Pre-season friendly

At Waun Dew. Carms

CARMARTHEN 0

CARDIFF CITY 5
Paul Parry (3)
Kelleher
Own goal


The Bluebirds opened their pre-season calendar, just as last year, by splitting the squad into two and heading to simultaneous games in Merthyr and Carmarthen. I got picked up by my brother fully expecting to head to Merthyr's Penydarren Park but he had other ideas and we were off to Y Dre to watch City's other game at Carmarthen. I'm glad I went as I'd been to Merthyr numerous times, Carmarthen was a new experience and it was a chance to see the City new boys and it was also the better encounter of the two.

It was almost as quick to reach Waun Dew as Merthyr - an hour even with police cameras - and cheaper too at just £6 for adults and £1 for kids (compared to £8/£3 at Merthyr), programmes were free as was car parking, hot dogs (with a double sausage) were £1 for the kids, no queues at the clubhouse bar and the added bonus of passing the City dressing room to get to the clubhouse bar. Others were watching the game from the beer garden of a nearby pub, presumably for free. As I came out of the bogs, I almost led the City team onto the pitch, it was that intimate.

Cardiff had all the new players on show except for Mark Kennedy who was absent. That's keeper Tom Heaton, centre half Darren Dennehy, left back Miguel Comminges and forward Ross McCormack. They were supplemented by Kevin McNaughton, Glenn Loovens, Steve McPhail, Gavin Rae, Peter Whittingham, Paul Parry and Academy player Rhys Kelleher. The bench consisted of another 7 Academy boys, all of whom got 2nd half playing time.

The weather was mild, some rain driving to the game held off, the ground was decent for its level with flat ground terracing on three sides, a smart pitchlength stand, a small but friendly clubhouse over the changing rooms and various portakabin buildings. The crowd was probably around 400 - just over half there to support City. Is it possible to have any greater contrast to the last City viewing at Wembley 7 weeks ago in the F.A. Cup Final and these surroundings next game?

While City took time to settle, Carmarthen were out of the traps and put everything into an opening 20 minute blitz. However they failed to convert that into shots on goal, a couple from distance were high and wide, and once that subsided, their threat had gone. In that spell however, the home side did put some good pass and play moves together and were enjoying some success in attacking City's braided left back Miguel Comminges who was quiet on the pitch and looked a little rusty as they won corners and got around or behind him a couple of times. Dennehy was strong in the middle while Loovens did what Loovens does and there was no passing McNaughton on the right, his Midnight Express number 1 all over haircut enough to put off anyone wanting to attack SuperKev!

The Carmarthen player who stood out for me though was one of their subs who was barely 5 foot and made me look a giant. I felt good! The corner-flag looked bigger than him. Rumours are he can only play for Carmarthen until November as he's needed by Snow White for panto afterwards.

The tide turned as McCormack, already showing well, won a free-kick which Whittingham placed towards top corner to be met by a flying save. After that, City's passing and movement shifted up a couple of gears and the home side couldn't deal with it. McPhail must have been enjoying looking up to see the runs Parry and McCormack were making and chances came after Parry was narrowly wide, McCormack hit a post and just missed while the Carmarthen keeper made a smart stop but then it was 4 goals in no time at all.

The opener was clever as McCormack played in PAUL PARRY and he rolled his effort across the keeper into a corner, the second goal saw Parry beat a challenge to find Academy man RHYS KELLEHER who showed no first touch all afternoon to this point but then finished exceedingly well. The third was a comedy OWN GOAL that Darren Purse would have been proud of. McNaughton's cross saw the keeper darting from near to far post while his centre-half ran the opposite direction and chested the ball into the empty nearside of goal. Then on half-time, PARRY grabbed his second with another good finish.

Half-time: Carmarthen 0 City 4

City declared at the interval and were always going to use Academy players and the full bench through the second half so the game lost its cohesion and flow. Even so, a few of the big names put in a good shift and some played the full 90. Can't really say any of the Academy kids stood out in the way Aaron Ramsey did this time last year at Merthyr, most of them looked like they should be tucked by 9pm.

PAUL PARRY got his hat-trick in completing the scoring to make it 5-0, a smart finish high into the top corner from 12 yards after being set up by McCormick. After that, there was still time for McCormack to test the keeper with a clever 20 yard effort, Whittingham to smash the bar and miss a sitter skying the ball over the bar but that was topped by goalkeeper turned striker Josh Magennis who found himself clear on goal yet almost hitting the corner flag with his close range effort, the ball did sit up as he fired. Enjoyed hearing him shout "**** off" to one of his team-mates taking the proverbial.

All of the new players acquitted themselves well for their first outing and showed promise to varying degrees. I'd summarise them as;

Tom Heaton - very little to do but kicked exceedingly well and long with the ball from his his hands, not as well with the ball on the floor, a good shouter and organiser. His size surprised me a little bearing in mind Dave Jones' known preference for big keepers. He is Neil Alexander dimensions, perhaps a touch shorter. His father came down to follow him and revealed his girlfriend is someone he pulled in his maths class at school. The things you learn from me!

Miguel Comminges - stands out with his braided hair but didn't stand out in the opening 25 as Carmarthen attacked his right side of defence and enjoyed some success. Looked a little off the pace but settled more as Carmarthen opening spell faded to nothing.

Darren Dennehy - he almost makes Roger Johnson look overweight. Slight but very tall and, like Johnson, puts himself about very well. Not very vocal for a centre half but definitely looked half decent.

Ross McCormack - probably the most impressive of the signing's on today's display in which he troubled Carmarthen throughout. Made excellent diagonal runs, always found space, tricky on the ball and able to/wanting to vary what he did. Someone commented how he reminded them of Paul Brayson which was a good shout. If City can get him a good strong striking partner, he could prove to be an excellent acquisition.

Final whistle blew and we were back in Cardiff by 5pm managing to pass Gavin Rae and Kevin McNaughton in their Audi and Merc suv's but blazed by Glenn Loovens who is a hell of a lot faster behind the wheel than he is on the pitch.