Match report

Swansea City 0 Kidderminster 4

The recent debate on the Guestbook about whether we should play in the Conference or the League of Wales, when we slide out of the Football League, was a little like saying, 'when you're dead, do you want to be buried or cremated'. Well after tonight, maybe it's just time to give the undertaker a shout, or at least make sure we've got the number handy.

A draw at Carlisle last Saturday was hardly a result to draw in the missing hoards, but it did give some hope to those of us who have sat through more minutes of poor football this season than is good for anybody. It was not to be, and to those living away who are reading this to get some crumbs of comfort after hearing the result, don't build up your hopes.

As for the incidentals, we lined up:

Now for the bad news. From that time on, Kidderminster starting taking control, and on a slippery surface, demonstrated a skill level that we just could not match. Throughout this season we have been beaten by width and pace. We have succumbed to teams who seem to have eleven taller players than we have, and teams that even seem to have more players than we have. Tonight we were beaten by all these factors, and in addition, we seemed to have chosen the dry weather tyres on a very wet surface, and each of our players in turn spent some time sliding in one direction or another, while the opposition calmly took the ball at their feet, and strung together passing movements that any team would have been proud of.

We were, by the end of the game being toyed with, taken apart by a team that looked like they were on the training field, and actually spent a lot of time together on the training field. We looked like a bunch of players who met up once a week to have a kick about. We were not in this contest at all.

Our defence, which had shown signs of improvement, was all over the place. De Vulgt and Howard at full back did nothing right all night, and didn't even look as if they knew how to do anything right. Even Smith, usually very dependable looked outclassed, and with that went O'Leary's feint hope of a tidy game. There were Kidderminster players who waltzed through the gaps that we invited them into. They chose to concentrate their attacks down the left, where they found the going easy, but had they met resistance there, then they always had the right flank or down the middle as soft options.

Cash was disappointing tonight, and was replaced in the second half by Williams, who following two early sprints and crosses, faded away. Mumford, having one of his worse games (as were many) was also taken off, replaced by Phillips. These substitutions would never change the course of the game, and didn't.

In fairness, to make it easier for Kidderminster, we did give them the ball at every opportunity, with our midfield and full backs being particularly adept at this.

Thomas fought all through the game, but he is alone all the time. His mind on the field is sharper than many, but he can't do it alone, and is often left isolated.

We are a third of the way through the season. Brian Flynn claimed this week in Evening Post that he had given himself a six-month period to save the club. That conveniently coincides with the end of the season, so he couldn't give himself longer, although God knows he needs it.

The fact that Swansea is such a hot bed of young talent, as we keep being told, seems totally irrelevant to most fans at the moment, we need a short-term fix. We all know the cash flow is tight, but already the promise of further loan signings has worn a little thin. We are one third of the way through the season, and at the moment it looks certain to be our last in the league for some years to come.

3,421 witnessed the game tonight, and all must have left thinking what an excellent side Kidderminster were. We are two sides going in opposite directions we fear. A lot of people pay a lot of money to go to the Vetch to support this team, but you get the impression that the players are having as much of a laugh with us, as Kidderminster were with them tonight. Fan patience is not inexhaustible, as has been said many times, and I just wonder how many of the fans that flocked from the ground after the third goal will return.

We are not going to give too much match detail, unless you want a write up on Kidderminster. The goals were easy, with defence split on every occasion. Better finishing would have added to the score.

Player ratings, forget them. James Thomas looked the only player to have his heart in playing for the Swans tonight and for that alone, he would get our Swans man of the match, but unfortunately, overall, there'd be eleven Kidderminster players ahead of him for performance.

We lack the basic skills of passing and tackling, and surely you don't need managers and coaches to tell you how to do that. You're professional players, starting acting like it.

After leaving the game, we sat in the car in the Grand Theatre car park, watching the ticker display announce the upcoming shows. The spelling would have made AAJ proud. Well at least something made us smile.

Swansea City 0 Kidderminster 4

We were absolutely awful.

A lot of people who were stood around me were giving DeVulgt a lot of stick, which he may have deserved, but I was a lot more concerned with the left side of our defence. It had been totally ripped apart about 5 times in as many minutes shortly before half time, but with no goals resulting. I pointed this out to a couple of the boys who agreed with me. I may have jinxed us, as that was the point when Kidderminster started to put their chances away- predictably (from my point of view, with moves that all originated on our left side. One came from a corner admittedly, but they gained that corner as a result of another skinning from the same pont.

Howard and O'Leary looked like Laurel and Hardy, there was a gap between them like the Argentinian trade deficit. it wasn't just a lack of understanding between them either- both of them exhibited a level of ineptitude unrivalled since I finished playing football about 13 years ago. DeVulgt I've already mentioned, and with his lack of know-how, it was a miracle that Kiddy didn't start to attack down his wing. I suppose they didn't need to with the muppet show on the left though. The midfield were totally non-existent. this supposedly comprised of Jenkins, Mumford and Reid. The only tackle I saw all night was at half time in the toilets behind the North Bank. Mumford fortunately was substituted about half way through the second half, which saved his embarassment for another day- the other two just had to continue loitering without intent.

Up front, we had Cash- but he didn't get any change out of his marker. Wood tried for the first half hour, then when he realised he wasn't getting any help from the midfield, just gave up the ghost. The ONE positive I could take from tonights game, was that James Thomas worked hard until the end - at least HIS heart is in it for the Swans- one man will never make a team though, and unless he gets any possession, he can't do anything with the ball.

Kidderminster, to be fair to them were a smashing team. They passed the ball well, they had a few players who were capable and prepared to carry the ball forward and to give us problems. They battled hard, won just about every challenge worth mentioning, and weren't a dirty team. they are possibly the best team we've played this season, but they really should concentrate on their finishing, as I think if it had been a little bit sharper in front of goal, they might have scored another one possibly two, but I suppose you don't worry about that when you've scored 4 away from home.

There is a certain section of the North Bank, which is about 20 yards to my right and forward a bit, which has a habit of singing the 1st thing that gets into their heads, and as often as not, they get on players backs for the slightest thing, or proclaim undying support to the latest 3 minute hero, until he makes a cock up. Tonight though, they hit the nail firmly on the head at the end of the game when an awful lot of them sung " You're not fit to wear the shirt" to the team. James Thomas must be wondering what he did to deserve to play with this heap.

I'm off to read Tess of the D'Urbervilles now to cheer myself up.