Its that time of year again, when we all dream of Cardiff. I for one can't wait for the return to Wembley, but before that beckons let's hope we are afforded at least one trip to the Welsh Capital. A potential banana skin awaited us in a lower league team away from home. Our past record in this competition, to put it mildly is shite, but at least our two visits to Ashton Gate in the last ten years have bore some fruit.

Everton started like the form team they are at the moment. Within the first ten minutes, they had a cute flick from Watto cleared off the line, and moments later a shot come cross from Nace evaded the City keeper and came back off the bar. Moyesy had not surprisingly shuffled his pack a bit. Dickie Wright was given a run out, as were Joey, Faddy, Timbo and Big Dunc, Moyesy sensibly deciding to rest some of his charges for future battles ahead. One of the returnee's Dickie Wright, starting his first game for ages, looked assured and confident, marshalling his troops in front of him like Bernhard Langer the weekend previous.

It did not take long for Everton's dominance to be turned into a goal, when one of the City defenders handled a knock on from Faddy. The referee who up to then was a complete mystery awarded a penalty, his first decent decision of the night. Up stepped the Big Man, and I hope you were on him, as I suggested at a nice 6/1 to get the first goal, with a coolly took spot kick. City responded instantly and came back at the Blues, as midfielder Wilkshire rattled the bar with his deflected shot. A few long range efforts followed, but none to trouble Dickie. Everton in fairness looked comfortable, but a slight worry came our way as Ossie limped off just on the stroke of half time. Into the fray came Chaddy, who has scored in this competition before. With I believe his first touch of the match, he kept his record up when he guided a superb Naysmith cross past Phillips in the City net. Everton deserved their two goal lead, and surely Cardiff looked that little bit closer.

Half Time: Bristol City 0, Everton 2

By fuck, whats that old saying, 'don't count your chickens'. At our half time chit chat, Sausage, G man, and myself were planning our assault on an old friend who has bought a boozer in Caerphilly, just outside Cardiff, sometime next February, when we would be watching the Blues in the Carling Cup Final. Within four minutes we were reevaluating our plans, as City pulled one back through an OG. There was a bit of confusion around us, as to who it went in off, I said Cahill, others said Stubbsy, but whoever it was, it was a poor goal to concede. The damage was done out on the left, and sorry to say Faddy was not tracking back. City's fans who had been earthly quiet since the Blues took the lead, seemed to find their voice, and their team pushed on, sensing blood.

Worse followed minutes later, when from the left of the pitch again, City mounted another attack and Lita forced the ball home. Our end was silent, they were ecstatic, and by shite we had a cup tie on our hands. Moyesy seemed to sense the danger down the left, and took Nace off, replacing him with Sandro'. In fairness to Nace, his left sided partner Faddy, was not having one of his better games, and left his International team mate exposed on several occasions.

Half chances came from Chaddy, and Big Dunc, but the game settled down again after the explosive start to the second half. Super came on for Big Dunc, as Moyesy seemed to want to finish it in the ninety. Our prayers were answered, when Faddy was brought down in the area. Big Dunc had left the play minutes earlier, so Faddy took the ball, to win the game right in front of us travelling fans. He hit the spot kick straight at the keeper, and from the rebound got a header in, which Phillips tipped over superbly. From the corner Phillips saved again, and we sensed our Caerphilly trip was to be postponed for good. Right on the ninety Super put the ball in the back of the onion bag, and we went wild. Pointing fingers by us all, as we noticed the ref had blew up for a foul. Fuck, I said to Saus, we might not make last orders at this rate.

Full Time: Bristol City 2, Everton 2

Extra Time

After all the huff and puff of the second half, missed pen, disallowed goal, great saves, the extra time period started out like a Sunday League stroll. Stubbsey came closest when from a fine corner from a below par Faddy, he powered a header goal bound, but Man of The Match, by a street, Phillips in the City goal, pushed the ball out for another corner. The end of the first period was welcomed as it was shite, and I was starting to get annoyed, as I could see pens looming, and we had no one on the pitch to take them.

First chance of the second period fell to Faddy. After some fine work by Watto, Faddy was played in after a good turn, but seemed to rush his shot and blazed it over the bar. Don't want to be too unfair on the lad, as he probably need's games under his belt, but he started poorly, then faded as the game went on. City came back and forced Wrighty into a good save as he pushed a fine effort over the bar. Bristol pushed on and forced a couple of corners. More shots rained in at Dickies goal, but none to really trouble him. Chaddy tried in vain to find the winner, but after missing one in normal time we now had five to try and win it, against a keeper who was exceptional all night.

My bluekipper Starman goes to Dickie Wright, who after a long absence came back in, and his handling and shot stopping was A1. He was blameless for both the goals, and I am sure he will be pushing Nige for the jersey on a full time basis.

It's late, and I'm fucked, and up in a few hours. Watto missed, but thankfully Timbo, Stubbsey, Super and Harry Hill found the net, to keep my Caerphilly dream alive. (23/09/04)

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