Saturday
5th December 1998

FA Cup
Round 2

Subs not used
Eckhardt
S. Kelly

Hednesford
Morgan
Sedgemore
Colkin
Comyn
Brindley
Bradley
Ware
Beeston (Blades 64)
Davis (Kelly 69
Carty
Kimmins (Hayward 63)

Subs not used
Fitzpatrick
Reece

Report by NigelBlues.
Another ultra-porfessional performance by City who could and maybe should have scored 7 or 8 goals - it really was that one-sided as a contest. Cardiff made
a mockery of Hednesford's record of knocking out 5 league clubs in 3 years as
an upset was never on the cards.

For the 5th successive game, the starting line-up picked itself. As 5
substitutes are allowed in FA Cup matches, Earnie featured on the bench (at
last!).

City started slowly but soon showed they were the superior side. Kevin
Nugent, showing his growing confidence, was narrowly wide and then over with 2
efforts from 30 yards (I've never seen him shoot from outside the 6 yard box
before). City also hit the post twice through John Williams after being
played in by Craig Middleton and then Nugent after a goalmouth scramble.
Hednesford's keeper also made some good saves as City were rampant.

After half-hour, some of the crowd (i.e. me) were worried it may not be City's
day and Hednesford showed more intent. Their only chances though came from
City mistakes as Hallworth kicked out against a Hednesford's players head and
then Delaney underhit a back pass that saw Hallworth (not many herr flicks (!)
today) lucky to win a challenge against a Hednesford striker.

On half-time City took the lead. From a good move, John Williams passed to
Middleton who made no mistake form inside the 18 yard box (his goal rate is
now becoming superb for a midfielder as is his tackling). This seemed to
spark some minor bovver on the Grange End as a City fan in there over-
celebrated and was chased by Hednesford fans. As soon as this happened,
another 10 City fans walked out of The Grange. A storm in a teacup.

H.T. City 1 Hednesford 0

City started the 2nd half by tightening up at the back. This acted as the
foundation for City to get the killer goal. From a move down the wing,
Delaney centred and a fantastic *dummy by Kevin Nugent let the ball travel to
Jason Fowler. Fowler showed his class by bringing the ball down, gliding wide
of a defender and sliding the ball past a static keeper from 15 yards.

*It wasn't really a dummy - Nugent missed the ball altogether.

From then on, it was party time as City dismantled Hednesford. No player had
a bad game with O'Sullivan and Fowler looking peerless in midfield, Williams
and Nugent in superb form up front and the defence were very solid.

O'Sullivan hit the post again, the Hednesford keeper must have blocked or
saved 5 or 6 shots and City played class football which they had earned the
right to do. The third goal arrived when John Williams brought down a lofted
pass, strode forward, had his initial shot saved but scored on the rebound.

The final 10 minutes saw Dai Thomas replace Nugent and immediately spoon a
shot high into the Canton Stand whilst Earnie replaced Williams and
immediately mishit a shot wide.

To spoil the occasion, Hednesford scored 3 minutes from time when careless
play on the right allowed a Hednesford winger to steal in and place the ball
past Hallworth. In radio terms, it was a consolation for the plucky non-
leaguers and helped to make for a good day out for their fans. In reality
speak, they were outplayed, outpowered, outclassed, lucky only to concede 3
goals and were hardly given a sniff all afternoon. It was as convincing a
performance as you could hope to see.

BRING ON A BIG NAME - WE'RE READY!

Report by the Electronic Telegraph
Courageous Hednesford bow out with a fight
By Michael Staniforth

Cardiff (1) 3 Hednesford (0) 1

THE giant-killing act of Hednesford came to an end at
Ninian Park as the Conference side fell to the Third
Division leaders.

It was a deserved victory for Cardiff who hit the woodwork
three times in addition to their three goals and saw
Hednesford goalkeeper Phil Morgan pull off a string of
outstanding saves in the last half hour.

But the non-Leaguers got a late goal and walked away
with their heads held high after a finale in which they
threw everything at the home side and came close to
embarrassing them with a string of breakaway chances.

Hednesford were looking for another League scalp
having beaten Barnet in the first round. For Cardiff, the
only club outside of England to have won the FA Cup, it
was an unlucky 13th minute when John Williams struck a
post and Mark Glaney skied the rebound. Shortly
afterwards Kevin Nugent also saw his shot come back off
an upright and a thundering drive from Wayne O'Sullivan
flew just wide.

Hednesford, playing their fifth game in the competition
this season, were making defensive errors under the
enormous pressure being piled upon them. Only a diving
header by Paul Carty relieved the one-way traffic.

Cardiff were given a reminder of how they might regret
their profligacy when Neil Davis pounced on an under-hit
back pass by Delaney only to have his shot blocked. But
on the stroke of half-time Jason Fowler fed Nugent who in
turn set up Craig Middleton to score with a low shot inside
the area. The non-League visitors almost equalised in
injury time but Andy Comyn's header was scrambled off
the goal line.

After the break the visitors fell 2-0 behind when a cross
from Williams broke for Jason Fowler to score with ease.

Hednesford to their great credit then made three attacking
substitutions but found themselves open to the break.
Morgan was left exposed and Williams rounded him for
Cardiff's third goal. Paul Carty's consolation goal for
Hednesford came too late.

Report from the Sporting Life

Cardiff 3 Hednesford 1

By Llion Ogden, PA Sport

Cardiff City turned out the light on the Pitmen's FA
Cup dreams with a comfortable 3-1 win.

Craig Middleton, Jason Fowler and John Williams
grabbed the goals as the Bluebirds outclassed their
Conference opponents.

Hednesford striker Paul Carty slotted home in the
87th minute to reduce the deficit but it was no more
than a consolation as City secured their place in the
third round.

The Welsh side dominated the early possession and
Middleton eventually broke the deadlock in first-half
injury time when Fowler's cross broke to the Cardiff
midfielder who brought the ball down on his chest
before firing low past Hednesford keeper Phil
Morgan for his third goal in five games.

Cardiff could have gone in at half-time further ahead
but were denied by the woodwork twice in three
minutes. After 14 minutes Williams drove low against
the upright from 10 yards and then Kevin Nugent beat
Morgan to O'Sullivan's cross whose flick rebounded
off the post and was cleared for a corner.

The Third Division leaders dominated the contest but
Hednesford came close to taking the lead in the 40th
minute when Mark Delaney's back pass fell short of
Jon Hallworth but the keeper made up ground to
deny Neil Davis.

Cardiff doubled their lead after 59 minutes when
Fowler latched onto Nugent's missed volley and
drove the ball passed flat-footed Morgan.

O'Sullivan's shot against the post in the 66th minute
before Hallworth pulled off two great saves from Andy
Hayward and Russell Bradley to deny Hednesford.

Williams then broke free to slot the ball home in the
82nd minute to round off a comfortable win.