Brave Chasetown scared Cardiff before four goals floored their valiant efforts last night. The Scholars opened the Bluebirds’ new Cardiff City Stadium in front of 5,270 fans and were on top early on.

Dean Perrow had already been denied by David Marshall before he saw a close range effort chalked off for offside after 17 minutes, writes Nick Mashiter.

Man-of-the-match Ryan Price superbly denied Michael Chopra, but was helpless when ex-Wolves hitman Jay Bothroyd rose above Richard Teesdale to head in after 20 minutes.

Chopra hit the post after 40 minutes, but 60 seconds later the £3m striker netted after Price palmed Mark Kennedy’s cross into his path. Josh Magennis’ second-half strike and Adam Matthews’ injury-time fourth flattered the Bluebirds.

Proud boss Charlie Blakemore said: “The lads are going to be talking about that for a long, long time.

“To be part of it was just special and I feel really honoured. I thought we put up a good show. It was done in the right spirit, we tried to give Cardiff a game and it was an absolutely magic occasion.”

First half Cardiff (4-4-2): Marshall, McNaughton, Kennedy, Klimpl, Hudson, Gyepes, Burke, McPhail, Bothroyd, Chopra, McCormack. Second half Cardiff (4-4-2): Enckelman, Capaldi, Gerrard, Quinn, Blake, Whittingham, Matthews, Rae, Parry, McGennis, Ledley.

Chasetown (4-4-2): Price (Bryan, 87), John Branch (Adie Smith, 45), Mark Branch (Craig Milligan, 70), Slater (Clancy, 81), Teesdale (c) (Marshall, 60), Thomas, Steane (Harris, 60), Bragoli (Famer, 87), Birch, Perrow (Ricketts, 81), Batchelor (Miller, 76)