Cardiff City v Halifax Town, 12 September 2000

As they began life without the departed Mark Lillis, Halifax conceded their ninth goal in two games but showed plenty of spirit to suggest that they are perfectly capable of escaping from the bottom of the table. Town, on one of their bogey grounds, looked set for another heavy defeat before the interval as the already trailed Bobby Gould's City by three goals. Former Bluebird Craig Middleton conceded the free kick that allowed Scott Young to head home Andy Legg's floater at the far post. Another far post header set up Cardiff's second. After Rob Earnshaw's left wing trickery, Kevin Nugent nodded down for last season's top scorer Jason Bowen to open his 2000/01 account. Man of the Match Earnshaw was soon in the thick of the action again. He beat the offside trap before curling a low shot past Lee Butler from the edge of the area. The beleagured Shaymen came out fighting after the break and soon pulled one back when Middleton pounced after David Greene failed to clear Robbie Painter's cross. An unlikely comeback was on the cards when sub Gary Jones darted through a static defence to plant a low shot beyond Mark Walton. Jangling Cardiff nerves were settled by record signing Leo Fortune-West. The 6ft 4ins debutant deflected Mark Bonner's 20-yard screamer after Legg's left side corner was only half cleared.