A simple statement by it fails to capture a game that had everything - quality football played by two excellent sides, tension, drama, occasion, agony and for Cardiff City fans, the glory and excitement inspired by a late two goal blast by Robert Earnshaw to grab an outstanding victory from the jaws of defeat.
It was a magnificent afternoon. I feel sorry for those fans who, for whatever reason, chose not to go to the match. 13,208 is a great crowd for any other team in this Division but it was Cardiff City's 4th best for the season. On an afternoon when City kicked of on top of Division Two for 20 years, have sorted out their early season problems and with a hard game against attractive opposition, I'm sure I wasn't the only one who thought it disappointing and that the team deserved more of us watching them.
At kick-off time, the air burst with tension and noise. City, Earnshaw inspired, on fire but Crewe came to play us at our own game. They are renowned for their football passing style, they noticeably appeared to be a bigger team than Cardiff and came to Ninian Park unbeaten in 9 games and had won 4 and drawn the other of their last 5 away matches. As formidable a team as we will play this season and City's biggest test at Ninian Park so far.
Cardiff started the quicker and had the better exchanges of the best opening 45 minutes of high quality football seen at Ninian Park for a long, long time. Crewe came to play, they regularly kept 2 in attack, played with real width and did not put all 10 men behind the ball, something we've become accustomed to.
City hurt Crewe Alexandra (or Crewe Alexander as they were named on our season/match tickets)
twice in the opening couple of minutes, showing their confidence. Firstly, Danny Gabbidon brilliantly side-stepped a marker in Crewe's half then slipped the ball outside to Gareth Whalley, keen to impress against the club where he started his career. Whalley's 20 yard drive was deflected wide. A short corner saw Cardiff's extra star quality, the main difference between the two teams almost count as Earnie whipped a brilliant cross to the far post, Thorne cleverly nodded down but Weston swung from 8 yards and missed the ball, any contact looked a certain goal.
The game settled with Crewe's excellent pass and move football stretching Cardiff in midfield, Crewe's midfield more than matched us and we struggled to hold on. But they couldn't penetrate City's defence - the dangerous Hulse was controlled by Gabbidon whilst Rhys Weston, my man of the match for an outstanding personal performance, hardly gave the ever dangerous Rodney Jack a chance. Weston was so much in charge that he attacked time and again for City too and when City got forward, Crewe always looked in danger and their goalmouth saw most of the real action, their defenders under sustained pressure.
City should have scored after quarter of an hour, Croft and Legg linked on the left, Crofty hit a superb far cross ball matched by an intelligent cushioned Thorne header, Kav hit the ball from 15 yards that thundered off the Crewe crossbar with their keeper helpless. It was so unlucky but if only Kav had kept the ball down. Whalley was close again with a volley just afterwards as City were starting to get on top, always having to respect Crewe, but again failing to take their chances - something they could ill afford in such a tight match.
Sam Hammam was back at Ninian Park, the club's winning run to the Top of the Division all taking place whilst he was away for his son's wedding in New York. We all knew he was back as he stood in the director's box on demand to ayatollah and 'do the David Seaman' with Sam flapping his arms wildly.
On 25 minutes, there was the only ugly clash of the afternoon, Willie Boland lost out with a late tackle in midfield, Crewe broke clear through Hulse down City's left but, from nowhere, Rhys Weston shot across the park, won a superb tackle and came away with the ball but Hulse purposely took him from behind. It was an obvious booking and so was Boland's, both men saw yellow. It was Boland's 4th booking in 5 games, all for silly challenges in areas of the pitch where there was no danger. He is now very close to another suspension having missed three games already this season for a sending off at Aberdeen pre-season. Willie plays with 110% commitment and passion but he does need to curb these needless bookings.
Earnie, after a quiet start, was now coming to life. There was a magical moment on half-hour as he dummied an opponent with his back to him, spun and left him 5 yards behind in an instant. Earnie, undoubtedly more of a team player this season, passed across the edge of the area but just behind Peter Thorne who was dispossessed, Earnie should have gone on for goal, it was the better option.
Earnie, popping up everywhere, was close a while later after a huge scramble in the Crewe area, he instinctively shot at goal but the ball flew straight to Crewe's giant of a keeper, Ince, who seemed to have superglued gloves as everything stuck to them all afternoon.
Crewe were such a good side that chances had to come their way eventually and were close twice, Alexander tipped a powerful rising Lunt drive over the bar - the shot appeared to be going over anyway - and Hulse, a big solid striker, blasted wide on the turn with the goal gaping as he met a Sodje header. Earnie would show him how to shoot on the turn before the afternoon ended. Sodje the bandana wearing Nigerian World Cup player played well but found the afternoon against Thorne and Earnie more uncomfortable than Heskey and Owen in Japan but who wouldn't??
City had, and missed, more chances before half-time. Earnie was just wide before he beat his marker inside the area. He blasted hard, Ince brilliantly stopped and, not the first time, the ball fell to the wrong player as Prior mishit the rebound with the goal gaping, Crewe then surviving another scramble.
It was such a great 45 minutes of quality football all over the park that the appreciative crowd stood and applauded both teams. The ball hardly lifted more than a foot on the pitch for the whole 45 minutes, everything was played on the floor. It was outstanding style for Division Two, far above the regular fayre at this level. Crewe knew they played well and could match City - but not at efforts at goal - whilst Cardiff would have reflected on a series of missed opportunities.
Half-time: CITY 0 CREWE 0
There was a major half-time ceremony on the pitch. With 20 or more flag bearers all carrying alternate Cardiff City, St Davids Crosses and Welsh flags, out came Sam Hammam (himself carrying a St Davids Cross with a Bluebird in it centre) and Cardiff City Council leader, Russell Goodway, to officially sign the agreement for the new stadium across the road to thunderous cheers and applause. Ali getting carried away by the occasion as he shouted "Give it up for Russ", "Nice one boys" and more over the tannoy!! This was a huge day for City, on and off the pitch, so they wouldn't let us down, would they? Of course they would!!!
After Ince saved Crewe again, this time blocking an angled drive, Crewe broke and scored a soft, sickening goal on 48 minutes. It was a terrible goal to give away, Crewe were probing and as Lunt came forward, Spencer Prior stepped up to play offside, Lunt poked the ball to Hulse clearly onside, City were statues and caught out. In an instant, HULSE powered a drive which Alexander almost stopped as it hit his arm but the power was too much and it was Cardiff 0 Crewe 1 with Ninian Park in stunned, total silence as Hulse grabbed his 8th goal in 7 games. Many of those still at the bars or toilets after half-time didn't even know it had happened, some thought we had won 2-0 and only realised differently afterwards!
On 53 minutes, Cardiff had a goal disallowed as Rhys Weston burst forward on the right, played a fantastic nutmeg through a defenders legs, crossed, Thorne headed down and ahead, then Earnie stabbed home. The support went wild until we realised it was not being given, the linesman's flag apparently raised for Earnie's offside before the ball had reached him. (The Landlord of The Napier later told us how ITV went live to their game reporter who described the 'equaliser' and later reported us winning 2-1 then 3-1, the reporter still blissfully unaware that this goal was cancelled out. ITV only realised their error when they announced the results - has the reporter still got a job??).
Crewe were now playing like City away when we are leading, they were content in soaking up what we could offer and feeling confident of holding on and even breaking to kill the match.
Gabbidon made Ince save, Earnie hit the back of the Grange End after he carved a great opening and even Spencer Prior got in on the act as he charged 60 yards forward with the ball passing Crewe players in Gabbidon style before the move broke down.
Cardiff were now showing signs of going flat. They had possession and territory but unable to break Crewe down. Ince, in particular, became Crewe's key player as he took cross after cross, using his height as a massive advantage. He was very comfortable, a combination of crossing that could have been better but also nobody putting pressure on him. There were chants for Leo as City needed to do something to change the match and Peter Thorne was drifting out of the match.
In the event, the change was forced on City as Thorne took a knock in a clash with Ince and limped to the side Lennie asking to come off so Leo was on to bring something different to the game, his own brand of disruption for the final 20 minutes. Within 7 minutes, City used all 3 subs for their last gamble, Campbell replaced Leggy to give City 3 strikers and Layton Maxwell, a more direct style attacking midfielder, came on for Willie Boland.
Still, City struggled to produce and we were now resigning ourselves to not even rescuing a point, never mind winning. Crewe were very comfortable, taking every opportunity to slow the game and waste time, City had run out of ideas and there looked no way back. Kavanagh smacked a great shot, which although close to the keeper, was matched by Ince getting down superbly in a split second to save and hold on.
But cometh the hour, cometh the man. I'm not religious but a miracle was about to unfold before our eyes so I do now believe in God - his name is Robert Earnshaw who resides at the Temple of Ninian Park!! It was the most outstanding, thrilling finish seen at Ninian since we beat Leeds at the start of they year with an excitement and roars that almost matched that never to be forgotten day.
The destiny of the match changed on 85 minutes when the magnificent Rhys Weston completely beat his marker again then hit the perfect hard and low ball across the 6 yard box and, from nowhere, EARNIE appeared and turned the ball comfortably past Ince. The roar - a combination of excitement and relief - was ear splitting. Earnie somersaulted and did his new digging celebration, Weston getting plaudits for his assist.
Everyone would have gone home happy settling for a point, but 60 seconds later, City were incredibly ahead. Rhys Weston lifted a long ball, Leo got there and nodded down and then EARNIE, with his back to goal, turned his marker with supreme ease and unleash a shot that went wide of the onlooking Ince and hit the corner of the net, halfway up. The noise levels and celebrations were the loudest I can remember for a league game in years.
Suddenly, from doom, we were singing WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE! The agony of Plymouth's controversial late, late midweek equaliser now forgotten. This things really do even themselves out, don't they?
There were 4 agonising minutes of added time, most of it I'm sure resulting from Crewe time wasting, especially Ince who took an eternity to take his goal kicks. It felt ironic that their time-wasting was now working against us. But City played it out very well, in fact, Crewe hardly got in the City half, never mind near goal. Leo loved getting the ball, taking it into corners and using time.
The final whistle was greeted in total ecstasy, players reacting like they'd won a cup final, Sam on the pitch to greet everyone, every player cheered down the tunnel and it was fitting that Weston and Earnie were the last two to depart getting the biggest reception of all while the tannoy blared the closing bars of Hey Jude and then The Carpenters, "We're on the Top of The World". It was cruel on Crewe but who cares?
City deserved something and we have had some recent bad luck ourselves so this was due to us. For all their good football, Crewe fell short of matching us for quality and that extra edge, it was late but, in the end, City made it count.
A fantastic game, an amazing finish. It's all going so well that I'm dreading Lennie Lawrence's inevitable Manager of the Month Award for 4 wins, a draw and that 5-1 cup hammering dished out in Boston during September, all inspired by Earnie's starting return to the side and 9 goals in 6 games. Can't we give the award to Nicky Cusack instead?
How on earth could those missing City fans have found something better to do than be here and witness it all first hand?? Let's pity them.
Report from FootyMad
Two goals in the 84th and 86th minutes by City striker Robert Earnshaw kept the Bluebirds on top of Division Two after Crewe had threatened to spoil the party when Rob Hulse gave the visitors the lead three minutes after the interval.
City skipper Graham Kavanagh crashed a shot against the crossbar in the 14th minute, with Crewe keeper Clayton Ince beaten, but both sides found it difficult to prize out any clear cut openings.
Hulse struck early in the second half when he raced on to a Kenny Lunt throughball to prod past Neil Alexander in the home goal.
It looked as though that would be the only score in the game until Welsh international Earnshaw struck with those two goals in two minutes.
Dario Gradi was bitterly disappointed that his side had failed to keep Cardiff out in those closing stages.
"We stopped passing the ball in the second half and that is why we lost out. Cardiff are a top-class team, but I am sure we will also be up there near the top come the end of the season."
City marksman Earnshaw had thought that time was running out until those late strikes.
"I didn't think we were going to do it but we kept on going and it was a great relief when those goals went in.
"At 1-0 down towards the end you are usually hoping for a point so to get the win was superb."
Earnshaw, who now has ten goals for the season, never thought that he would be in double figures after just 12 games, adding: "The players around me should take most of the credit for those goals."
City boss Lennie Lawrence thought it was the best game of football he had been involved with this season: "Both sides played football, but our players and the crowd showed patience and we came through."
External reports
The Football Echo
BBC Wales (inc audio)
Crewe's official website
The Western Mail
South Wales Echo