" Match report Cardiff v Scunthorpe 12 Feb 2011 "

During the 1983/84 season Cardiff was in the old league one and they had a visit to Lincoln, Sincil Bank. At the time Lincoln were top of the league while the Bluebirds were second. For this game the away team was well supported so much that the visiting fans were allocated a block of the grandstand as they had filled out the away section. It made for an awesome atmosphere that saw the home side win 2-1 but the season ended with the Cardiff getting promoted while the Lincoln faded away to mid table. Two seasons later the teams met again in the same league but this time they were both at the bottom. Cardiff won that day 4-0 but they only took a coach load of supporters. Today’s game against Scunthorpe reminded me of those fixtures as I counted 67 visiting fans. I heard people mock such support like I did all those years ago from the Lincoln fans about the Cardiff. I actually sat with the home fans for the Lincoln games as I was based up there with the RAF. I knew some of the coach load of Cardiff fans and hold those guys in high esteem for following the Cardiff when the club was about to go down to its lowest level ever. So if there are any Scunny fans reading this report and went today you have my respect, real loyal fans.

What an awesome team Cardiff put out today so I thought as the team sheet was announced. Heaton in goal, backline of Quinn, Keinan, Hudson and McNaughton, in midfield Bellamy, Thomas, Oli and Ramsey, up front Chopra and Bothroyd. This against a team that had just lost to its local rivals 5-1 at home and they were up against a Cardiff who was buzzing after returning three points from their local enemies. An onslaught was expected for the visitors, they got it, they prepared well for it and it nearly worked for them.

The game kicked off with the home fans wondering if they were playing against Celtic. I’ve seen some strange away kits but the Scunny one beats them all. Cardiff attacked the goal at the family end and that was where all the action was to be for the first half. From the early stage it was very clear that Scunthorpe had come to park their bus in their penalty area. This allowed for the Cardiff full backs to try out their attacking abilities with Quinn doing well down the right and McNaughton working well with Bellamy down the left. The first real chance fell to Bothroyd after five minutes when he headed wide from a Quinn cross. Five minutes later Thomas picked up the ball on the right wing and cut inside his defender to send a powerful 20 yard shot just wide of the right post. A few moments later Bothroyd tried his luck from a 35 yard free kick that a Scunny defender did well to block.

Cardiff continued the pressure on the Scunny defence with Bellamy making some promising runs down the left wing. One such run he cut inside creating space for a shot from just outside the area. Unfortunately he did not have his shooting boots on today and his efforts were easily coped by the Scunny defence. However Thomas on the other wing forced an excellent parry from the Scunny goalie when he once again cut inside from the right and sent another powerful shot this time on goal.

The best chance of the half fell just before half time when Bellamy once again left his marker standing and made his way to the bye line before sending a cross back into the Scunny area. The ball was met by Oli 12 yards out of goal who tried to place his effort into the net only to find it blocked by a desperate lunge from a Scunny foot.

The referee brought a frustrating first half to an end with the unusually sight of a score board at CCS reading 0-0. I suppose that’s 2 unusual there, 0-0 and a scoreboard.

The second half continued very much in the same way as the first with Cardiff dominating. Cardiff carried on using their patient tactics to break down this stubborn Scunny defence. The first real chance on goal came from Bothroyd who took a free kick from 35 yards and sent the ball over the crossbar for three points. Well it certainly looked three points as soon as he hit the ball.

Moments later Ramsey found himself with only the keeper to beat. He rounded the stopper but took the ball away from the goal. He ended up with his back towards the goal and had to adjust himself as he prepared to turn and shoot at an open goal. However by the time he did this a defender had got back and managed to block the shot.

On the hour mark the home supporters had another usual sight of seeing a Chopra header. Bellamy who was having a quiet second half sprung into life and beat his marker to send a cross into the area. The unlikely head of Chopra met the ball but it lacked any power as it was easily saved.

Cardiff made their first substitution just after the Chopra header with Burke coming on for Thomas. Burke was soon in the action as he took a chest down from Bothroyd and sent a curling shot just wide of the goal. Moments later McNaughton went close with a similar effort.

By now the Scunny defence looked well capable of achieving its objective of keeping the Cardiff attack out. As the game went into its last quarter they started to create one or two chances of themselves. However they were restricted to long shot of which one from 25 yards went wide of the Cardiff goal.
Then Dave Jones made two substitutions that where to change the home sides luck. Jason Koumas came on for Bellamy and Jon Parkin for Bothroyd. With 5 minutes to go Koumas made a run down the left wing and sent a quality cross to the far post that was met by Parkin who just outside the 6 yard area headed the ball back across the goal. Waiting inside the 6 yard box was Oli who beat of his challenge from a Scunny defender and somehow put the ball into the net for the lead.

For the remaining minutes the visitors decided to attack for an equaliser and came very close to it. Heaton was forced to make a parried save from a fierce 20 yard shot. The ball fell to a Scunny forward who scuppered his shot over the crossbar thanks to a brave challenge from Hudson.

Cardiff saw the game through without incident after that and the referee brought the game to an end after 4 minutes of injury time with the score Cardiff 1 Scunthorpe 0

Summing up: Relief that is all I can say. The players worked hard but did not have the luck with them today. DJ in my mind played the right game and made the right substitutions. The manager and the team deserved that win. Take this to the Burnley Forest games and six points are there for the taking.

Cheers Ian, Great report as usual. Nail biting but relief all round.

Sorry to hear the trouble you had getting to the game yesterday. Can't make Tuesday as I explained to you in the ground, see you at Forest

Ian, Cheers once again for the Great Update.
Ian was it not the old Division 2 in 83/84 Lincoln v Cardiff as we got promoted from Division 3 in 82/83 Season, enjoyed those Seasons Big Time

Well done Ian you summed the day up well

Ian, Cheers once again for the Great Update.
Ian was it not the old Division 2 in 83/84 Lincoln v Cardiff as we got promoted from Division 3 in 82/83 Season, enjoyed those Seasons Big Time

Indeed we did go up in 82/83 only to come down in 83/84 to get relegated to the dungeon league in 84/85. That season we we finally were relegated to thew old 4th division was perhaps one of the better season for me watching the Cardiff. I saw us win 4-0 at Lincoln, 4-3 at Chesterfield and finally 2-0 at Doncaster. Yet it was so obvious on the pitch we were destined for that dungeon.

Every game I went to away I use to see the same faces. I use to get suspicious looks at first as I was on my own but after a while I was left alone lol. Strange days in a way but would go through them again if it comes to it.

Ian, Cheers once again for the Great Update.
Ian was it not the old Division 2 in 83/84 Lincoln v Cardiff as we got promoted from Division 3 in 82/83 Season, enjoyed those Seasons Big Time

Indeed we did go up in 82/83 only to come down in 83/84 to get relegated to the dungeon league in 84/85. That season we we finally were relegated to thew old 4th division was perhaps one of the better season for me watching the Cardiff. I saw us win 4-0 at Lincoln, 4-3 at Chesterfield and finally 2-0 at Doncaster. Yet it was so obvious on the pitch we were destined for that dungeon.

Every game I went to away I use to see the same faces. I use to get suspicious looks at first as I was on my own but after a while I was left alone lol. Strange days in a way but would go through them again if it comes to it.

I'm losing it.

We went up in 82/83 and stayed up for 83/84 then we had the double relegation of 84/85, 85/86. I was at our first home game in the dungeon league against Rochdale. About 2,000 attended.

A couple of months later I left the country and only got to see the City 3 or 4 times a year. I think this season I have seen us play more time than when I was in exile for 30 years.

Ian, Cheers once again for the Great Update.
Ian was it not the old Division 2 in 83/84 Lincoln v Cardiff as we got promoted from Division 3 in 82/83 Season, enjoyed those Seasons Big Time

Indeed we did go up in 82/83 only to come down in 83/84 to get relegated to the dungeon league in 84/85. That season we we finally were relegated to thew old 4th division was perhaps one of the better season for me watching the Cardiff. I saw us win 4-0 at Lincoln, 4-3 at Chesterfield and finally 2-0 at Doncaster. Yet it was so obvious on the pitch we were destined for that dungeon.

Every game I went to away I use to see the same faces. I use to get suspicious looks at first as I was on my own but after a while I was left alone lol. Strange days in a way but would go through them again if it comes to it.

I think were both loosing it, to many years of suffering, but fun

Cheers Ian

Looking forward to Tonights Burnley Match Report