Days Gone By | Colchester and the Cup
As City prepare to take on Colchester United in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, we take a look back at two previous Cup matches between the Bluebirds and the U’s.
Purse penalty punishes United
After reaching Round Four the season before, Cardiff City began their 2005/06 League Cup campaign with a trip to Layer Road to face off against Colchester United.
With City in the Championship and United being one of the favourites to gain promotion from League One, it certainly promised to be an intriguing matchup.
The home side started well and fashioned out their first chance in the opening couple of minutes, but striker Mark Yeates squandered a golden opportunity from close range.
The home side would rue their missed chance as, on the half hour mark, City midfielder Jeff Whitley was bought down by Kemal Izzet in the box, leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot.
Up stepped skipper Darren Purse, who sent goalkeeper Dean Gerken the wrong way to put the visitors ahead.
The travelling fans would only have to wait three minutes to celebrate another City goal. Alan Lee set off on a mazy run before threading a through ball to Cameron Jerome, who rounded the keeper with ease and tapped home.
Colchester did dominate possession in the second half, but couldn’t create any chances of note, and it was City who sailed into the next round.
Round Two saw the Bluebirds defeat Macclesfield Town, before being knocked out in Round Three by Leicester City.
New Year victory
The Bluebirds and the U’s would meet again in Cup competition two days into 2015, this time in an FA Cup clash at Cardiff City Stadium.
Being in League One, Colchester had to jump through the hoops of the first two rounds of the Cup in order to play City.
The First Round saw them defeat non-league Gosport Borough, before they downed fellow third-tier side Peterborough United in the Second Round.
Russell Slade fielded a strong side for the tie, and the Bluebirds took the lead just after the half hour mark. Joe Ralls’ effort from the edge of the area deflected off two Colchester players before looping over the keeper and into the back of the net.
After heading into the break with a one goal lead, the Bluebirds turned the screw in the second half. The advantage was doubled seven minutes after the interval, as Kadeem Harris executed an impressive overhead kick.
Victory was sealed on the hour mark, with Kenwyne Jones heading home from Peter Whittingham’s cross.
Freddie Sears scored a consolation goal for Colchester, but it was City who eased their way into the Fourth Round. The Bluebirds’ run would end there, as they fell to defeat against Reading.
