Cheltenham 3 Swansea 4

Cheltenham 3-4 Swansea

Report By Jonathan Russ

Swansea City made it two wins out of 2 with a fantastic fight back in Cheltenham today. Losing 3-1 with 25 minutes to go, Lee Trundle followed in Brad Maylett’s footsteps in grabbing a hat-trick. Flynn brought in Jonathan Coates for the injured Karl Connoly and also James Thomas won a recall up front as Flynn started with the 4-4-2 system with Lee Jenkins back from injury and in the side for the unlucky Stuart Jones. With the game starting 30 minutes late the swans were slow out of the blocks. Cheltenham had the ball in the net after 5 minutes, only for the linesman to rule the effort offside. The swans first real attack should have lead to a goal but James Thomas shot was saved by the goalkeeper Steve Book, from about 12 yards out. Thomas again wasted a good chance minutes later when he blasted over from Trundle’s excellent lay off. After that it was mostly Cheltenham doing the attacking and they got their reward on 17 minutes. Jonathan Coates gave the ball away in the middle and after Murphy had superbly saved an effort from a Cheltenham forward the ball was smashed in by Cozic. Questions have to be asked on how he managed to get a shot in and why wasn’t the ball cleared out of the swans box. Roberto Martinez blazed over from the edge of the box after more good work from Trundle who was now looking a handfull but Swans attacks were rare at this point. After wasting a great chance when a Cheltenham forward headed wide after finding space in the swans box from 6 yards out, Cheltenham grabbed their second but yet again questions must be raised over the defending. Lenny Johnrose decided he should try and be fancy running back to his own box instead of smashing it away. this led to a needless corner which after eventully saw Grant McCann curl a shot past Murphy. The lead lasted 7 minutes when the swans got 1 back with a stunning goal. Trundle superbly layed off Britton who played in Thomas who made no mistake it making it 2-1. Half time thoughts were that we needed to tighten up at the back and start dealing better with Kayode Odejayi who was causing all kinds of problems. It was a a more positive start to the second half with Britton and Maylett starting to look more dangerous. But clear cut chances were hard to find with Britton blazing over the only real good effort. Cheltenham then grabbed a third when O’Leary handled in the box. It was hard to see from my view if it was a penalty or not but McCann stepped up to make it 3-1 and seem to put an end to any thoughts of a swans win. But no, the goal only seemed to fire the swans up who in a stunning last 25 minutes grabbed 3 goals to win 4-3 and send the Jack Army crazy. The first was from more great midfield play before Coates played Trundle through and the big striker kept his cool to slot it past the keeper. Murphy then saved surperbly from Odejayi when the striker was through on goal and looked certain to score. Flynn introduced Kevin Nugent for James Thomas and Andy Robinson for the largely dissapointing Coates. And the two subs made a huge difference to the swans display. It was a Robinson shot that was blocked before finding it’s way to Nugent who should have scored from all of 5 yards but his shot was well saved from Book only for Trundle to smash home the rebound . Trundle certainly seemed delighted with his 3rd goal in a swans shirt as he ran to celebrate it with the away end. And the former Wrexham man wasn’t finished as he grabbed a winner and his hat-trick in the last minute. Martinez’s outswinging corner caused problems in Cheltenham’s box as Nugent headed it down for Trundle to turn and smash it home from close range to send the Jack Army mad in celebration. Injury time was played out easily and the swans recorded their second league win in 2! Player thoughts- Murphy-Not at fault for any goals and seemed more comfortable with crosses. Some exellent saves Hylton-Thought he was the pick of the defensive with a solid display. O’Leary-Had trouble with Odejayi all day but got better as the game went on. Johnrose-Same as O’Leary Jenkins-Slow to start and did’nt go forward enough but a decent shwoing. Britton-Quiet for him, seemed a bit hangover from Wednesday but still some darting skillfull runs and worked hard. Martinez-Not many bad passes. A good all round midfield display. Coates-Gave the ball away a number of times first half and seemed off the pace. Maylett-Always a threat and difficult to deal with when he got running down the wing which he did’nt do enough of. Thomas-Good goal but missed two good chances as well. Not really involed Trundle-Oustanding hat-trick. All good finishes and a handfull for them all day with intelligent running and some really nice skills! Nugent-Made the difference-must start Saturday! Robinson-Very impressive-good passes not afaird to run at them either! All in all a decent display and it’s great to see the team did’nt give up when 3-1 down and really got going to turn the game around. I thought we just about deserved it. Kevin Nugent and Andy Robinson must surely now start next week’s match and Flynn must add a tall strong center back as O’Leary and Johnrose will struggle against strikers such as Odejayi. We have the fire power going forward and will score goals let’s just improve the defence and we could be in for a very good season indeed!

Report By Clive, Gareth and David Hughes

What a day!! Another warm day, as we started our away league season. So good was the weather that we gave the M42 & M5 a miss and travelled overland. That was a wise decision as news came of tailbacks on the M42 due to an accident. On entering the ground we were told by a steward that there had been an accident on the M5 and that players and fans had been delayed. This resulted in a 15.30 kick off.

A large following of around 1,300 Swans fans boosted the crowd to approx 4.500.

Jenkins had recovered from injury, so the team lined up.

Murphy

Jenkins, O’Leary, Johnrose and Hylton

Maylett, Britton, Martinez and Coates

Trundle and Thomas.

The away support was again in top form, but on the pitch it was different as Cheltenham were much quicker to the ball as the Swans looked a very jaded team. Did the Bristol game take too much out of them, as we were not ‘at the races’.

Cheltenham were looking dangerous with every attack as the defence was sliced open easily. It came as no real surprised when Cheltenham put the ball in the net, but luckily for us it was disallowed for offside. Without looking dangerous the Swans did have a couple of half chances both by Thomas. One easily saved by the keeper and one way over the bar. Cheltenham were by now in total control as we had lost the midfield battle and midfielders content in dropping back deep to try and protect the defence. This tactic only works if you also close down attackers. To our dismay we allowed Cheltenham to play without closing down up to our penalty area. It only seemed a matter of time before the inevitable goal came. Murphy pulled off one save but without the danger being cleared a return shot from outside the area found its way through into the corner of the net. WE hoped this would be the wakeup call needed. In fact things got worse as the team struggle to put in any attacks of note. Maylett flattered to deceive, but at this point with the exception of O’Leary everyone was having a bad day. Surprisingly a rare attack nearly brought an equaliser. Trundle found himself to the right of goal just inside the area, laid the ball back to the incoming Martinez who sent his shot way over the bar. Not long after Martinez was involved in a slight scuffle with McCann, Trundle acting as peacemaker appeared to make a heavy shoulder challenge on the Cheltenham player. The ref thought likewise as he booked both Swans players with McCann not helping matters with his theatricals. It wasn’t long before McCann gained revenge with a well taken goal. A curling shot from 25yds out on the right, beating Murphy and into the far corner.

Cheltenham were now bossing the game and things looked bleak as our attempts at attacks floundered. Well nothing is as it seems with the Swans. Britton made ground from midfield and put in a defence splitting pass for Thomas to take a couple of touches and into the area slightly to the right of goal. A powerful shot beat the keeper at the near post and we were back in the game. Half time came with at least the feeling there was still a chance of something from the game when all had appeared lost.

Half time saw a mixture of Swans and Cheltenham youngsters taking penalties against Cyril and the Cheltenham mascot.

The Swans started the second half more brightly and were making more of a game of it, with Leon coming close to scoring his first goal for the club. With the game going from end to end, disaster struck as Cheltenham were awarded a penalty. No arguments as O’Leary clearly handled a high cross into the area whilst under pressure. Surprisingly no yellow card. McCann scored his second with a powerful shot that found the net before Murphy could move. That seemed it, we had tried to get back into the game, but this surely was to finish any thought of a fight back. Nugent replaced Thomas to try something different. His presence and experience did give us more success against the taller defence. Hope were raised once again as after a few attacks we drew level when a shot from the edge of the area by Trundle nestled inside the post. 3-2 and the Swans were now rampant. The crowd were in full voice as we forced Cheltenham back. Hylton had one blistering shot from 30yds just missing the goal. Cheltenham were now struggling in attack as the defence got in the block tackles that had been woefully missing in the first half. Robinson replaced Coates, who had had a very disappointing game. The game did have its scares as we chased the equaliser when the mobile attack stretched the defence on a couple of occasions, but the gutsy defence were not giving up on this game. The game had now turned completely on its head as roared on by the fans the Swans pushed and pushed for the equaliser. Yes it eventually came when Book in the Cheltenham goal could only parry a shot for Trundle to nip in for the third for the Swans. The ground erupted. We had clawed ourselves back into a game when at half time we were a beaten team. Cheltenham were shell shocked, Jones replaced Jenkins to bolster the defence to protect our point. A draw from this game was good reward for the second half performance, but it was not over as deep into added time, Trundle completed his hat- trick, with a poacher’s goal from inside the six-yard box. If the ground had erupted after the equaliser it was nothing to the scenes now. With two more minutes to play the Swans were home and dry against a Cheltenham team who could not believe how the points were lost.

Well from a report that was already written with 20 mins to go, the thoughts were turned on their heads. It really was a game of two halves. While we are ecstatic about the result and the way the team ‘dug deep’ we can’t forget the minuses in the game.

We didn’t compete in the first half, and were second to everything. We lack a ball winner in midfield as Cheltenham found acres of space to launch attacks. What we find strange that with a very inexperienced put together defence, Brian Flynn does not play Rog in goal. Whilst Murphy is a good shot stopper he does not yet command the area. The same can also be said about replacing Hylton with Howard. Their time will come but whilst we are struggling in central defence, we must have our more experienced players in other positions.

So we stand proudly third in the table, crowds are up. We do look that we can score goals, but let’s not forget we are leaking goals.

Johnrose needs to return to midfield. We need a partner for O’Leary in the heart of the defence. The morale in the team is there for all to see, but there are better defences in this division and goals may not come so readily, well not at an average of 4 a game anyway. It seems strange to say that after scoring 4 goals away, that looking over the full 90 mins, this was not a good performance. The last 20mins was exceptional, but clouds what had happened before.

Still let’s be positive. We are the top scorers in the division. We do have the foundations to do very well this season. Four goals a game, and a hat-trick in each, can’t be bad. The entertainment value is high. The team do play for each other, much like the promotion team under Hollins, but this team has goals written all over it.

It’s sad to end this report, by hearing news that Swans fans were involved in the accident on the M5. We hope and pray that all are well.

Football is a great game. 4-3 wins away from home are great. Events on the M5 can make it all meaningless

Until next time, stay safe.

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