By CCFCSleepingGiant.com
August 7 2002

Report by Terry Phillips of the South Wales Echo:

Bath City 0, Cardiff City 0

ANDY Legg produced his trademark display of commitment and tenacity in Cardiff City's final pre-season match, against Dr Martens League Bath City at Twerton Park last night (Monday night).

Legg, playing at wing-back, produced an all-action 90-minute display which ensures he will be in the 16 on duty at Oldham Athletic on Saturday.

He battled throughout with enthusiasm which threatened to spill over at one stage.

When Ceri Hughes appeared to be punched, Legg was in quickly and, for a moment, it seems things might get out of hand in a bad tempered confrontation. Legg, though, quickly calmed down and backed off, later apologising to manager Lennie Lawrence for the flash of temper.

Overall, though, it was a disappointing display from the Bluebirds with Legg, central defender Spencer Prior, James Collins and Leo Fortune-West the only players to really push forward their cases for a place in the squad at Boundary Park.

Prior was the key player in the back four and is finding a level of sharpness which makes it a real pity he will miss the first two matches of the season through suspension.

Teenager Collins is developing into a good defender, while Fortune-West has done a decent job for Cardiff during pre-season matches.

Layton Maxwell, who has been lively and effective during the build-up, struggled to make the same impact last night. Maxwell and Des Hamilton have a chance to break through with Willie Boland facing suspension after the match at Oldham, missing games against Port Vale ( home), Northampton Town ( home) and Swindon Town (away), but they were too detached from front two Gavin Gordon and Fortune-West last night.

Ceri Hughes again did well. He has improved his mobility and produced another high standard display of passing, although he is still a few weeks away from full fitness after 18 months out injured.

Trainee Steve Williams, playing at right wing-back, also did well as the Bluebirds took on a highly competitive and impressive Bath City, who included former Cardiff player Jimmy Rollo plus other former Football League players like Chris Honor (ex-Bristol City), Frankie Bennett (ex-Bristol Rovers) and Andy Williams (ex-Swindon Town).

Cardiff defended solidly, giving Bath few chances, and newly-signed keeper Martyn Margetson dealt with everything thrown at him comfortably.

There were chances for the Bluebirds with Legg hitting a post and goalkeeper Bryant producing two good saves to deny Fortune-West.

The hard-running Gordon limped off with a sore knee after 75 minutes with first- year professional Tony Wallis taking over.

Bath City: M Bryant, F Bennett, A Williams, C Honor, M Trought, A Minturn, J Gosling, I Harvey, J Eaton, A Foster, E Wilmot. Subs: J Rolloe for Wilmot, 48 mins; G Thorne for Honor, 63 mins; G Kemp for Minturn, 63 mins; D Birkby for Foster, 67 mins; D Cleverley for Eaton, 67 mins; G Horgan for Bennett, 70 mins. Not used: J Drysdale, M Hervin.

Cardiff City: M Margetson, S Williams, A Legg, G Jones, S Prior, J Collins, L Maxwell, D Hamilton, L Fortune-West, G Gordon, C Hughes, K Dimond. Subs: T Wallis for Gordon, 75 mins. Not used: D Brimble (gk), S Heal, K Evans. Referee: Simon Knapp (Bath).

Attendance: 370.