Cardiff ends Chasetown's dream

Updated 15.49 Sat Jan 05 2008
Keywords: FA Cup, Chasetown, Cardiff City

Chasetown's FA Cup dream has come to an end as Cardiff fought back from a goal down to book their place in the fourth round.

A major giant-killing act had looked a possibility after 17 minutes when Kevin McNaughton bundled Ben Steane's cross into his own net to put the minnows ahead.

A major giant-killing act had looked a possibility after 17 minutes when Kevin McNaughton bundled Ben Steane's cross into his own net to put the minnows ahead

The shell-shocked Bluebirds took time to recover but levelled in added time at the end of the first half through Peter Whittingham before second-half strikes from Aaron Ramsey and Paul Parry spared City's blushes at the Scholars Ground.

The British Gas Business Division One Midlands side were greeted to a rousing reception by a crowd of 2,420 bedecked in blue and white, and they all seemed determined to enjoy their side's moment in the spotlight regardless of the result - even director, comedian Frank Carson put in a guest appearance.

Six divisions may have separated the sides but Cardiff struggled to find a way past their opponents' three towering centre-backs in the first half.

And Chasetown, who are the lowest-ranked side to ever reach this stage of the competition, bravely continued to give it their all even as the class of Cardiff began to tell.

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