Cardiff City Korfball Club

Another strong performance from a rapidly developing second VIII saw off this week's visitors from Exeter. Cardiff's run of 3 home games has seen the reserves collect 5 points from 6 and tighten their grip on the second team division. An Exeter squad shorn of a few players and borrowing Cardiff star girl Kay faced Pam, Kat, Josh and Ian up front, with a starting back four of Terry, Lee, Zoe and Gwen.

Cardiff's early attacking saw Ian peppering the rim from long range, while at the back Lee took the responsibility for Exeter's dangerman Tony. Zoe picked up most of the early rebounds and with Kat finding plenty of space the breakthrough was inevitable. Ian followed up a halfway line shot, and with Pam rebounding and feeding all in one motion, Ian popped up the short shot and Cardiff had the lead. The reply wasn't long in coming as Exeter got into their stride, a penalty and looping long shot over Pam took them into a 2-1 lead before Lee levelled things with a text book runner off Gwenno's feed.

More direct play from Ian won a penalty which he confidently chucked miles over the post, but it didn't matter, as seconds later, to thunderous cheering and applause, Kat got on the scoresheet! Yay! With both teams willing to play a direct style and take their shots, a fluid and enjoyable game was taking shape. Debutant ref Ceri soon had his hands full trying to work out what went wrong as an Exeter chap randomly headed the ball around whilst standing in the wrong half! Splendid improvisation!

Josh was next on the scoreboard with another of his speedy runners to give us the two goal cushion again. Cardiff continued to make plenty of chances but Gwenno and Zoe just couldn't get anything to drop and Lee botched another penalty. By half time Exeter had pulled it back to 4 a-piece thanks to some rather more clinical finishing.

Ian began the second half strolling in for a runner, rightly disallowed for the 7 or 8 steps it took him to get the ball in the air, but Cardiff were soon 6-4 up after Josh nailed another mid-range shot and Pam rattled one in from distance. With Lee and Terry defending splendidly in tandem, Exeter called timeout to reassess.

Exeter's new tactic seemed to be to attack the boys, but a long period with no goals followed as Exeter got no joy out of Ian and Josh. Finally the dam broke as a runner and a penalty brought the score back to 6-all. With the game entering the last few minutes Kat used her new found scoring talent to land another runner and when Josh buried his second longshot the game was as good as won. Zoe's late rim-rattler summed up her rotten luck on the day, but a hard fought win against an Exeter side containing plenty of first team regulars was ample reward for a Cardiff City reserves side getting better with every game.

Hat-trick man Josh was the star of the show again, some thunderous running and tight defending ably supported this time by two newcomers to the scoresheet. Prior to the visit of Bristol Uni Pam and Kat were yet to score, they've now combined for 6 goals in 2 games as Cardiff's strength in depth continues impress.

Cardiff City II	8	6	Exeter II
Josh Cockburn	3
Kat Smith	2
Lee O'Sullivan	1
Pam Moffat	1
Ian O'Sullivan	1

Some 3-1 in action. Terry in the highly technical 'post aeroplane' position.

Lee lines up a bit of rim to bounce this one off.

Ah, the classic combination of skill and great legs. And Kat.