Phil Sumbler
Itโs FA Cup Third Round week and no matter how much the โspecialโ feeling around the FA Cup may have dipped over the years the Third Round always brings back many memories for football fans everywhere.
Over the course of the build up this week on Planet Swans we will bring you some special memories of the past โ not always good ones โ but some memorable Third round clashes none the less.
Of course the Third Round does not always go to plan and that was the case for the Swans in 2008 as a plum fourth round tie at Liverpool was denied them by the classic non league banana skin.
2008 – Swans denied a Liverpool trip by Havant and Waterlooville
There are no rules that say a FA Cup classic needs to see a Swansea victory and whilst we have been on the right end of a cup shock we have had too many occasions in the past where we have been on the wrong end of one as well.
Today, we look at one of those occasions when the reward of a trip to Anfield for the winners turned into a nightmare for the Swans as we crashed out of the competition to non league opposition.
The Swans had arrived in the third round on the back of two games against non league opposition but the warning signs had been there that Roberto Martinez’ League One leaders were seen as a good scalp in the competition.
The First Round of the competition saw us drawn away in Essex with a trip to Billericay. And even on that afternoon in November, there was a shock in store with the Swans losing at half time but a second half double – including a winner 7 minutes from time – was enough to send us into Round 2 with praise for the home side from Martinez “At half-time I wanted character and a reaction from my team. A few players had not played before in the FA Cup, in this kind of environment, and had found it difficult to know what was required. In the second half, we competed. But Billericay were fantastic” he said after the game.
Horsham was our venue for the second round and a Friday night tie looked to have been overcome until a later penalty decision was given in favour of our non league hosts and they converted to earn themselves a replay back at the Liberty Stadium.
If the Swans had scares before in the competition they were not learning from them and in front of a Liberty crowd they were stunned not just once but twice as Horsham went 1-0 and 2-1 up inside the first 25 minutes of the game, the second after capitalising on one of the most comedic moments from a goalkeeper ever seen at the Liberty.
In the end though it was the League One style that we were showing that shone through with the Swans 4-2 up at half time and scoring twice more in the second half to complete what looked a comprehensive win but not without a worry as reflected by Martinez once again “You could see how much the magic of the cup can give you a little boost and I think Horsham were fantastic, but I’m proud of my players, they did a professional job.”
5 January 2008
Swansea 1 Havant and Waterlooville 1
So after two potential scares against non league opposition it was with some trepidation that we entertained Havant and Waterlooville in the 3rd Round at the Liberty but surely now lessons would have been learned.
And it seemed that way as a largely one sided game saw the Swans eventually take the lead from a Robinson free kick (after hitting the bar three times) and the game exploded after Poate’s two-footed lunge on Orlandi crossed the line deservedly earned a straight red card in the 79th minute.
The incident sparked an angry clash between both sets of players with Alan Tate also getting his marching orders. As the game dwindled towards its close
16 January 2008
Havant and Waterlooville 4 Swansea 2
The rewards were known as we headed off for the replay with the prize for the winners an away tie at Anfield against Liverpool. Surely this was a prize that awaited the Swans?
Any hopes of planning that trip to the North West were damaged early on with a 4th minute own goal from Garry Monk giving the hosts an early lead but that was merely the start as they found themselves 3-0 up after 37 minutes. The Swans were their own worst enemies at this point with defensive calamities and uncertainty giving the hosts all the opportunities they needed.
Bauza and Scotland pulled goals back either side of a missed Britton penalty and the Swans were guilty of wasting clear chances to keep themselves in the competition but more defensive frailties saw the home side score a 4th and secure their place in the next round
Roberto Martinez – “To give a 3-0 lead is something that shouldn’t happen.
“Sometimes you feel football has got some destiny in it and it doesn’t matter what you do, you get punished and in that respect, there are many, many things that are disappointing.
“We really lost this tie at home when we created 24 chances and only scored one goal.
“But I can guarantee you we are going to bounce back and respond in the right way.”
Havant boss Shaun Gale – “It’s an unbelievable feeling, I’m lost for words, my players were fantastic and I’m proud of them. This is the best moment in my footballing life as a player or in the short time I’ve been a manager.
“The players gave it their all, their desire and will to win was amazing.”
As a reward for beating Swansea and making the fourth round, Havant were promised an end-of-season holiday to Las Vegas.
Robert’s Swans were good to their word and put the disappointment behind them by winning the League One title by some distance and gaining promotion to the Championship.
For Havant, their FA Cup journey ended – as was expected – at Liverpool but not before they gave them a scare of their own by twice taking the lead in the game at Anfield. They eventually lost 5-2 to end a classic non league FA Cup run
