Bodmin battle shows value of the Bluebirds’ friendly venture
IF some doubted how worthwhile a pre-season tour of Devon and Cornwall might prove for Cardiff City this summer, in 45 minutes a tigerish Bodmin Town showed how difficult these friendlies can be.
The Black and Ambers played like they were another side of that nickname, Newport County; for a half, at least, mustering more than a fair fight as if playing against their biggest rivals.
The second stop on this Neil Warnock-devised mystery tour was a cup final for Bodmin, as the Bluebirds delved deeper into Cornwall in search of fitness and form.
After Monday night’s 7-2 victory at AFC Tavistock another rout was anticipated.
And, though the Bluebirds rallied to give a comfortable feel to the scoreline by the end, they were made to work hard for it. Bodmin finished two places below Devon-based rivals Tavistock in the South West Peninsula League last season, but proved much tougher opposition for this Cardiff side, clearly still finding its feet. It was 1-1 at half time.
There was a slightly-farcical beginning to proceedings, though, on a dank Wednesday night when the Cardiff City bus proved too big to fit into the Bodmin car park. But perhaps Warnock would have been happy to see his stars forced to walk through the local fields, stopping for autographs, to enter the ground.
There was a healthy Cardiff contingent in the crowd too, with players and fans again mingling merrily all evening.
Those Cardiff fans were rewarded with a first look at the impressive Lee Tomlin, who – intriguingly – was handed the No.7 shirt, previously worn by legend Peter Whittingham, and lived up to billing with a classy first-half display. There was a first look too at the Bluebirds’ new fluorescent green kit, a necessary garment as visibility got worse when the Cornish mist and rain rolled in.
Loic Damour’s thunderbolt lit up the game further after 10 minutes, the Frenchman breaking his Bluebirds duck with a 20-yard strike that almost broke the net. Yet Cardiff were pegged back 20 minutes later, again conceding a soft penalty – as they did at Tavistock – which Bodmin striker Ben Watson duly converted, chipping it beyond the reach of goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.
Warnock’s speech won’t have been strong, or stretched, at the break. But there was a schism between the Bluebirds’ attractive build-up play and their wasteful finishing in that opening period.
Tomlin registered a beguiling performance in the No.10 position, a position Cardiff have been so desperate to fill for the past season or two. In that, there was hope.
Because, while the former Bristol City star wasn’t at his best, some of his touches oozed class, confusing defenders and deftly linking the Cardiff play. One magical run in the first half almost beat the whole Bodmin team, yet Tomlin – like his teammates – couldn’t quite apply the finish.
The Bluebirds were guilty of profligacy throughout the first half. It’s a trait Warnock will hope to eradicate before the season begins.
But football is a strange game and the Bluebirds made it seem like a different game at times in the second half, Warnock’s words echoing in their ears, if not ringing.
Damour’s clinical second eventually took the Bluebirds back into the lead after 51 minutes, the Frenchman coolly slotting home Danny Ward’s square ball after a flowing move initiated by the lively Joe Bennett at left-back.
And Ward again played a big part in Cardiff’s third, crossing deep from the left where half-time substitute Kenneth Zohore was waiting to nod into the net. The former Rotherham man is still searching for his first Cardiff goal after three pre-season games, but operated effectively from out wide.
Matty Kennedy will also feel his name should have appeared on the scoresheet after his blockbuster strike cannoned off the woodwork – as did Zohore’s deflected rebound.
But the Bluebirds’ pressure continued throughout a one-sided second half. They couldn’t muster a fourth, and the winning-margin could have been much bigger. A worthwhile exercise, though? You bet. Cardiff City: Etheridge; Peltier (Morrison, 77), Halford, Bamba, Bennett; Mendez-Laing (Connolly, 45), Gunnarsson (capt, Ralls, 45) Damour (Manga, 81), Kennedy; Tomlin, (Zohore, 45), Ward.