Aaron spares Cardiff City's blushes

Jan 6 2008 Wales On Sunday

Chasetown 1-3 Cardiff City

CHASETOWN’S players were offered a free plane ticket to anywhere in the world by their sponsors if they had beaten Cardiff – but it was the Bluebirds who booked safe passage to the fourth round.

To do that they had to come from behind and avoid the biggest shock in the grand history of the FA Cup.

Six divisions and 136 places below City, the tiny Staffordshire side would have officially caused the greatest upset the famous competition has ever seen had they held onto the 17th minute lead given to them by Kevin McNaughton’s own goal.

But with the gap between the two sides on show at the Scholars Ground being bigger than any FA Cup match-up before it, eventually Championship professionalism won through and saved the Bluebirds’ blushes.

Still, it took a player making his FA Cup bow, the youngest on the non-league pitch, to inspire Dave Jones’ side to successfully stroll to the next round after their early hiccup.

Aaron Ramsey looked a real star in the making as he helped control City’s play and grabbed a 60th minute strike to add to Peter Whittingham’s first-half injury-time leveller. And he had impressed all onlookers by the time Paul Parry added a killer third with 17 minutes left to play and put Cardiff in the hat for tomorrow’s draw.

Given it was the Wales Under 21’s star’s first taste of this competition, the way he maturely made his way through the first half was really something.

But some of his team-mates didn’t make for great watching, with Jones later admitting he needed to remind some of Cardiff’s stars what was at stake during the half-time break.

At one stage Cardiff’s hope to keep the romance of the cup alive looked as though it would come back to bite them on the backside. Cardiff had really pushed for this game to go ahead at the minnow’s own ground, first helping the Midland League outfit getting the go-ahead to stage the tie before then assisting with stewarding, tickets and all the bits and bobs that come with hosting big games.

As a thank-you, and following pre-match pitchside appearances from funnymen Frank Carson and Nick Hancock, the PA blasted out Calon Lan.

Still, the only ‘hwyl’ on show early on came from the amateurs as they started with gusto, Roger Johnson having to head danger away from a corner as early as two minutes in.

Then McNaughton saw Kyle Perry steal a march on him inside the box as he headed to keeper Michael Oakes.

And on 17 minutes the home crowd and the television cameras got what they had come for as the impressive Ben Steane raced onto Nick Hawkins’ excellent through ball, Oakes refused to budge from his goal-line and the cross was bundled into his own net by McNaughton.

Cardiff, to their credit, didn’t panic and the goal shook some life into them with Ramsey enjoying his playmaker status.

Chasetown did flurry forward again, though, McNaughton untidily dealing with the danger as Steane threatened 10 minutes from the break.

But slowly Cardiff turned the screw, their breakthrough coming when Ramsey and Steve MacLean linked to feed Whittingham, the wideman cutting in and curling home in stoppage time. Talk about timing – who knows what game it would have been had the sides not gone in level at the break.

As cliched as it sounds, perhaps the goal had come too early for the giant-killers-in-waiting as the game fell flat and the supporters hanging from the trees that surrounded the ground started to feel the cold.

Cardiff were pressing, Tony Capaldi unfairly booked for diving after being tripped by John Branch. But on the hour-mark it was Capaldi who would help set up the second, Chasetown not clearing the danger from his throw, the full-back chipping into the box and Ramsey was on hand to nod home the rebound as Parry headed back across goal.

By this time the Bluebirds were in full party-pooper mood and passed around patiently for their openings, the third coming on 73 minutes as Joe Ledley’s pass found Parry, the makeshift striker letting the ball run across his body and tucking home past Lee Evans.

One ticket to the fourth round please.

Marks out of 10

MICHAEL OAKES 6

BACK in the team for the first time since the trip to Anfield but didn't get off to the best of starts when he hesitated in the build-up to the opener. Stayed solid after that, despite the terrace abuse.

KEVIN McNAUGHTON 6

TORRID start as he dillied, dallied and then delivered what could have been a knock-out blow to his own side when he put the ball past Oakes. Recovered well, though, and was useful crosser at times.

ROGER JOHNSON 7

NO-NONSENSE approach in a no-nonsense game, just what Cardiff needed. Kept things simple and tight at the back when Cardiff needed them.

GLENN LOOVENS 6

COUPLE of hairy moments - like when he almost scored a spectacular own goal at the end of the first half. Not as robust us normal but effective enough.

TONY CAPALDI 7

DIDN'T cover himself in glory in the opening period but settled well into the game and made the most of Cardiff's patient play, including a telling role in the decisive second score for the visitors.

PETER WHITTINGHAM 7

DEPLOYED on the right to help out with midfield absentees, but same as normal from the England Under 21 as he came in and out of the game. Still, gave Cardiff a great goal at the perfect time.

GAVIN RAE (Cpt) 7

YOU would expect the midfielder to have been able to put his stamp on this game a lot better than he did, allowing Chasetown to play a bit too much in the middle but protective role for Ramsey was vital.

AARON RAMSEY 8

OUTSTANDING from the youngster in a completely composed performance. Deserved his goal and observers unaware of his talents couldn't believe he's only just turned 17.

JOE LEDLEY 6

NOT up to the high standards of recent weeks as he struggled to really get going at the Scholars Ground, but still managed to show some good touches and had hand in Parry's goal.

PAUL PARRY 6

TOOK goal very well but didn't offer much else in and around the box as Chasetown crowded out the majority of City attacks. No chance to show speed either.

STEVE MacLEAN 5

SHOULD have bossed his marker a lot better and missed a real sitter to wrap the game up earlier. Lack of recent game time wouldn't have helped.

SUBSTITUTES

Blake (for Ramsey 89) Not Used: Forde (gk) Purse, Thompson, Hasselbaink

CHASETOWN

Evans; J Branch (Cpt), Slater, Thomas, Williams, M Branch; Hawkins, Steane, Holland (Spacey 77); Perry (Edwards 79), Perrow (D Smith 56). Subs Not Used: S Smith, Sargeant.

SCORERS

Chasetown: McNaughton OG 17Cardiff: Whittingham 45, Ramsey 60, Parry 73.

BOOKINGS

Chasetown: NoneCardiff: Capaldi, Loovens

REFEREE

Graham Laws (Tyne & Wear)ATT: 2,420

MAN OF THE MATCH

AARON RAMSEY The youngster took to the senior stage like a duck to water and was a welcome addition to some of Cardiff's play. Always assured and never afraid to pick out a pass, his work-rate was just as top notch. The youngster took to the senior stage like a duck to water and was a welcome addition to some of Cardiff's play. Always assured and never afraid to pick out a pass, his work-rate was just as top notch.