Report
from Soccernet
The Bluebirds went top of the Third Division as their dream of winning the
championsip and automatic promotion came a step nearer reality.
Meanwhile, Scarborough's misery was compounded at the bottom of the league with yet
another defeat. They are now four points adrift after Carlisle's draw.
Scarborough could easily have earned a draw on their second-half showing. The Bluebirds
dictated the game for much of the first-half, taking the lead with the game 24 minutes
old. A well-placed ball by Legg found Eckhardt who headed home in a crowded goalmouth.
Scarborough 'keeper Tony Parks was kept in constant action with his best save coming when
he smothered the ball at the feet of the fast-advancing Craig Middleton.
 Two minutes before the break Darren Roberts equalised for Scarborough
when he ran in to finish off a flicked-on ball from Chris Tate.
The Seasiders found new enthusiasm after the break and were unlucky not to take the lead
when Tate shot inches wide of the far post and Steve Brodie narrowly put the ball over the
bar.
Hopes were raised again for the struggling resort side when Nathan Jones hit the woodwork.
City's winner came in the 69th minute when a cross by Legg was touched neatly into the
back of the net by sub Jason Bowen.
The Welshmen had further chances in the late stages of the game when Kevin Nugent twice
went close, his second attempt two minutes from the end hitting the post.Report by NigelBlues.
Attendance: 1,834
Cardiff fans: 650
Weather: Cloudy, dull but not cold
Pitch: O.K., rutted in places
Programme: 1.50 for 44 pages and really awful - 2/10
Atmosphere:
>From City Superb, non-stop but not as passionate as
Southend.
>From Scarborough: Their hardcore seemed to be about 40 fans but they
didn't stop all game.
A day of more than 16 hours, 650 miles driven so was it worth it? You bet it
was!
If ever there was a ground and crowd with a dinstinctly non-league feel,
Scarborough is it.
City fans were situated in a stand behind one goal. To be fair, it was
decent. Not a bad view, the usual bucket seats but reasonable and cheap
catering. There was a similar stand behind the Scarborough goal. To our
right, was a Scarborough terrace where their singing crew were situated. Not
many of them but they made a good noise and didn't stop supporting their team
until a few minutes were left. You had to have respect for them but they
could not compete with the City chanting.
Their Grandstand was to our left but occupied about half the touchline.
Outside that was a park and a few fans stood there, having a perfectly good
view of the game for free on raised ground as were some on a hill behind the
City end. Why did I bother paying 10.50? A rip off price, most I've paid at
any Div 3 gound this season.
It was quite funny to see many walk past the path without even glancing
sideways to look at the game. Perhaps it seems up the apathy in Scarborough
and makes you question if they want or deserve league football. They could
only attract 1,100 of their own fans for such a critical game.
The programme is worth mentioning, not because it was rubbish (it was), but
because Scarborough are trying to get into the Guinness Book of Records for
the most programmes sold for a single league game. They aim to sell 250,000
of the Scarborough vs City programme and have printed 10,000 already. With
such a poor crowd, they must be looking at a loss. Perhaps they would do
better trying this for their final home game vs Peterborough on May 8 -
surely destined to be their last in the league - as it will be more valuable.
It is also humourous because Colin Addision has been their Manager for a
couple of months but their leader page is still headed 'Words from Wadsworth'
with a picture of their previous Manager. 'Words from Wadsworth' has a big X
running through it and "from Colin Addsion" is printed underneath is much
smaller typeface. How long does it take to change details at a Scarborough
printers?
Just one predictable change to the side that faced Swansea, Danny Hill
replaced the suspended Jason Fowler in midfield which meant that Jason Bowen
and Richard Carpenter remained on the subs bench allowing John Williams plus
Mark Bonner to continue in the side.
What a difference a year makes. Last season, City came to Scarborough
towards the foot of the table whilst Scarborough were 5th. They lost in the
play-offs. One year later, City are Division 2 bound whilst Scarborough are
waving bye-bye to the Nationwide - as City fans reminded them often.
The pattern of the game emerged from kick-off. Scarborough were fighting for
their lives so the game was never going to be pretty to watch. However
promotion is won by teams who face and adapt to all types of challenges and
full credit to City who won, not simply because we had an extra bit of
quality, but because we outworked a team who ran themselves into the ground.
That takes some doing.
City created chances from the off as Scarbourgh's keeper in his dayglo orange
shirt flung himself across goal to save efforts from Willams and Nugent
whilst patrol a couple more efforts wide. City were using width and pulling
Scarborough about.
Boro came back when an effort was headed over the bar from close range and
then, they nearly took the lead. A defensive lapse as the ball came in from
City's right saw the ball run loose to Darren Roberts who looked set to
score as he shot towards the corner of goal. Seamus Kelly however did well
to block the effort and then grab the ball a fraction before another
Scarborough striker looked set to pounce on the rebound.
City continued to push forward without creating anything special as
Scarborough packed midfield well and eventually settled. At this stage,
there was not a lot to choose between the 2 sides although City appeared to
have too much know how up front, where Scarborough's defence looked fragile
(a substitute word for poor), and we
looked strong defensively although there have been better days.
Nerves were not fraying but it felt so good when City took the lead on 25
minutes. Having won several corners and produced nothing, this one worked a
beauty but was simple. Andy Legg swung over a left footed special with some
speed for Jeff Eckhardt to steal in at the near post a few yards out and
direct a low header across goal and into the opposite corner.
It was party time in the City end as chants of "1-0 to the sheepshaggers"
were directed towards Scarborough who, of course, had been singing
sheepshaggers to us all afternoon. However Eric The Red had come up with
another beauty for the McCain stadium and there was no stopping the boy.
Complete with dance actions and outstretched arms, Eric was accompanied by
1927 Clubbers as he launced into (Gene Kelly style):
We're winning in McCain
Just winning in McCain
What a glorious feeling
We're ha-ha-happy again
The Blues are going up
Scarboro are going down etc
Couldn't fault it!
City fans relaxed thinking a glut of goals which surely follow but there were
no opportunities of real note, a couple of blocked efforts whilst Scarborough
were snuffed out as a danger coming forward. Then almost on the stroke of
half-time, Scarborough equlaised with a goal that must be put down to very
poor defending and
unitdy goalkeeping.
Scarborough won a free-kick near the half-way line and was headed on outside
the area. Mike Ford misjudged his jump and the ball cleared him. A
Scarborough striker nipped in between Jeff Eckhardt and Seamus Kelly who
rushed off his line, stretched out his leg and lobbed the ball over Kelly and
into an unguarded net.
The Scarborough striker celebrated by turning his back to City fans and
pointing to his no 11 with both hands. His name was Darren Roberts. Last
time he played against City, he scored 2 goals last August to put Darlington
top of the league and put City in 21st place early in the season. Now
he'sheading into non-league and we're getting promoted. As I say, what a
difference a year makes. Last laugh is on us Darren, bye bye!
It prompted one 20+ stone City fan to move around to the Scarborough fans,
lift his City shirt and show them and the Scarborough stewards all that he
had inside it which was quite a lot. We all needed half-time after seeing
that.
Half-time Scarborough 1 Cardiff City 1
As Scarborough's keeper came toward the City end, I took the
opportunity to
welcome him. It was Tony Parks, a Spurs hero in the mid-80's when he called
into a UEFA Cup final replacing an injured Pat Jennings and saved penalties
that won them the cup. He seemed to appreciate the chant of "you're not
famous anymore". He was baffled later though when Huw Thomas started
chanting "Tony, do the ayatollah" thinking it was Tony Elliott! He had to be
reminded Elliott has had to pack the game in through injury. This was the
same Huw who thought Lee Phillips was Mike Ford at Fulham earlier in the
season. An easy mistake I guess.
City came out in the second half still looking slightly shocked and hungover
by the half-time equaliser and it definitely boosted Scarborough. The first
meaningful action was a substitution as Craig Middleton limped out of the
game, the result of an earlier challenge.
As City re-adjusted, Scarborough pushed forward and were unlucky with a
couple of efforts. City gradually settled as Richard Carpenter, Bonner and
Hill tried to regain control. Hill was not suited to this type of battle and
was producing little. That summed up the game as there was little of worthy
note.
On the hour, City nearly fell behind, perhaps they should have, as a
Scarborough move down the right wing saw one of their men played in on goal
and clear of the City defence. From an angle, a shot was smashed and
cannoned off the outside of the near post for a goal-kick. For the first
time, I felt tense as City were struggling to get forward, Scarborough were
having some success against City's defence and the game was messy.
It was time for a change. Bowen was brought on and whilst many thought Bowen
would replace the ineffective Williams, Frankie made the right move by
introducing a third 'striker' at the expense of Danny Hill. The substitution
changed the game and perhaps showed the way forward as Bowen played behind
the front two and, I have to say, looked much more effective than he does as
an outright forward. So much so that within 5 minutes, he put City back in
the lead!
The move was excellent and again shows the quality within the team as Kevin
Nugent collected a Graham Mitchell forward pass 30 yards form goal and
immediately played it wide to Andy Legg. Leggy advanced towards the corner
and swung a waist high cross, it took the slightest deflection off a Boro
defender which altered the trajectory, not direction, and fell perfectly for
Jason Bowen running in.
Bowen's finish was exemplary as, in one movement, he shaped up to touch the
ball across goal and guide it in off the far post.
The celebratory scenes were epic as the team came towards the City fans and I
was well chuffed as John Williams somehow decided to pick on me as he did his
now familiar routine of holding up his arms at the elbows and thrusting his
groin. As I thought, I'll have some of that so did it back, Willo pointed at
me and started doing it again. The things that make you happy. Check it out
on Soccer Sunday, I'm right at the front in my white t-shirt - it's got to be
shown!
The stewards decided to be combat heroes and remove anyone who
over-celebrated by scaling the wall. The supervisor seemed to love being a
Mr Macho. I think he's going to be disappointed next season when the mighty
Farnborough turn up on a wet Tuesday. Nobody to intimidate then matey!
Phil's chant of "We're winning in McCain" was off again. This time, we all
joined in! Along with louder chants about where Scarborough can stick their
frozen chips.
Within a couple of minutes, it was nearly 3-1 and game over as Kevin Nugent
met a good cross but again, there was insufficient power and his header was
cleared off the line.
Scarborough responded by introducing two substitutes and tried to launch an
assult on City's goal but they didn't bring on their recognised striker on
the subs bench. If I told you that striker was Andy Saville, you'll
understand why! At least he was able to discuss the finer points of bench
warming with Dai.
City knew Scarborough would come at them and soaked it up well, in the
obvious hope that Nugent, Bowen and Williams would produce on the break. It
nearly failed as Scarborough missed two golden opportunities.
The first saw a ball across the area missed by two of their players before
Mike Ford fell on the far side but the ball was cleared. Then in the final
minute, a great centre saw their no 10 meet the ball free on goal. He
stretched his right leg out but fired over the bar from point blank range.
Relief for us, agony for them.
City fans were partying and the celebrations almost raised a few more
decibels when a sweeping move resulted in Super Kevin Nugent firing a low
shot from 20 yards whilst falling backwards which cannoned off the post.
There couldn't have been a greater contrast at the final whistle. City fans
and players
were as one in the partying and celebrating together. As a bonus, Cambridge
drew so WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE. Win the final two matches and we may yet
be Champions.
Most Scarborough fans had already left but a few of their players were
motionless and close to tears. You had to feel very sorry for them as they
certainly looked a better side than Carlisle but, fact is, they are now 4
points behind them with 3 games to go. The signals from their players seemed
to indicate they thought it was all over. Sad to see but, I'll say it again,
what a difference a year makes.
At last, Scarborough seem to be opposition we enjoy playing as we have a good
record against them as follows:
P W D L F A PTS
HOME 8 5 3 0 10 4 18
AWAY 8 3 3 2 11 10 12
TOTAL 16 8 6 2 21 14 30
City can sit back this Tuesday and watch Cambridge, Scunthorpe and Brentford
all play a game in hand and all have tricky away matches. It wasn't a pretty
match or a good performance but I count loads of times this season when City
have played well but no won, I'll have it. This is an absolutely massive
result. That really is all that matters at this stage of the season as the
reaction of both sets of players proved.
THE BLUES ARE GOING UP!! |
