PHOTOS:
Federico Macheda strikes his first goal in Cardiff City colours

Left wing back Fabio impressed for the Bluebirds in the second period

Bill Carne interviews Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after the game

Pre-season friendly

Carmarthen Town 0 - Cardiff City 3

Cardiff City got the first game of the 2014-15 season off to a winning start against Carmarthen Town at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium, on Monday night.

The Bluebirds rotated their star-studded squad and gave the large appreciative crowd an enjoyable 90 minutes of entertainment against the Welsh Premier outfit.

The Bluebirds grabbed their first of their three goals in the sixth minute, Nicky Maynard making no mistake from inside the box, after latching onto a clever Joe Mason  cross.  On the stroke of half time and Mason sprung the offside trap before comfortably tucking home past the advancing Town keeper Lee Idzi.

Macheda strikes debut goal

The Championship outfit controlled the second period, and it was former Manchester United’s Federico Macheda who added a third goal in the 59^th minute. Another former Old Trafford product Fabio provided a clever through ball that teed-up the striker who placed the ball home from close range for his debut goal for Cardiff City.

This was an excellent game where both teams benefited from a quality workout in a full blooded match environment.

Good work out

Bluebirds boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was pleased with his squad’s first game back from the summer break, and is relishing the challenge of trying to get his team back in the Premiership after being relegated last season.

Carmarthen Town (first half): Lee Idzi; Chris Thomas;  Cortez Belle; Paul Fowler; Tyrell Webbe; Lewis Harling; Matty Collins; Chris Hartland; Christian Doidge; Kyle Bassett; David Brooks. (Second half team): Scott James; Luke Cummings; Cortez Belle; Paul Fowler; Chris Thomas; Ceri Morgan; Clayton Greene; Omar Behazdeen; David Brooks; Danny Thomas; Jordan Follows.

Cardiff City (first half): Joe Lewis; Kevin McNaughton; Mark Hudson; Kevin Thoephile-Catherine; Declan John; Matts Moellar Daehli; Aaron Gunnarsson; Peter Whittingham; Craig Noone; Joe Mason; Nicky Maynard. (Second half team): Ben Wilson; John Brayford; Matt Connolly; Ben Turner; Fabio; Guido Burgstaller; Joe Ralls; Magnus Wolff Eikrem; Jo Inger Berger; Adam Le Fondre; Federico Macheda.

Referee: Dean John (Swansea)
Assistants: B. Williamson & Alan Jenkins
Fourth official: Angus Scourfield.