Planet Swans ArchivesThe Swans lined up as follows
Freestone
Evans O’Leary Mumford Sharp Howard
Coates Cusack
Brodie
Williams Watkin
It was a fast start for Swansea as they forced four corners inside the first ten minutes and spent much of that period camped in the Lincoln half. There was noticeable movement between Williams, Watkin and Brodie with Brodie keen to join the front two wherever possible.
This seemed to set the pattern for the first half and some very good Swansea moves seemed to break down towards the penatly area. There was discontent in the home support around midway through the first half when a ball was crossed from the right by the Swans and was clearly handled by a Lincoln player. From my viewpoint I would have called it inside the area but the referee, who again failed to endeare himself to the home crowd throughout the afternoon, disagreed with the call and placed the ball on the edge of the area for a free-kick.
Mumford tried a quick kick and Brodie stroked the ball home but the ref again riled people by calling for a re-take. Shortly after, Lincoln had possibly the best opportunity of the half when Thorpe was sent clean through. There had been warnings that this could happen with several close calls being given our way but this time there was no flag but thankfully Thorpe was only able to screw the ball wide with only Roger to beat.
This was Lincoln’s first real show at the Swansea goal and for the rest of the first half it tended to be Swansea on the attack. Cusack, Brodie and Williams all had sharp shots saved and handled well by Marriott in the Lincoln goal and it seemed a fairyly content Vetch Field crowd as the half-time whistle blew despite the goal-less scoreline.
The start of the second half saw activity in the centre stand as a group of Swansea supporters moved in for the scheduled protest. One was seen from the North Bank to enter the directors box and reports suggested that Real Radio was taken off the air as the protest continued in front of the press box.
As the rain continued to fall on the Vetch, the game was noticeably deteriorating as both sides struggled to assume control and again it was Lincoln who had the better chances in the second half without ever really looking like breaking the deadlock. Their forward target seemed to be Thorpe and they looked to play him in on a run at goal at seemingly every opportunity.
Having said this, it was not that Swansea were without their own chances and headers from Coates and Williams both went close as did one from Ryan Casey, a late introduction for Steve Watkin. Towards the end Addison also threw on Lacey for Coates and right at the death, Phillips for the limping Brodie.
The referee called an end to the game with Swansea ready to pile on the late pressure with a throw by the Lincoln penalty area and that was that, another blank at the Vetch Field. It stretches the unbeaten run to five games but in truth it was a game that we should really be expecting to win.
A final note about the crowd. I have only missed two home league games this season and have witnessed the sparce crowds of the last two games. The North Bank today was very much fuller than it was for Bristol Rovers just before Christmas and I question fully the official attendance given at the game.
We move up one place in the table based on today’s result.
