Saturday12th December 1998

Saturday
12th December 1998

Scunthorpe
Clarke
Fickling

McAuley (Stanton 67)
Marshall
Wilcox
Hope
Walker
Forrester (Bull 67)
Eyre
Harsley

Housham (Atkinson 83)

Scunthorpe	0

Cardiff City	2
John Williams 45, 54

Attendance - 3,200 Referee - P. Walton (Winwick)

Cardiff City
Hallworth
Delaney

Ford
Mitchell
Young
Carpenter
Fowler (Hill

33)
O'Sullivan (Eckhardt 85)
Williams
Nugent
Middleton

Sub not used
Allen

Report from Nat (who was at the game)
Magnificent,Magnificent,Magnificent,Magnificent - What a performance 10 out
of 10 for the team who carried on where they left off with Hednesford and
provided the best performance of the season. And 10 out of 10 for the 350 or
so City fans who carried on where they left off at Millwall with a constant
wall of noise for the whole match. I kid you not, the fans sang for every
minute of the first half, second half, during the half time break and on the
way out of the ground. Magnificent,Magnificent,Magnificent,Magnificent.

Arrived at the ground about 12.45 and went straight to the pub(there's only
one) by the ground. On arrival one section was already full of City fans,
when I left at 2.30 the pub was full of city fans with not a Scunthorpe
supporter in sight.

City dominated the first 30 mins, with every player putting in the effort
but but apart from Carpenters header which hit the post and a couple of wide
shots by Fowler and Middleton we just seamed to be once again lacking that
cutting edge we've talked about so often on this list. On 30 mins Fowler
was replaced by Hill (I've no idea why) and John Williams began his one man
show. I say 'one man' not because any of the other city players played bad
but because Williams played brilliant. Not only did he score the two goals
but his positional play, tackling, chasing, in fact everything he done
(apart from miss a couple of sitters) was excellent. He started from a
corner just before half time by putting one away from close range. 'Frankie
Burrows, Barmy Army' was replaced with 'We are top of the league' and the
fun started. From memory I don't think Hallworth had to make a save in the
first half.

Scunthorpe had a go in the first 10 mins of the second half and had two good
chances - one of which the crowd thought had gone in but from then on it was
city all the way. We were Magnificent,Magnificent,Magnificent,Magnificent
playing the best football I've seen this year - Delany taking them apart
down the right flank, Middleton, Carpenter and Hill controlling
midfield,tackling anything that moved and picking up the loose balls, Nugent
and Williams running the Scunthorpe defence all over the place and our
defence rock solid.

Williams 2'nd goal was scored at the end with the city fans - the ball was
played back to the Scunthorpe right back who took possession around the half
way line, Williams ran towards him to tackle and blocked the right backs
pass which rebounded goal side, Williams and the right back were now in a
head to head race for the ball with our boy winning, keeping his cool and
slotting the ball past the advancing keeper. 'We are top of the league',
was replaced with 'Johnny Williams Barmy Army'.

In the last 20 mins City upped their game again (we've now got a 90min team,
honest it was brilliant) with Williams almost scoring on 3 occasions (one of
which would have been a carbon copy of his second) Nugent, Middleton and
Young coming close and the city fans chanting louder and louder.

When the ref blew for full time John Williams who is now most definitely a
cult hero went down on his knees to do a we're not worthy bow to the fans.
He then got back up on his feet, put his arms in the air and ran into the
group of fans down at the front of the stand.

When you consider the quality of the opposition - Scunthorpe were no mugs,
city just totally outplayed and outclassed them - we can definitely win this
league.

Other things about Scunthorpe - Middleton, Hill and Delany got booked,
Sullivan was replaced with Eckart with about 10 mins to go, the shop sold
out of pasties before kick off and I didn't hear the Scunthorpe fans sing
once.

You should have been there - we made Scunthorpe look like Hednesford.

One last thing, I hope there were no scouts at this game - the way the lads
played wešd be without a team next week.

Nat
JOHNNY WILLIAMS BARMY ARMY

Report from NigelBlues (and his radio)
This report is compiled from radio reports

Cardiff City showed more proof of their professionalism, team ethics, sheer
will to win and why they better than the rest by easily snuffing out
Scunthorpe and earning an easily deserved away win. John Williams already a
cult hero must be easily be the fans favourite by scroing both goals and
causing mayhem that Scunthorpe couldn't handle. City are now 3 points clear
and it sets up a hugfe clash next weekend with City home to 2nd place
Mansfield.

City Line-Up
Hallworth
Mitchell Young Ford (C)
Delaney O 'Sullivan
Fowler Carpenter Middleton
Nugent Williams
subs
Thomas Hill Eckhardt

City started brightly and generally had the better of the game all the way
through even if Scunthorpe had more possession and corners.

The 1st half was mainly City chances with Richard Carpenter hitting the post
from a header on the penalty spot after good work by Middleton and Delaney
after 10 minutes. Jason Fowler shot wide shortly after and then John Williams
missed a good chance after being set up by Nugent.

On half-hour, Jason Fowler was replaced by Danny Hill. Jason apparently
didn't look fit from the start and a gamble failede but Hill is a ready made
replacement. More chances came City's way before the John Williams show
started.

On half-time, he chased a aiml;ess Jon Hallworth clearence 50 yards with
nobody else interested to win a corner. From the corner, Williams met the
ball and made no mistake.

H/T Scunthorpe 0 City 1

At half-time, it apparently poured incessantly and the pitch conditions
changed. 250 or more fans made the trip and could be hear chanting throughout
and were much louder than the home support. Your chants of Frankie Burrows
Blue and White Army were loud and clear back home!

Scunthorpe pressured City at the start of the second half. Their best chance
came shortly afterwarsd as Eyre was close with a header. Another chance went
close before Williams doubled his and City's tally.

Again chasing a hopeless ball, he managed to dispossess a Scunthorpe defender
and closed in on goal with a one on one with the Scunny keeper. He managed to
keep cool, roll the ball past him and into the corner to send City fans
worldwide delerious!

Williams had another one on one a little later and another chance for his hat-
trick but it wasn't to be. But Williams has scored 9 for the season and
deserves all praise for his fantastic efforts at City. Frankie Burrows knows
how to get the best out of him.

The rest of the 2nd hal saw City close the game and try to score on the break.
It also became slightly ugly as 4 or 5 players were booked including Delaney
and Middleton. At one stage, there was a 16 man scrap but it sounded as if
City kept things under control.

After a run of games against mid or lower table sides, City proved they have
the mettle by taking one of the top sides at their ground with a highly,
competent and professional display. Praise all the side, Williams for the
goals but our rock solid defence too.

We have kept 8 clean sheets in 9 matches - the best record in British League
football ! ! !

It's just a shame that the only game we have let in goals was The Jacks away
but we got 12 points more than them and are top of the league so who
cares???????