Matchday Memories: On This Day 2003 – Sky Blues Banish Bluebirds From F.A.Cup In Battle Of CCFCs
On this day (15th January) in 2003 referee Graham Poll officiated again in the FA Cup Third Round replay between Division One Sky Blues and Division Two Cardiff City. In the first game in Wales eleven days earlier the Bluebirds ‘gaffer’ Lenny Lawrence had made some late substitutions with City 2-0 up after 57 minutes (from recent CCFPA recruit Lee Mills and a penalty from player-manager Gary McAllister) which turned the game. First Robbie Earnshaw (76 minutes) and then Andy Campbell (in the second minute of added on time) grabbed the draw as the game finished 2-2.
There were 11,997 in the stadium to see the clash and City’s young Cardiff born midfielder Lee Fowler put the skids under the visitors with a cool finish from Jay Bothroyd‘s through ball after 21 minutes. After a number of other attempts which didn’t come off Dean Holdsworth finally netted with a stunning curler to get City’s second twelve minutes into the second half. Jay put the icing on the cake with a minute to go as the Sky Blues 3-0 win set up a Fourth Round date at Rochdale.
McAllister’s Men lined up as follows (CCFPA players underlined):-