Chesterfield 0-3 Cardiff City - Report and Comment

Bags 2 more!
By Chris O'Brien
April 13 2003

Peter Thorne has now scored 5 goals in 3 games, as his brace helped City to a vital 3-0 away victory against Chesterfield today. Graham Kavanagh had given City the lead half-way through the first half after putting home an excellent free-kick.

The Bluebirds have returned to just one point behind second placed Crewe Alexandra following a comfortable 3-0 win against Chesterfield at Saltergate this afternoon.

A Graham Kavanagh free-kick on the 25 minute-mark put City on their way, and a goal in each half from on-form Peter Thorne secured the crucial three points for City.

Lawrence named an unchanged side from the one that convincingly won 4-0 at Adams Park during mid-week. There was still no place in the starting line-up for Welsh international Danny Gabbidon, who is still apparently not match fit despite coming through the entire reserve game with Wycombe on Wednesday without a problem.

Martyn Margetson retained his place between the sticks despite Neil Alexander returning to the squad following a short lay off with injury. Margetson has now kept three clean sheets in his last four games, and appears to finally be getting a well-deserved run in the City starting XI, something many of the Ninian Park faithful have been calling for all season.

The score perhaps flattens Cardiff slightly, and had the home side taken their chances it could have been a very different story.
Chesterfield dominated the midfield early on, and Glynn Hurst and Mark Hudson both had excellent chances to put the Spirites in front, but neither could find the breakthrough, and it was Cardiff who got the crucial opening goal courtesy of a Graham Kavanagh free-kick.
Alan Mahon was fouled about 25-yards about by Mark Hudson, and Dermot Gallagher had no doubt in giving City the free-kick. Kavanagh's superb free-kick floated over the poor Chesterfield wall, and into the bottom-right corner of a motionless Carl Muggleton's goal.

Ten minutes later, Cardiff had doubled their lead with Peter Thorne tucking home his 13th goal of the season. Hurst lost possession on the right by Gareth Ainsworth who floated in a nice cross, which was met by Robert Earnshaw. Earnie's header was superbly saved by Muggleton, but he couldn't prevent Thorne burying the ball into the back of his net from the rebound to give City a two goal cushion.

Half Time Score - Chesterfield 0-2 Cardiff City

The second half was spent mostly with Cardiff pinned back in their own half, but despite constant efforts from Chesterfield to reduce the deficit, they rarely looked like scoring thanks to some poor finishing on Margetson's goal from the Spirites forward line.

The best chance of the half for the home side fell to David Reeves, when he was left unmarked outside the Cardiff City area, but his shot flew over the bar, and over the away fans out into the street behind the ground. It summed up Chesterfield's afternoon.

There was very little else to mention in the second period, except for Peter Thorne's second goal which came 7 minutes from time. Alan Mahon delivered an accurate cross to the man with the magic hat, who neatly finished from 6-yards out.

Despite the media talk of us taking almost 2,000 fans to Saltergate, I would say there was around 1,000 visiting supporters who helped take the crowd to a disappointing 4,398.

The victory means City are one point behind Crewe Alexandra, and also means Wigan will have to wait at least another week to secure their promotion to the First Division. The defeat sees Chesterfield remain right in the thick of the relegation dog fight, which could see them return to the Fourth flight, just two seasons after gaining promotion.

Full Time Score - Chesterfield 0-3 Cardiff City