Cardiff City 1 Exeter City 0.

Report by John Rees 

Saturday 31 October 1998.

SUPER-sub Craig Middleton's dramatic strike, 14 minutes from the death, was enough to extend poor Exeter City's 'Away day blues' at Ninian Park, yesterday. It had been like the Battle of the Alamo for Peter Fox's men, who had to defend for long periods in dreadful conditions as the slick Bluebirds returned. to their winning ways in front of a crowd of more than 5,000. The Grecians, though, were grateful that their trip up the M5 had not been completely wasted, with Chesterfield referee Steve Baines giving the green light for the game to go-ahead just 90 minutes before the scheduled kick-off. Torrential overnight rain had threatened to wash-out the Third Division encounter, but the Bluebirds' giant plastic sheeting, which covered both goal-mouths saved the day. There was an early blow for Fox's men, however, when top-scorer Darran Rowbotham was ruled out through injury before the kick-off. City's Welsh opponents were bidding to return their promotion bandwagon to the rails after dropping points in their last two home outings, and they welcomed back the experienced Jeff Eckhardt and the highly-rated Mark Delaney after injuries. Cardiff boss Frank Burrows also handed a home debut to Nottingham Forest wide man Chris Allen, who has joined the club on loan for a month. Exeter were forced to rely on the thrusts of front pairing, Steve Flack and Barry McConnell, to get the goals which would break a Ninian Park voodoo one League win in 59 years at Cardiff telling a sorry tale. In atrocious conditions, though, it was the rampant Bluebirds who made all the early running and Wayne O'Sullivan served notice of a shoot on-sight approach when a 25-yarder whis- tled wide of Ashley Bayes' upright. Three minutes later, 'keeper Bayes appeared to be somewhat lethargic as a piercing cross from Allen was allowed to cause havoc. The Grecians continued to come under heavy pres- sure and, after the men- acing Allen had skated past Exeter skipper Jon Richardson, they were grateful to see Dai Thomas' drive deflected off Lee Baddeley for an unprofitable corner. The one-way traffic continued and Bayes thwarted ex-Plymouth hitman Kevin Nugent at the far post after the electric Allen had again forged inroads. In a rare raid, McConnell's ball from the left caused the Bluebirds problems but there was another let-off for Exeter on the half-hour, when Nugent had a goal cancelled out for climbing over Jon Gittens. Exeter raised their game a minute after the restart when Baddeley rose to graze Jon Holworth's bar after meeting Jason Rees' free kick from the right. Three minutes later, Cardiff 'keeper Holworth pounced on a snap-shot from the busy McConnell. But at the other end, a smart three-man Bluebird move almost had Exeter rocking. Cardiff skipper Scott Young had found Nugent with a rapier-like ball and when the former Bristol City striker's deft flick released the lightning Allen, it was left to Bayes to be the hero again at his near post. Minutes earlier, Cardiff old-boy Flack had seen yellow from Referee Baines after clattering into Eckhardt. Cardiff's frustrations appeared to be mounting as substitute Christ- ian Roberts, Richard Carpenter and Graham Mitchell were all cautioned before they finally broke the dead-lock. After 76 minutes, substitute Roberts found space on the right before squaring the ball for fellow substitute, Middleton to side-foot home from 10 yards.

Exeter City 
Bayes Gardner Power Baddeley Richardson Gittens McConnell Rees Flack Curran Breslan. Substitutes: Fry (for Gardner, 84 minutes), Holloway (for Curran, 88 minutes), Gale.

Cardiff:
Holworth, Delaney, Eckhardt, Mitchell, Young, Carpenter, Fowler (sub., Middleton, 76 minutes), Allen, Thomas (sub. Roberts, 65 minutes), Nugent, O'Sullivan (sub, Williams, 74 minutes).

Scorers:
Cardiff - Middleton, 76 minutes..

Referee: Steve Baines (Chesterfield)

Bookings:
Cardiff – Roberts, Carpenter, Mitchell. Exeter Flack 


Attendance: 5,411,