| Report
from Muhz. City's performance today
was first rate. The sponsors named Fowler as the man
of the match, quite rightly in my opinion, but the entire team played well as
a unit. nugent was a little below par and was effectively shackled by Andy
crosby but he made a lot of space for Big John Williams who could have had
five today. At times fowler looked like being capable of walking throught the
entire chester team on his own, as did a very Lively O'sullivan.
For me the biggest plus point of the whole day was not the total domination
but the fact that for the first time this season our midfield was prepared to
get up beyond the forwards. This is why we aint been scoring well up to now,
and I think is the key to winning this division outright. Special mention must
go to delaney for a stunning fifth goal after picking the ball up on the right
in his own half in front of the bob bank, he knocked it beyond the midfield
marker and ran at the defence. he knocked it inside the full back and went
outside him in full flght bearing down on the canton end goal and drove his
shot inside the far post from a wide angle as the third challenge came in.
O'sullivan and Carpenter raced accross the pitch to pay homage to him by
kneeling in front of him and offering the "we're not worthy" tribute.
Great result, stunning all round performance just in time for the Swansea
game.
Report from NigelBlues.
Cardiff (3) 6 Chester (0) 0
Fowler 2
Williams 2
Middleton
Delaney
Att: 4,220
Chester fans: 175 (est.)
Weather: Sunny, clear skies, fairly cold
City Line-Up
Hallworth
Mitchell Young Ford (C)
Delaney O 'Sullivan
Fowler Carpenter Middleton
Nugent Williams
subs
Eckhardt Kelly Roberts Earnshaw Cadette
Wem - ber - lee, Wem - ber - lee
I don't feel sorry at all for anyone who decided to stay away and watch the
egg-chasers against South Africa, even if Wales played well. It affected the
attendance obviously but those who were there saw City in destroying form.
The only wonder was how City did not hit double figures. No doubt that
Chester were a poor side but nobody has turned them over as Cardiff did, they
simply could not live with the Bluebirds at their very best.
The same side who have scored just 9 goals in 10 games, were superb in scoring
6 (each goal a beauty) and keeping their 5th successive clean sheet. Nobody
should deny the quality of City's play and performance which was awesome and
well above Division 3 standards.
Wayne O'Sullivan stepped in for Chris Allen and performed at the best of his
form in the only change from Scarborough on Tuesday. The F.A. Cup allows 5
named substitutes so City had firepower on the bench in Christian Roberts and
Earnshaw.
City started well although not worring Chester from the start until a through
ball was headed away by the Chester keeper charging out of his area. It found
Jason Fowler, easily the orchestrator of the match and his best game of the
season, near the manager dug-outs. His first time shot from near chest height
had the power but went wide. Two minutes later, his class shone through as
City took the lead.
A ball played out of defence was won by John Williams, who showed heading
prowess not often seen. Kevin Nugent won a challenge and a ball through the
centre was met by Fowler charging through, keeping his cool, to round Cutler,
the Chester keeper superbly, and shoot into an empty net.
Before we sat down, it was two. Again, Williams won a flicked header finding
O'Sullivan and his through ball was met this time by Craig Middleton. He won
a race with the goalkeeper and placed the ball past him lunging in to shoot
for his 3rd goal in 5 games from the edge of the area. City had nearly killed
the game after just 12 minutes.
City kept pushing on, playing beautiful football, the midfield were direct and
cutting with Jason Fowler showing quality in everything he did. In attack,
Nugent was fairly quiet but John Williams showed his pace, won headers and
looked a threat every time he was in the game.
Middleton and Williams saves out of the keeper and other shots went wide or
were blocked until the 3rd goal arrived just before half-time. Receiving a
ball central and just inside the City half, Fowler hit a beautiful diagonal
pass wide to John Williams. Williams tore forward left the Chester defenders
behind him and moved into the area, his shot was saved but run across the area
where Jason Fowler followed up and placed his shot wide of a defender on the
line and bowed to the Bob Bank. Class.
From the kick-off, Williams almost scored again and just afterwards, Fowler
shot for a hat-trick when a pass to Williams would have been the better
option.
Half-time City 3 Chester 0 (and a standing ovation from every City fan in the
ground)
A quick word for Chester fans. They are having a hard time and this must have
been awful for them but their fans, aided by 2 drummers, chanted and clapped
along through most of the match. I hope they survive their troubles, they
deserve to with fans like that.
The second-half started to chants of "Ratcliffe, Ratcliffe, what's the score
etc" but he ignored them and was very quiet. He must have felt like King
Canute trying to stop City from doing more damage to his side. Thoughts City
may have settled for 3-0 were soon dispelled as they powered on.
However Chester had the first real chance when a swinging centre eluded
Hallworth. A scramble followed and a shot which was cleared off the line and
back into the arms of Jon Hallworth. More City shots follwed from Williams,
Middleton and Carpenter before it was 4-0 on 55 minutes.
A move between Delaney and Middleton on the right wing resulted in a whipped
centre. John Williams ran in ahead of his marker and stuck a boot out to
narrowly beat the advancing kepper and steer the ball into an unguarded net.
"John Williams Is A Super City Striker".
Shortly after, Williams was denied again after great work by Mark Delaney down
the wing and brining the ball into the area. His square pass was hit well but
Williams shot was blocked.
Just after the hour, it was 5-0 and the best individual goal. Hallworth threw
the ball out to Delaney standing 15 yards inside the City half. He controlled
it, looked up and decided to flick the ball ahead, past 2 Chester defenders.
His pace took him past them and he was away but still more than 40 yards from
goal. His next touch was not quite the best as it put him towards the right
side of the area but it kept him ahead of the defence into the area. When
there, he hit a scorcher across the Chester keeper and into the far corner.
What a way to score your first City goal.
Apart from being superbly taken, he's obviously popular as all the City
players ran to congratulate him and a few got on their knees and bowed in a
"we're not worthy" style.
More chants of "Ratcliffe what's the score" followed whilst "Frankie do the
ayatolah" was met with a wave of his flat cap. Chetser fans were greeted with
"You're not drumming anymore" .
With 20 minutes to go, City made it 6 with another stunning goal. Receiving
the ball on the right touchline, Fowler advanced and held up play as Delaney was
offside on the far side. He then looked up and saw Middleton running on the
far touchline and hit a genius curling ball across the area to Middleton. His
first touch was exemplary as he played the ball back into the centre of the
area to be met by John Willams and he placed his shot into the corner of the
net from 15 yards brining the Chester keeper to his knees.
Chester appealed for offside and a couple got booked but Delaney did not
interefere at all. With the new rulings, this was a fair and beautiful goal.
A quick word for the ref. Today it was Paul Danson who was booted off the
Premier League last season for porr and controversial displays. My heart sank
when I saw his name in the programme but I thought he controlled the game
really well today, he was hardly noticed, allowed advantage a number of times
and did not make a bad decision that I can recall.
With 10 minutes to go, Frankie brought off Fowler and Williams for Cadette
and Roberts. Knowing Frankie, the main reason for their withdrawals was to
afford personal ovations for Fowler and Williams and they milked it, well
deserved as both were the chief destroyers. Williams maybe is not the answer
up front and I don't think he can produce every week but he is now equal
leading scorer. Fowler was total genius and showed his potential as a Premier
player. He won man of the match. All I ask is do it again at the Vetch next
week Jase!!!
Not much occurred in the final 10 minutes as City did not push forward so much
although Scott Young was close with a couple of headers from corners. City
however were as determined to keep another clean sheet and why not.
It was great to see not so many City fans drift away before then end or at the
final whistle and stay on to applaud the team until they disappeared down the
tunnel. What a game, what a performance, what goals. |
