Planet Swans ArchivesTwo games running and two four goal wins for the Swans as the late late show ensured a comprehensive victory at Kidderminster this afternoon – all achieved after playing for much of the game with only ten men.
Swansea were pressed into a change from the side that hammered Notts County eight days ago – Ijah Aderson coming into defence in place of the suspended Sam Ricketts.
Gueret
Gurney Iriekpen Austin Anderson
Forbes Martinez Tate Goodfellow
Connor Trundle
Subs: Murphy, Nugent, Robinson, Maylett, Jones
The Swans had a dream start as Paul Connor put them ahead inside the first minute. Adrian Forbes cross was blocked but the rebound fell to Andy Gurney whose first time cross eluded Alan Tate but was headed in by Paul Connor to send the impressive travelling support ecstatic. Connor after a goal drought grabbing his third in three games to his obvious delight.
One soon became two as Izzy found himself on the end of a Roberto Martinez free kick to put the Swans two up with the scoreboard above the standing section of the Swans fans reading just nine minutes. Swansea were continuing where they left off against Notts County and everyone was sitting back expecting a goal feast for the visitors.
With the game settled into a pattern of Kidderminster having plenty of possession but no idea what to do with it, the pattern changed with a moment of madness from Andy Gurney.
Clipped from behind as he challenged for a 50/50 ball, Gurney reacted by kicking out and was immediately shown the red card by the referee – an incident that many Swans fans have predicted would come and against better opposition than the Harriers could cost us dear. Kenny Jackett responded by dropping Forbes to right back and playing three across the middle.
Although the pattern of the game changed with much more being played in the Swans defensive half there was little that Kidderminster offered to threaten Willy in goal and indeed it always then looked Swansea more dangerous on the break and with a half time lead of two goals it looked comfortable enough despite the reduced threat of the Swans leading scorer Lee Trundle who was being marked superbly out of the game by Kidderminster defender and their man of the match Abdou Sall.
That aside it was always expected that Kidderminster would throw much at Swansea in the second half.
And throw it they did but often to no avail as a sloppy pass or a more sloppy finish showed why they are bottom of the league and favourites for a return to the Conference.
Swansea fighting their own corner were being reduced to breakaways and from one of those it looked for all the world as if Lee Trundle had won them a penalty but to the amazement, and disbelief of every Swansea fan inside the ground the referee waved play on and the scoreline remained at 2-0.
At the back Swansea were looking comfortable and Forbes slotted in superbly at right back – winning most in the air and pretty much most on the ground as well.
Kidderminster were thrown a lifeline though with eight minutes to play when they pulled a goal back. A pin point cross from the much mocked Beswetherick was met with a perfect header by Gary Birch giving Willy no chance. A nervous eight minutes looked to follow especially when Kidderminster hit a direct free kick into the wall from just outside the penalty area.
By this point, Robinson had replaced the ineffective Trundle and Nugent was on for the hard working Connor as Jackett looked to tighten things up.
The finish of the game though came from nowhere and started when Goodfellow was upended in the penalty area as he bore down on goal and despite no red card it was Andy Robinson who stepped up to fire home and restore the Swans two goal advantage and surely the three points to go with it all.
At 3-1 the game was as good as won and as Nugent fielded the ballin the centre circle he spotted the run of Goodfellow, playing the ball perfectly into that run leaving the on loan winger the chance to run on goal with the ball. This time there was no foul to stop him and he smacked home the third goal of his spell to place real distance between the Swans and the home side.
Injury time was already being played when the 4th went in but there was still enough of it left to see Andy Robinson cut in from the right and fire home a low shot into the near corner of the net and the Swans had five on the scoreboard and a goal difference into double figures for the season. The biggest away win of the season – indeed the first time for 12 years that the Swans had scored 5 away from home against league opposition.
This wasn’t the style and panache that greeted the second half against Notts County but it was a job very well done and for an hour a job done with just ten men.
Man of the match for me today would be Forbes who slotted brilliantly into the right back role and ended many a Kidderminster attack before it had reached the penalty area.
Roll on Tuesday……
