The new 2007/08 season went off with a bang at Ninian Park this afternoon.

Ryan Shawcross' debut goal earned the Potters all three points, but not before a major last minute scare.

With City on the verge of an impressive win, the hosts were awarded a dubious penalty, but City number one Steve Simonsen produced a world class double save to thwart new boy Steven Maclean.

Before the match Tony Pulis handed debuts to three new summer signings at Ninian Park, with Richard Cresswell, Stephen Wright and Ryan Shawcross all making their first starts for the club.

Ricardo Fuller partnered Mamady Sidibe in attack while Creswell started on the right wing.

Manchester United youngster Shawcross stood alongside skipper Danny Higginbotham at the heart of the defence with Wright occupying the right back slot.

Within just four minutes of the new season getting underway Cardiff almost took the lead, however City number one Steve Simonsen reacted brilliantly to parry Trevor Sinclair's low drive away from goal.

Cardiff continued to put the Potters on the back foot, but couldn't find a way through the City rearguard.

Jamaican international Fuller then almost fired the visitors ahead, but his powerful run and shot was instinctively saved and dropped just over the bar.

It was the Potters who finally took the lead just short of the half hour mark, when debutant Shawcross spectacularly volleyed in to the back of the net from Liam Lawrence's corner.

With Delilah echoing around the stadium, Dave Jones' side almost responded immediately. Joe Ledley launched a thunderbolt from 25-yards but Simonsen took off and palmed it over the bar.

Pulis' side were forced to hold on until half time as the Bluebirds pressed forward, and the City keeper again had to be alert to save Steve Maclean's shot down at the left hand post.

Straight from the re-start Fuller set off on a one man mission to make it two. He burst down the pitch before outpacing Kevin McNaughton, but his shot was diverted away from goal by the outstretched leg of Loovens.

City defender Higginbotham could have put the Potters further ahead after 55 minutes but he headed wide from Lawrence's centre.

Fuller again caused the Welsh defence problems, but after somehow dancing his way past three defenders his cross was cleared away from danger.

The visitors continued to dominate the second half, and again Higginbotham went close with another header from Cresswell's clever cross.

The opening match of the new season continued to excite, and the hosts thought they had equalised when Maclean curled a crisp 30-yard strike towards the top corner, which Simonsen athletically parried wide of the post.

With just nine minutes remaining Sidibe neatly turned and fired goalwards but Turnbull reacted well to turn it around the post.

City's hardwork looked to have been undone with just two minutes remaining. After being awarded a dubious penalty, Maclean stepped up and fired towards the right hand corner, but Simonsen fantastically palmed it away.

However the ball dropped back to the former Sheffield Wednesday man and again the City keeper miraculously parried it away from point blank range.

Just five minutes later the full time whistle blew and the City fans greeted their heroes with a standing ovation.