The start of another season, but not just any season, it could be the last full season at the Vetch, and more importantly the first season under new owners. A very healthy crowd of 6327 included about 170 from Rushden of whom 2 coaches had enjoyed the delights of the Mumbles before the game. Also before the game members of the Jackarmy.net side who played and beat their Cardiff counterparts 4-1 & 4-0 were presented to the crowd by John Toshack.

The Swans included 5 of the 9 new signings Smith, Reid, Murphy, Wood & Thomas. The opening 10mins were quite frantic with Rushden looking the more dangerous with both Darby & Lowe causing problems to the Swans defence. Just as things started to settle Rushden scored with a blistering free kick from Lowe from about 30 yards, centre field, into the top corner past a diving Freestone. What a start to the season, but we were soon level. Wood chased a ball out to the wing turn and sent a perfect cross to be met on the six-yard box by Thomas who headed past the goalie into the net. 1-1 after 15mins of frantic football. The game then settled with both sides going for a second but without any clear cut chances, with a few free kicks from an over fussy referee.

The second half saw Rushden again causing the Swans problems with Hall becoming more involved in their attacks. Rushden weren’t getting it all their own way as the Swans battled their way back and after a couple of long-range efforts, one by Woods just clearing the bar, we took the lead. What a goal it was. Reid chased a through ball out towards the corner of the area, cut in passed two defenders and curled a beauty into the top corner. The sun was out we were 2-1 up the NB in full voice, football was back, it was party time. That only happens in films though, Rushden nearly grabbed an equaliser with Rog having to drop sharply to save on the line. We started to defend deeper as Rushden looked for the equaliser. Then disaster O’Leary (our new captain) lunged at the ball after 4 Rushden players got in each others way, not having a clear view of whether it was studs showing, but to everyone’s surprise he got a straight red, and off he went.

The Swans reorganised with Sharp coming on with Wood being replaced. We were now defending much to deep and allowing Rushden to attack. There was no get out as each clearance was picked up by Rushden on the half way line. Things did turn in our favour when from one clearance Reid chased a ball on the half way line towards the wing pushed it passed Hunter who brought him down his second yellow saw him leave the field. With the sides now back on terms numerically John Williams replaced Thomas who like Wood received warm applause from the fans. With the seconds ticking away the points looked in the bag but then 5mins of added time was shown. This gave Rushden an extra boost as they looked for the equaliser, but it was the Swans who nearly got a third with John Williams outpacing the defence but the ball would not drop for him and the goalie gathered. With their final attack Rushden made it 2-2 a ball was half cleared and without the Swans closing the second ball down another unstoppable shot went passed Rog.

To sum up. First thoughts on the new players.

Reid wants to play got fully involved and not short of skill MOM.
Smith no real comment but did seem off the pace a few times.
Wood, a good game with good link play again shows skill.
Thomas, a thinking forward who finds space but looks as if he won’t like the rough and tumble that defenders in this division will give out.
Murphy, well I think he will frustrate fans this season.
He showed glimpses of skill but for a midfielder did not get involved waiting for the ball instead of looking for it.

Then again it was only one game.

One comment away from the new players. Jenkins showed his continued improvement and if he keeps injury free can make the right back slot his own

Comments from the friendlies intimated that the defence was much tighter, today it was shaky with many late blocks. Hopefully we wont see many attacks that include players like Lowe, Darby and Hall.

In saying all this, it was a positive performance and the team showed commitment, which was missing in many games last season. If the bookies have it right we drew with one of the divisions favourites, with 4 cracking goals, and as long as we eradicate some of the simple mistakes we can look forward to the rest of the season with hope. We have a squad not just the first team, so at least injuries, suspensions and loss of form can be covered.

A final thought. Today was a police free match, with control being done by the stewards. When we equalised a handfull of fans climbed the wall from the NB onto the track, please stop, the club does not need fines that may follow if incidents like this are included in the referees report.

Report written By - The Famous Five
The Famous Five are Giggsy, Pauly, Jono, Becky & Sophie

The sun was out, the grass looked great, the new kit looked the part and the season has started with the Swans and Vetch back to black and white. To all those who thought that the team lacked spirit, passion and fight last year, lets hope you were part of the 6,327 who saw today's game, as that ghost, on this performance, even if the end result was a little disappointing, can be laid to rest a while.

It may not have been the dream start, but it took a last gasp equaliser from a highly fancied team to stop the Swans taking all the points today.

The predictability of last years' performances has gone, and today's match proved that some of the new signings have more flair and creativity about their game than maybe the Crystal Palace and Bucharest games gave hint of. In James Thomas we have a centre forward who wants to score goals, and given the service and support, will do on many occasions. His great, headed equaliser to Lowe's terrific opening goal from the free kick for Rushden, immediately brought us back into a match that we could easily have seen drift away.

The first half was typical start of the season fayre, with all the season's expectations in the crowd creating a good atmosphere, but the game really opened up in the second when players such as Murphy and Reid, whose first half performances were reasonably good, seemed to crank up a gear.

Reid made a few friends in the crowd and on the bench when he picked up the ball on the right side of the area, decided where he was going, cut between two defenders and let rip with a superb left foot shot that gave Turley in the Rushden goal no chance whatsoever.

Wood, partnering Thomas up front ran all game, and it was only Smith of the newcomers who needs a little more time to impress the crowd. Is it possible he has been told that he is six inches taller than he really is, which would account for his abysmal judgement of defensive headers throughout the first half. He did however show some better vision with a couple of neat passes in the second half to John Williams (on to replace Thomas).

An apparent two-footed lunge into a messy scrambled situation saw O'Leary receive a straight red card, much to his and the crowd's disgust. With Neil Sharp replacing Wood to bolster the defence following O'Leary's dismissal, we were left with Thomas as the lone front-runner, and some desperate moments trying to hold on to the 2-1 advantage we held. Parity was restored when a Rushden defender scythed Reid down by the North Bank, and was also given a red car (second bookable offence), but a 25 yard shot to Roger Freestone's left, well into the 5 minutes of additional time added on by the ever popular referee gave Rushden a share of the points.

The players stayed the course better than they seemed to last year, and there is certainly a freshness about certain elements of the way we seem to want to play. Nick Cusack's reassurances that the team would be ready for Rushden seem to have been well founded, and as the team gels as the season moves forward, things could get very interesting.

Still not convinced on the 3-5-2 formation, but if Nick Cusack wants to stick with that, he needs to add a couple of feet to Terry Evans if he plans to play him in the middle of the back three on a regular basis. Having two defenders-cum-midfielders who cannot reach a ball in the air is a bit of a dangerous game to play, and exposes the area behind the defence, and consequently in front of the keeper, far too much. In addition to Evans, I thought Phillips had a quiet game, and seemed to lack his flair for the hard tackle, although with a referee like we had today, that might have been a deliberate ploy. I thought that the defensive walls for the free kicks outside the penalty box were very badly positioned and poorly marshalled by Freestone. Roger's other shortcoming today was his distribution, but his hands were safe.

The competition for places is there now, and that has to be healthy. Who, at the end of last season, would have imagined Mumford sitting out the first game of this season in the dugout, along with Watkins, Williams and Sharp? They may not all be our favourite people, but compare those replacement options to last year, and the potential depth of the squad starts to show through. Provided we do not see too many flashes of red this year then that competitive edge should remain, and that will only be for the good.

When the Swans return here on 24 August against Bournemouth, we will have three games behind us, and may be some early indication of where we are heading this year.

It was good to see the new kit splashed throughout the crowd as well, and with the fresh paint, the new disabled facilities, and the new players, this just might end up being a season with a few things to smile about. It was also pleasing to see one particular Centre Stand resident, who had early expectations of staring at the concrete floor throughout another dismal game, pay full attention throughout, and even spend some time on his feet shouting and clapping loudly.

• Freestone 6 safe hands generally but some hesitancy, and lack of communication with defenders
• Jenkins 6 lacks confidence on the ball, even though he gets into good positions
• D Smith 6 needs to sort out his defensive aspects, particularly in the air
• J Smith 6 struggled to control Lowe and his strike partner
• O'Leary 5 as above
• Evans 4 too short for position surely, is bound to find it difficult
• Phillips 5 quiet game
• Murphy 7 showed creativity and nice touches with the ball
• Reid 7 slow first half, great goal and much better 2nd 45 minutes
• Thomas 8 has given attack whole new dimension, great goal
• Wood 6 could develop good partnership with Thomas, hard worker
• Williams 5 on for short time only, should have scored
• Sharp 5 did what he had to, again only on for a short time.

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