Sunday August 25th. Cardiff University Fields, Llanrumney. Game 2.
Match report by Howl Williams.
I will say at the outset that this was an odd game to watch, especially in the context of it following the season opener last week. Arguably, on the quality of the football played, County didn’t deserve to win against the Villains. Conversely, on the quality of football played, County certainly didn’t deserve to lose today.
It was instantly clear that County were more composed than they were 7 days previous. There were more completed passes from Green shirts in the first ten minutes than the full 90 at Trelai Park, especially down the left hand side in front of the press box. Chris Davies and captain-for-the-day Karl Llewellyn were coolly supplying the ball from the back to Tom Hulland and Tim Jordan in the middle, who enjoyed many pieces of interplay with the always lively Phil Williams on the wing. Chris Pengelly also got involved with a clever back-heel unlocking the left flank for Phil who carried the ball to the by-line and popped in a delightful cross that Pingu must have been disappointed to head just wide of the post.
L&G did have their share of chances in the first half, usually from set-pieces as they were low on ideas from open play. Unfortunately for the Greens, the first and last goal of the game would come from one such set-piece. A throw-in near the County box led to a relatively toothless cross that didn’t look like it would pose much of a problem…until it did. The ball bounced, a minor melee ensued, breaths were held, and a red shirt happily obliged the gaping net with a ball shaped gift. It was unclear from the mess in the box who exactly was at fault, but Mikey George - a big man both on and off the pitch - claimed culpability at the break.
Half-Time: L&G Athletic 1 - 0 Cardiff County
A heavily taped up Gareth Price, who hadn’t kicked a ball in anger for over a month put in a decent shift at centre back in the first half but had to sit out the second period. With a lack of defensive cover on the bench, Chris Davies moved into the middle with Karl, Phil Williams moved back to their left and Kris Gibbins filled in for him on the wing. This allowed Rad to come on to marshal the space in front of the back 4.
There isn’t too much to write about the goalless second half. It is important to note that it wasn’t goalless for lack of County’s work rate in attack. The same slick link up play was on display with Jamie Matthews able to run at the L&G full back more than in the first half.
The ball just wouldn’t roll the way County needed it to. In the last quarter especially, everything seemed to break in the opposition’s favour. Shotstopper Mikey George made 4 or 5 crucial blocks from one-on-ones that seemed destined to end in goals, and he more than paid the team back for the first half error.
Dai Thomas got a run out towards the end and had one of the best chances of the game on his first touch when Kris Gibbins (I think) played a perfectly weighted ball over the top for Dai Thomas to run onto. It would be unfair to expect even a goal-scorer of his calibre to find his sights after 20 seconds of pitch time, and his shot was blocked by the L&G keeper. You feel if the game could have run for another 10 minutes, County could have turned the game around, but unfortunately, 90 is all you get.
Full-Time: L&G Athletic 1 - 0 Cardiff County
To add to the disappointment of the result was the crushing news that County’s bequiffed, Eye-talian right back, Luke Pitarresi is likely to miss the entire season with the knee injury that ruined his pre-season preparation. He will be useful to the Gaffer on the sidelines as his right hand man, but I’m sure Mr Redd would admit that he would rather be able to select him for match day squads. Angry Scottish rum-pedlar Colin Mowat has been an accomplished replacement for the first two games, so hopefully he can stay fit for the rest of the term to cover that vital position.
In other injury news, Tom Hulland had a tangerine sized and coloured ankle when he came off at around the 85 minute mark. The fact that he sustained that knock in the first half but managed to play on until virtually the end is testament to his child-like love of playing the game. His brother, professional medical doctor Sam Hulland diagnosed it as “only superficial”, and prescribed a large dose of “man up” to his older sibling. Hopefully he will be fighting fit for next week’s fixture.
I said in last week’s report that if County could add composure and width to their tenacity and pressing, they would win the next game. I forgot about luck. If they can add luck to the composure, width and tenacity from today, I’m sure the points will start flowing in. Get your 4 leaf clovers out, Greens.
Man-of-the-Match: Chris Davies. Fantastic performance from our ever reliable and super tenacious left-back... and a cut head to go with it.
Goals: Some Guy.
