Fleetwood Strike Secures Semi-Final Spot
This Year?
By Chris O'Brien
January 27 2004
Cardiff City are through to the semi-finals of the FAW Premier Cup with a 1-0 victory over Newport County, with pacey young striker Stuart Fleetwood the Bluebirds scorer. County can feel hard done by after having a cast-iron penalty claim turned down, and having the lion-share of chances.
| Fleetwood Strike Secures Semi-Final Spot |
| Cardiff City have stumbled through to
the semi-final stage of the FAW Premier Cup with a 1-0 victory over rivals
Newport County at Spytty Park, thanks to a second-half strike from pacey
young striker Stuart Fleetwood.
The Bluebirds can count themselves quite lucky, following County having a clear penalty turned down in the first-half with James Collins making a very rash challenge on Newport's John Phillips. The home side were the better team for the majority of the game, but lacked the final touch in front of goal, and will feel hard done by not to be set for a money spinning semi-final. The clubs disrespect for this competition since Sam Hammam bought the club shone through again, with a starting XI fielded that would look weak in the Avon Combination League. Lennie Lawrence was not even in charge for the Bluebirds in Wales' newest City, with recently appointed reserve team boss Paul Wilkinson taking them helm for one night only. When the club is reported to be in debts of £24million, it's ridiculous how we can treat this trophy, where the winners scoop £100,000, with such obvious contempt. Only three players who had started City games before Monday night started the game, with James Collins, Jason Bowen and Gavin Gordon included in the starting line-up. Arran Lee-Barrett was named between the sticks, despite Neil Alexander crying out for a game after being dropped for Martyn Margetson after a series of errors in league action. I would also like to have seen players such as Chris Barker, Gareth Whalley, Mark Bonner, Andy Campbell and Alan Lee included, who are all in need of either some fitness or a morale boost, but there seems to be some rule at the club where we cannot field a respectable line-up in Premier Cup matches. It was good to see Collins in action, after all he has been treated very unfairly this season despite churning out a number of sold performances for the reserve team, and he coped comfortably when he enjoyed a short-spell with the senior team earlier in the season. Jason Bowen, who seems to the type of player who you either like or loathe, is someone who I would like to see back in regular action for the City, so the 90 minutes he got last night will hopefully help him to gain some match fitness. Gavin Gordon is back down to last in the pecking order despite playing well in his league run earlier in the season, but he will really need to start performing if he is to get an extension to his contract, which expires in June. In a quiet first-half, where both defences stomped out any attacks made, the main talking point was Newport County's penalty claim, that went in favour of Cardiff. The second-half saw more chances, with Cardiff's 65th minute opener coming against the run of play in what had been one of Newport's better spells of the game. Stuart Fleetwood out-ran former Cardiff City defender Jeff Eckhardt and Scott Morgan to latch onto a Michael Parkins through ball, and rifle the ball past Roberts in the Exiles goal, with his first touch of the game after being brought on as a substitute by Wilkinson. County then had the majority of possession and chances as they looked for a deserved equaliser, but their efforts were to no avail as the mean City defence kept a clean sheet to book a place in the last four. It was disappointing that there was a huge police presence at the ground once again, and although I am unaware if there as any crowd trouble, it seems the local police were far to cautious. Only a handful of Bluebird supporters made the trek to Newport, with the total attendance a mere 812. The fact the game took place on the Monday night is further evidence of the FAW's incompetence. Both City and Newport had fixture-free weekends, so surely this game could have been played on Saturday. It would surely have attracted far more interest for the game and the competition in general, and could have bought in more money for Dr.Martens promotion hopefuls Newport. Many City fans have fond memories of away trips to Somerton Park, and I'm sure had this game been played on Saturday afternoon far more supporters would have gone to the game, and it may have helped rekindle some of the old rivalry that hasn't really surfaced since Newport went out of the league some 15 seasons ago. Anyway, despite the disappointing team selection, the boys did their job and earned revenge for their early exit from the Premier Cup last season. The victory could set-up a potential semi-final tie with holders Wrexham or against arch-rivals Swansea City. Both are in Premier Cup action later in the week, with the Robins facing a tough away game against Welsh Premier leaders Total Network Solutions, and the Jacks taking on Caersws. Full Time - Newport County 0-1
Cardiff City Newport County:
D. Roberts, T. Evans,
G. Lloyd, N. Davies, J. Eckhardt, S. Morgan, G. Phillips, S. Williams, J.
Moralee, G. Shephard S. Bowen. |