Planet Swans ArchivesHollins had to start the game without Cusack who picked up an injury at TNS midweek and Martin Thomas who was serving a one-match ban, but welcomed back ‘Smudger’ Smith to stabilise the defence.
The biggest surprise was the lack of Walter Boyd making the subs bench. Conditions were awful, with rain pouring it seemed any mistake capitalised could lead to the winner!
The game started positively however when Smith headed goalwards after 2 mins from an excellent cross from new midfielder Romo, only to go narrowly wide. For the first 15 mins Swansea played possession football frustrating the Stoke midfield. Romo looked a superb player with excellent control and distribution.
When Stoke did come forward Bound and Smudger were well up for the fight and cleared everything comfortably. Eventually though Stoke got into the game, their striker Thorne rocketed a shot from 30 yds out but Freestone was well up to the challenge.
Again Romo was playmaker for Swansea’s next good move. He sent a great cross from the right into the box only for Watkin to fluff it over from 6 yds, but the pressure rained on. Savarese to this point was fairly quite and had flapped at every opportunity given, but this was understandable as he’s not really match fit and the conditions were much different from the Venezuela Brazil match he played in last week! Despite the pressure by both sides, there were few chances for the rest of the half as the midfield scrap continued.
Half-time
The second half started brightly for the Swans when some smart movement between Watkin and Jenkins put Price on the edge of the box, he turned 2 defenders to create the chance, but shot wide.
Stoke replied with some very aggressive play, causing Coates to slip up in a dangerous position, the ball was crossed in for Kippe to shoot, but Jenkins did enough to block it out.
Savarese then stepped up his game, after some great work by Roberts and price in the right corner; Price whipped in a great cross only for it to be battered away to him again. Price whisked the ball into the box, bisecting the keeper and the defenders for Savarese to head firmly home.
On 75 mins Swansea doubled their lead when Kippe lost the ball in front of goal, Watkin shot but keeper Miggleton parried only for Savarese to slid in and knock it past the keeper into the net. Stoke started to throw everything forward now in an attempt to get back in the game, this un-nerved the team and were happy just to clear it out anyway they could.
Freestone made some excellent saves but this lead to a series of corners which Stoke eventually got one back. Cavanaugh from a corner crossed into the six-yard box, with keeper Freestone trying to cross too many bodies got stranded and Lightbourne headed in easily.
The Swans in the last 4 mins absorbed more pressure, but the Swans ran out deserved winners.
Freestone (8)
Price (8) – Smith (9) – Bound (9) – Howard (8)
Roberts (7)- Jenkins (8)- Romo (10 ) – Coates (8)
Savarese (8)- Watkin (8)
Subs: (not used) Jones J, Jones S, Mutton. O’Leary, Casey
Other Div 2 Results
AFC Bournemouth 0-1 Rotherham United 3,878
Brentford 1-0 Peterborough United 4,479
Bristol Rovers 0-1 Northampton Town 7,704
Millwall 4-0 Bury 10,203
Notts County 2-2 Wigan Athletic 4,567
Oldham Athletic 1-0 Swindon Town 4,009
Oxford United 3-4 Wrexham 3,884
Port Vale 3-1 Colchester United 3,192
Reading 2-0 Wycombe Wanderers 15,443
Swansea City 2-1 Stoke City 6,498
Walsall 0-0 Bristol City 6,576
