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| | Monday, 13 May, 2002, 17:51 GMT 18:51 UK Kavanagh fires cup winner Jason Smith and Jason Bowen get to grips at Ninian FAW Premier Cup final Cardiff City 1-0 Swansea City Cardiff City captain Graham Kavanagh scored the winner as the Bluebirds lifted the FAW Premier Cup for the first time against Swansea. Kavanagh's fine free-kick earned Cardiff the �100,000 top prize as the brave Swans were beaten. It was the fierce derby rivals' first meeting since April 1999 when the match finished goalless at Ninian. Cardiff chairman Sam Hammam had paid for 1,500 Swansea fans to travel straight to the ground in a convoy of special coaches as part of a call for rival fans to end feuds. Swansea, who had no senior soccer since ending their Division Three campaign three weeks ago, started brightly with Jonathan Coates worrying the home defence.
Then, after exciting youngster Leon Jeanne had raised Cardiff hopes, Swans' player-coach Nick Cusack brought a good save out of Mark Walton. Kavanagh fired a shot wide before Coates again tested Walton in the home goal with a fizzing drive. French striker Mamady Sidibe was proving a handful for Cardiff and his persistence nearly created a chance for Andrew Mumford. But it was the Bluebirds who almost took the lead in the 26th minute when a free-kick from Kavanagh was headed onto the post by Jason Bowen. Soon afterwards, former Swan Bowen threaded the ball through for speedy Jeanne, but his shot flew wide. Then Freestone fumbled a cross, but Leo Fortune-West was unable to take advantage despite shouts for a penalty for handball against Cusack.
Cardiff went straight on to the attack after the break and Cusack denied Willie Boland before Kavanagh wasted a good free-kick opportunity. But the Bluebirds' skipper made no mistake in the 54th minute after Kris O'Leary had bundled over Fortune-West. The free-kick struck the inside of Freestone's post before rolling into the net. Swansea replaced Mumford with Steve Brodie and the former Scarborough striker almost made an immediate impact when his cross just evaded Michael Howard. But Cardiff continued to have the greater possession, and Bowen almost squeezed his way through. Another Swansea sub, John Williams, then joined the fray and his first touch created a good chance for Watkin. But the ex-Wrexham striker hit the top of the bar with his header. But that was Swansea's last chance and Cardiff played out time to win the FAW premier Cup for the first time. Cardiff City: Walton; Weston, Prior, Collins, Legg; Maxwell (Hughes, 79), Kavanagh (capt), Boland; Fortune-West, Jeanne, Bowen. Swansea City: Freestone; Phillips, Howard (Thompson, 70), Sharp, Smith; O'Leary (capt), Cusack, Mumford (Brodie, 65), Sidibe, Watkin, Coates (Williams, 83). Referee: Ceri Richards (Llangennech). | |
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