Nationwide One leaders Norwich endured a miserable return to Cardiff as they
went down to a 2-1 defeat at Ninian Park.
Two years ago they left the Welsh capital heartbroken following their penalty
shoot-out defeat by Birmingham in the play-off final. This time they surrendered
their seven-game unbeaten run and lost on the road for the first time since
mid-October.
Two goals in three first-half minutes put Cardiff on the way to a welcome
victory.
Wales international Paul Parry, a £75,000 signing from Conference outfit
Hereford two months ago, fired them ahead in the 17th minute - his first goal
for the club - when his cross caught the wind and flew in past Norwich
goalkeeper Robert Green.
The home side did not need long to double their advantage when Parry's cross
was headed home by Robert Earnshaw, who scored only his third goal in 15 league
games.
Cardiff could easily have had more as Alan Lee's header hit the woodwork,
Green foiled Earnshaw and Gary Croft flashed a shot just wide.
Half-time substitute Leon McKenzie pulled one back within 10 minutes of the
restart but Norwich could not find an equaliser.
Norwich, unbeaten in eight away games, had an early chance to silence the
Ninian Park crowd but Swedish striker Mathias Svensson could not keep his header
from Jim Brennan's cross down.
Cardiff hit back and Earnshaw fired over from the edge of the box in the ninth
minute. Moments later Australia international Tony Vidmar was denied by a good
save from Green as Cardiff continued to press.
But Lennie Lawrence's side took a stranglehold of the game with those two
quick-fire goals which stunned the Canaries, who were restricted to shots from
long range.
Norwich manager Nigel Worthington made a double substitution at half-time,
sending on McKenzie and midfielder Phil Mulryne in place of Paul McVeigh and
Brennan.
But Cardiff came close to making it 3-0 only for a brilliant save from Green
to deny John Robinson.
Nevertheless, Norwich's substitutes combined to haul the visitors back into
the game 10 minutes after the break. Mulryne delivered the cross and McKenzie,
who scored four goals in five games before being confined to the bench, drilled
home.
McKenzie nearly grabbed the equaliser moments later but his shot went just
wide.
Cardiff survived the onslaught and Gareth Whalley attempted to give his side
some breathing space but saw his shot go wide while Earnshaw could not direct
his header on target.
Worthington threw on experienced striker Iwan Roberts, replacing Svensson, in
a last-ditch attempt to get back in the game and he had a late chance to earn
the Canaries a point but he headed over from Darren Huckerby's cross.
Teams
Cardiff Margetson, Croft (Prior 74), Vidmar, Gabbidon, Barker,
Robinson, Whalley, Boland, Parry (Langley 59), Lee (Gordon 71),
Earnshaw.
Subs Not Used: Campbell, Alexander.
Goals: Parry 17, Earnshaw 20.
Norwich Green, Edworthy, Mackay, Fleming, Drury, Holt,
McVeigh (McKenzie 45), Francis, Brennan (Mulryne 45),
Svensson (Roberts 75), Huckerby.
Subs Not Used: Crichton, Henderson.
Goals: McKenzie 55.
Att: 16,317
Ref: J Winter (Cleveland).
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