Own Goal Secures Points for City

Away Win
By Chris O'Brien
March 20 2004

A desperately unlucky own goal from Crewe Alexandra 'keeper Ben Williams, who joined the Railwaymen on loan from Manchester United on Friday, was the only goal of the game and secured three away points for the Bluebirds. Despite the fortune of the bizarre own goal, the visitors deserved the win.

An own goal from on-loan Crewe Alexandra 'keeper Ben Williams was the only goal of the game at Gresty Road and gave the Bluebirds all three points against the Railwaymen. It was horrible luck on the Manchester United shot stopper, who joined Dario Gradi's side on-loan on Friday, with the youngster having put in a superb performance otherwise.

Lennie Lawrence, as expected, picked James Collins alongside Daniel Gabbidon at the heart of the defence with the Welsh under-21 international starting his first game since September. With Graham Kavanagh, Paul Parry and Willie Boland all injured, Lee Bullock made his first start of his loan spell from York City and was joined by Gareth Whalley, Richard Langley and John Robinson in midfield.

The game's only goal came on the 70th minute with Gary Croft's long-range shot rattling the crossbar, and bouncing off Ben Williams' arm into the back of the net sending the 600 travelling supporters into delight. It was desperately unlucky for the 20-year-old who had been phenomenal throughout, but it was little more than Cardiff deserved, with the Bluebirds dominating possession for much of the game against a Railwaymen side who are still suffering from the threat of relegation.

City started the brighter of the two sides and Robert Earnshaw went close in the early exchanges with an overhead shot that thudded against the crossbar. Cardiff were having most of the ball, but failed to create enough chances with the possession. However, the deadlock should have been broken just before the half-hour, but Ben Williams made a tremendous triple save to deny the visitors. Diving left he thwarted Tony Vidmar, before palming away a hard shot from Richard Langley and then denying Rob Earnshaw from only yards out. A standing ovation deservedly awaited the 'keeper after the trio of blocks.

His counterpart Martyn Margetson, who recieved a mid-week confidence booster with Mark Hughes offering him a place in the Welsh squad, was rarely called into action although he did make two impressive first-half saves. He denied Northern Irish Steve Jones in a one-on-one situation when the Ulsterman should have scored, and made an excellent stop from a Chris McCready header. However, his heroics were overshadowed by the hard work Crewe's new 'keeper had to do.

John Robinson looked to have opened the scoring moments before half-time only to find his drive from the edge of the box had been tipped over the bar. Alan Lee and Richard Langley were both denied in the early exchanges of the second-half, but Williams couldn't do anything about Croft's effort that led to the bizarre own goal. City held onto their lead in the remaining 20 minutes, with the defence coping with a late Crewe rally. Chris Barker and desperate to impress forward Gavin Gordon were introduced as the game reached it's climax of an away win.

The result was a pleasing one from City after the mid-week defeat and defensive calamities against Reading. We are up to 12th, only on goal difference though, and will find it tough against Sheffield United at Ninian Park this weekend. The play-off talk will probably start again after this result, but the Bluebirds are 7 points off that top 6 zone, and this will rise with a handful of clubs enjoying games in hand. However, what is important is that today's results secured City's place in the First Division this season and that, in my mind, was the realistic aim all along.

Full Time - Crewe Alexandra 0-1 Cardiff City
Attendance - 6,650

Crewe Alexandra: Williams, Billy Jones, Foster, McCready, Tonkin, Lunt, Sorvel, Cochrane, Vaughan, Steve Jones, Ashton. Substitutes: Tomlinson, Edwards, Moses, Higdon, Hignett.

Cardiff City: Margetson, Vidmar, Collins, Gabbidon, Croft, Langley, Whalley, Bullock, Robinson, Lee, Earnshaw.
Substitutes: Campbell, Gordon, Barker, Bowen, Alexander.