FA Cup - Cardiff City 2-1 Tranmere Rovers

Goalscorer
By Chris O'Brien
November 27 2002

Cardiff are through to the Second Round of the FA Cup after a 2-1 win over Tranmere Rovers. Second-Half goals from Andy Cambell and James Collins cancelled out Stuart Barlow's 41st minute goal for the visitors.

After a dissapointing performance on Sunday, Cardiff were looking for improvements as Tranmere Rovers visited Ninian Park in the FA Cup First Round replay.

Cardiff named a slightly weakened side from the usual league starting XI, and Lennie Lawrence gave fringe players, Martyn Margetson, Des Hamilton, Andy Campbell, Leo Fortune-West and James Collins a chance to impress.

Jason Bowen was also included in the starting XI, and is slowly being introduced back into first team action after a long, frustrating spell out with injury.

The teams were as follows:

Rovers have been on good form recently, and were unbeaten in six, their last defeat coming on their last visit to Ninian Park when they were hammered 4-0, in front of the Sky TV cameras.

Tranmere started brightly, and looked a much better outfit than the one that was hammered at Ninian Park less than one month ago. Gary Jones went close for the visitors early on.

Cardiff were taking time to settle, and the defence were having problems dealing with Stuart Barlow and former Bluebird, Simon Haworth.

City's best chance fell to Jason Bowen, after skipping past three defenders, Bowen's chip dipped slightly over the bar. Kavanagh also went close with a free-kick, which went narrowly wide of Achterberg's goal.

It was a poor first-half showing from Cardiff though, who needed a wake-up call, and it came in the shape of a Tranmere Rovers goal. Stuart Barlow latched on to a Simon Haworth through ball and tucked the ball comfortably passed Neil Alexander. The 150 or so Tranmere fans celebrated, as the 6,000 Cardiff fans who had turned up were facing their team exiting the FA Cup at the first hurdle for the first time since 1994, when Non-League, Enfield dumped the Bluebirds out of the Cup.

Half Time - Cardiff City 0-1 Tranmere Rovers

Andy Legg came to replace Willie Boland for the Second Half, Legg has played in many FA Cup ties over his long career and his influence is priceless.

City looked much better in the start of the Second-Half, as Cardiff looked for an equaliser but Tranmere looked comfortable.

Leo Fortune-West came close with a 30 yard shot - 6 inches lower and it could have been a contender for goal of the season.

Cardiff's equaliser came from Andy Campbell; Martyn Margeton pumped a long ball up to Leo, who flicked the ball onto to Andy Campbell who drove a splendid rising shot into the top of Tranmere's net.

The goal gave the team and the fans the lift they had needed, and from that point on the game only really looked to have one winner.

City continued to attack, and with 20 minutes to go it was 2-1. The goal coming from the unlikely source of James Collins, who hit a hard shot from the edge of the penalty area which flew through John Achtenberg's legs.

Things got worse for the Tranmere 'keeper, he was red-carded after bringing down Andy Campbell as he ran towards goal. The referee showed no hesitation in producing the card.

This was the final nail in the coffin for Tranmere, and Cardiff comfortably saw out the rest of the game.

It was the lowest crowd of the season at Ninian Park, with only 6,853 turning up. It wasn't such a surprise, the FA Cup isn't the clubs top priority this season, and the game has received very little publicity. BTTB crew were there of course!

Full Time - Cardiff City 2-1 Tranmere Rovers

Conference side, Margate raised a few eyebrows by beating Leyton Orient, and they await the Bluebirds in Round Two. Kevin Nugent and Matt Brazier will have to wait to face their former team-mates.