to Halifax as you would expect having to travel along the
M5/M6 on a Friday afternoon. Big hold ups heading north of Birmingham and
then later around Manchester. The only entertainment was seeing a guy in a
suit slip down an embankment in heavy rain near his broken down car.
As you near Halifax, you realise that Yorkshire lives up to its stereotype
image. Heading along the M62, the scenery is beautiful but very rural and
exposed with factories appearing out of nowhere. At one point, it included a
full working farm and farm buildings between the opposite carriageways of the
motorway - very surreal. I kept expecting to see Nick Berry on his heartbeat
motorbike, Compo and Clegg roaming the land and folk with whippets and flat
caps hitting each other with black puddings shouting Eckythump but I suppose
that's not likely on a motorway. I said, "you can tell why this motorway
closes to snow all the time", we turned off towards Halifax to see a permanent
road sign indicating which routes are closed because of snow.
Halifix itself appears to be a beautiful place too - quite olde worlde and
very smart houses etc but bugger this, I was here to see The Mighty Mighty
Bluebirds, not have a Yorkshire geography and history report so we got to the
ground about 6.20 just ahead of the City bus. Players looked confident and
Jon Hallworth was waving, smiling and doing the ayatollah.
There didn't seem to be pubs near so we headed straight towards the club and
players bar expecting to be rejected but no, we were straight in! An
anticipated session on the Calder ales (Calder's Smooth is a class pint)
didn't materialise as the only drinks on draught were Foster's and John
Smith's Smooth. The Smith's was a cracker though so no hardship.
A ginger haired Halifax guy came up and asked "ow do tha think we'll do
tonight lad". I told him we would win and play Halifax off the park (by now,
Simth's Smooth was taking effect!). He somehow seemed to tell from my reply
and accent that I wasn't a Halifax fan so walked off in a huff! However got
chatting to some great Halifax fans, including one back from Australia whose
son is the Manager of a Perth side that gets 10,000-17,000 crowds (they're on
the pools coupon) and runs a web-site for exiled Halifax fans in Australia. I
asked him for the address and he said it's www-something. Big help!
Get into ground not long before kick-off. Despite looking small from the
outside, it's a suprisingly large stadium. City fans (est. about 350 - superb
support for a Friday night and a 450 mile round trip) were behind one goal on
a new terrace with very steep steps. We were the first to use it apparently.
In fact, I kept expecting Eddie Edwards to go ski-jumping past us down the
yellow painted aisles. It was so high and far away from the pitch, a bit like
looking in on subbeuteo unless you were at the front. Opposite us was a
similar structure which will be a new stand. To our left was a small stand,
similar to the one Newport County had years ago. There was a small shut
terrace next to it, this is where the Hartlepool fans were last week and had
their aggro.
The Halifax fans were congregated to our right and concentrated in a small
area but quite a large terrace in depth. All terraces and stands were a
distance from the pitch, I later found out it used to have a speedway track
around it. It was very open and exposed. Fortunately rain held off and it was relatively
mild. It must be the worst place in the world to stand for 2 hours in January or February.
The sides ran out. My first shock was seeing the ginger that I annoyed in
the bar happened to be a Halifax player - no wonder!
A couple of changes to the City side. Lee Jarman replaced Scott Young who was
injured against Barnet, Wayne O'Sullivan was Captain in place of Young and Lee
"Vidal Sassoon" Phillips was called up as a substitute instead of Craig
Middleton.
Hallworth
Delaney, Eckhardt, Jarman, Mitchell
Bonner, Carpenter, Brazier, O'Sullivan ©
Thomas, Nugent
sub: Fowler, Phillips, Williams
Halifax started brightly and went for City from the kick-off without bothering
Jon Hallworth. The defence were under pressure but it was mainly down one
side where, thankfully, Delaney and Eckhardt were winning their tackles. The
Halifax forwards looked very dangerous and it was easy to see why Horsfield is
equal leading scorer in the division (before this game, he had scored 1 fewer
than the entire City team). He was strong, determined and confident just like
Dai Thomas (NOT!).
City started fighting back and were now playing the better football and
looking the more dangerous. O'Sullivan had a couple of chances, Brazier put a
shot over the bar after a great run and Nugent was holding the ball well.
After my pleading for Jarman to be included, I have to say he didn't take his
chance. He looked little better than displays we've seen from Mitchell. He
was uncomfortable marking Horsfield and let him in for a free run on goal,
Hallworth was hesitant and it was lucky that Horsfield hit the side netting.
A few minutes later, Horsfield was through again but brilliantly denied by
Hallworth - we are so lucky to have him - he really should be in Division 1 at
the least.
City had their best chance when a superb move saw Nugent free in front of goal
but he placed his shot wide from 12 yards when he really should have scored.
Halifax came back when Jarman allowed Horfield to turn in the area and his
shot grazed the bar and went over for a goal kick although Hallworth saved it
and stopped a certain goal
Slight drama on the stroke of half-time as Carpenter played a poor ball out of
play to the wings when Frankie thought he should have put Nugent clear.
Frankie, who was on the touchline and very animated most of half, threw his
cap away in anger. When the half-time whistle blew, he ran on the pitch to
have words with Carpenter but it didn't get out of hand.
An encouraging half and City seemed to set themselves up for a win. We were
the better team but needed to tighten up defensively. Halifax chances only
came through defensive errors rather than good play. City's built up play was
very good and we were the harder working team but again, no real penetration
in the area.
HALF-TIME Halifax 0 City 0
At half-time, I had a chat with a Halifax steward who said
they were having a
20,000 stadium including 15,000 seats. I doubt if there's more than 1,500 at
present. He said the trouble last week started as Hartlepool fans couldn't
see from their terrace and tried to switch to the small stand, the guy who was
seen being trunchioned had his head split open and like a Stephen King scene,
his blood shot over a few and inflamed the situation as they fought back. The
policeman is suspended at present Hartlepool was a category D game but we had
the "honour" of being Category B.
He said stewards all over the country are now briefed to look out for City
fans wearing the Stone Island label - we had 3 there tonight apparently (I've
never heard of it so I'm uncool) and fans using mobile phones. So now you
know what to and what not to wear! Right back to the footy….
Second-half started with a shock too as the Halifax keeper ran towards us
wearing a Cardiff City goalkeepers shirt! The ground echoed to chants of
"You're not fit to wear our shirt". Don't know what happened to his shirt but
it's a poor show when the home side don't have spare kit!
There wasn't much chanting from Halifax apart from different chants about
Shaymen, their nickname. Of course, City chanted them all back singing Gay
Men instead.
The game went quiet and was noticeable only for another poor ref who must have
been a big City fan as he seemed keen to collect their autographs. By the end
of the night, he had booked 5 - nearly as many as all season but only a couple
were deserved.
One of the undeserved bookings led to the Halifax goal after an hour. Lee
Jarman cleanly won the ball just outside the area but the ref gave a free-
kick. His offence must have been cleanly winning the ball from behind.
Jarman protested but got booked for it.
The free kick hit the City wall but tragically looped up, cleared John
Hallworth and into the net. A lucky goal but enough to inspire the Halifax
fans with chants of "we are top of the league" which is where they would be
this morning …... if only they had won!
City brought on Jason Fowler almost immediately to replace Wayne O'Sullivan.
Fowler also took the captain's armband and immediately set into Halifax
producing the sort of classy touches and runs that only he can. Shame was
Thomas was showing no movement and wasn't linking with Nugent. Fowler decided to do it on
his own and jinked past 3 Halifax players before chipping the ball outside the area and
narrowly failing to clear the Halifax keeper.
10 minutes later, John Williams came on to replace a striker but the shock was
he replaced Nugent rather than Thomas. But not for the first time, John
Williams coming on was the decisive moment that earned the win.
City were working hard but not creating so we were starting to resign
ourselves to defeat or pinching a point - Annis & crew were doing their best
to start a Kumar Out chant and there were rumbles of What A Waste of Money
towards Dai Thomas - when a corner was won by Williams 10 minutes from time.
The corner was met by a bullet Jeff Eckhardt header which was superbly saved
and turned wide. I thought our chance had gone but we scored from the next
corner.
The corner wasn't a good one but found Mitchell on the opposite side, he
played the ball into the area, Williams flicked it on and Fowler stuck a leg
out on the 6 yard box to place it over the Halifax keeper.
There were massive celebrations and mocking chants to the Halifax fans of "You
are top of the league". City fans were now on a high and so were the team.
4 minutes later, we scored again.
A ball played out of defence went to John Williams inside the City half who
superbly put Dai Thomas in the clear. We kept expecting Thomas to get caught
but he wasn't, the Halifax keeper came out but Thomas superbly placed the ball
into the corner. Now we were in total ecstasy and made full use of the
massive terrace in our celebrations - fans were running and jumping out of
control everywhere enjoying the moment.
The funniest moment was Thomas took his shirt off again and run towards us
behind the goal (which was still about 20 yds away).
You couldn't fault his goal at all and it was worth the trip for the moment
but it shouldn't detract from his recent displays or fitness.
City hung on quite easily for the final few minutes, even with the ref playing
on for 4 or 5 minutes after his assistant had displayed 2 minutes.
More joyous scenes at the final whistle as the players celebrated with us.
John Williams is becoming a super-sub and clearly enjoys his football. Dai
Thomas was last to leave and kissing his shirt and badge to an encore of "he's
hungover"! Jason Fowler has got to play the full 90 minutes. Frank seems too
keen not to change a winning team but you cannot leave out Fowler's class and
quality any longer. I still believe Thomas should be rested until fully fit -
give Earnie or Roberts a go.
Although City used their "get out of jail free card" to turn this around, no
way did we deserve to lose and I thought it was a deserved win. It's a hugely
impressive result as Halifax's first home defeat of any sort for more than 18
months! Perhaps we're a bogey side as their programme (crap & £2) revealed
that we have never lost to them. Here's the up-to-date record;
HOME W 3 D 3 L 0 F 7 A 1
AWAY W 4 D 3 L 0 F 9 A 5
TOTAL W 7 D 6 L 0 F 16 A 6
Listening to Radio 5 (when they decided to do some sport for a change instead
of Clinton), they said Graham Mitchell should have been sent off! The
explanation being that for his first booking, the incompetent ref booked
Bonner instead. So I suppose we have some reason to thank the ref.
But we're getting back into contention and with Rochdale at home next week
plus Chester away afterwards, the unbeaten run should continue for a while
longer.
Everybody's Happy Nowadays!
Report from Nat.
Just back from a cold night in Halifax and a match of six,
sixths - the
first 5 of which were desperate.
In the first 5 there was a lack of passion, nothing up front (Thomas was
acting like a carthorse and moving as if he was pulling a drey), and if it
wasn't for Hallworth we'd have been dead. With about 15 mins left Frankie,
with a stroke of, er incredabiliy, pulled off O Sullivan (replaced with
Fowler) and Nugent (replaced with Williams) - prooving if nothing else
Frankie was watching a different match.
Within 5 mins Fowler does more than the rest of city all night and scores a
goal as well, and the carthorse unshackles the drey to outpace the defence
and knock one past the keeper climaxing with a bare chested shirt kissing
salute to the fans - incredible.
If city can win games like this there just may be something on this season.
Bigest prick of the night goes not to Mitchell but to a mounted cop who
waded into the city fans, singing on the way out, shouting "keep the noise
down or I'll arrest you"
I've been away for a long time and back for just 3 games - not a bad start.
Nat (Bham)
Report from AOL
Cardiff City striker Dai Thomas denied Halifax top spot in
the third division
with his second goal of the season.
Thomas, signed from Watford at the start of the season, struck on 84 minutes
to send the small contingent of Bluebirds fans delirious after they had seen
Halifax substitute Jason Fowler level the scores four minutes earlier.
Fowler came off the bench to cancel out Keiran O'Regan's 60th-minute free-
kick, which found the top corner via a deflection off the wall.
Town's Geoff Horsfield went closest to scoring in a dour first 45 minutes,
hitting the woodwork from close range in stoppage time.
Horsfield again went close after the break while Dave Hanson watched his
effort creep past Jon Hallworth's right-hand post.
At the other end Lee Martin did well to keep Jeff Eckhardt's header from
finding the net after the defender had arrived at the back post.
But Cardiff's two late goals wrapped up the points to end Halifax's unbeaten
home record, which had lasted 18 months. |
