Match report

Darlington 1 - 2 Swansea

The Swans started with a fairly predictable line-up - so no real experimentation of formation or playing personnel going on at all (has KJ already made all his decisions). The 4-4-2 comprised Murphy in goal, Coates again at left back, Jones on the right, Tate and Izzy in the centre of defence. Maylett wide right midfield, with Martinez and O'Leary in centre midfield, and Britton in a sort of semi midfield / wide left position (does that make it a lop-sided formation?) Connor and Trundle were the bottled blonded front two.

The first ten minutes or so were shapeless, but incredibly eventful. On 2 minutes we missed a golden chance to score - a neatly worked free kick involving Martinez and Maylett led to a low cross which Conner met at the far post. The angle was tight, but he will feel he should have scored. A minuet later a clearly late challenge on Murphy by Daniel Graham left our goalie with a dead leg and unable to continue. Remarkably, the incident went unpunished by the hapless referee. Freestone replaced Murphy. The again we should have cored as a mad scramble from a corner almost resulted in Izzy turning the ball home. But this was followed by another strange incident - an innocuous challenge on Trundle by Graham left Lee holding his arm. He was replaced by Nugent (no desire to give Thomas a run then!) and was later seen with his arm in a sling - that'll be the lot for Trunds this season then!

We continued to be the better side in a scrappy game, and Maylett came close to scoring with a header after an excellent turn and cross by Connor. Then another injury - Connor crossed to Britton's head (yes, it was that way round) and in his efforts to get head to ball Leon suffered a sickening head clash. He was off the pitch for more than ten minuets, but even this could not bring JT into the game - Leon returned with a reported three stitches in his scalp.

ON 38 minutes the home side had their first threat on goal - a surging run by a Darlo player took him past Coates and Izzy like they weren't there, only for Tate to arrive with a timely block. There was still time for us to fashion another couple of attempts on goal, with a good shot from Maylett scrambled wide and a Nugent header over the top when he really should have hit the target.

Ironically, Darlo began the second half the brighter, but fell behind to a sucker punch goal from the Swans. A drop kick from Freestone was flicked on by Nugent to Connor, who controlled the ball well and fired home from close range. Would it be unfair to describe this as vintage 1982 Watford - probably! And let's face it, Maylett is no John Barnes.

We looked press home our advantage - an excellent through ball from the lively Britton to Nugent was followed by a woeful attempt from the striker. At this point we could have taken the game by the scruff of the neck and gone on to win comfortably. But sadly, we lost the initiative and allowed Darlo back in. Their goal though was a real indictment of our hesitant defending. Having half cleared a corner, we allowed a routine chipped ball to find its way through the heart of our back four, allowing Graham to steal in a score from close range, despite an excellent attempt by Jones to block the ball on the line. At this stage of the game it looked like we would actually lose it as Darlo were spurred on by their unexpected strike. Tate was booked for a late challenge as we began to retreat in defence, and freestone was forced into an excellent one handed save from (again) Graham (a player who remarkably was not awarded the home MOM award!).

Fortunately we got a grip again in the latter stages and on 80 minutes we got a deserved winner. O'Leary won a free kick after a good run. Martinez struck the free kick against the inside of the post, and Nugent reacted well to nod home into an open goal. There was still time for a scramble in our own goal, in which a Darlo player declared open season on Freestone, kicking at him after he had dropped on the ball (it brought only a booking), and Maylett had time for a surging run with no end product. The game then petered out into a deserved, if unimpressive, victory.

Player ratings:
Murphy - Out of game too quickly for a rating
Jones - 6 a solid game, but still occasionally looked exposed.
Coates - 5 Exposed (will say nothing more!)
Tate - 7 Our best defender on the day- excellent positioning
Izzy - 6 Defending OK; distribution poor (he just hoofed it upfield every time he got it!)
Britton - 7 very effective first half; looked to be getting back to his best
Martinez - 7 An influential game in midfield, but up against no real challenge from the opposition
O'Leary - 6 A couple of good balls out wide, but missed the chance to really impose himself on a weak opposition.
Maylett - 7 some excellent running, and caused them all sorts of problems, but no end product
Trundle - Out of game too quickly
Connor - 8 Held the ball up well, looked threatening and came up with a goal.

Freestone - 8 Solidity itself, but only had one real save to make
Nugent - 6 worked hard and got his goal, but would not have threatened a better side

In summary, it was nice to get a win, but we shouldn't take too much from this. It only proved that we can beat one of the poorest sides in the division. Hopefully it will boost the lads for a win next week, and to finish the season on a bit of a high. We wonder if KJ has already made his decisions. No run outs for Thomas or Roberts (who didn't even make the bench), and where have Corbs and Rewbury gone - are they not good enough for a try out anymore? Who knows. A season which promised so much now has only the announcement of the retained list to sustain any interest. Any bets?

Darlington 1 - 2 Swansea

It was looking like it would not be our day when the second injury happened. After an innocuous challenge from a Darlo defender Trundle emerged holding his hand in pain. After leaving the field for treatment he was replaced by Nugent.

Even so, it was still the Swans who held the upper hand with frequent forays into Darlo territory from Britton and Maylett. It seemed like it would be a matter of time before we made the breakthrough.

However, they say bad luck comes in threes; Britton was next to leave the field for stitches following a clash of heads. We weathered our reduction to 10 men well and nearly took the lead following a mazy run and shot from Maylett that flashed past the post.

Half Time Swans 0 Darlo 0

Back up to our full compliment of players the Swans made the breakthrough. A long kick from Freestone, flicked on by Nugent saw the excellent Connor guide the ball into the corner from just inside the 18 yard area.

Darlo responded to going behind by bringing on former Swans target Conlon and former Sunderland Striker Wainright. This had almost immediate effect Conlon flicked on a ball for Darlo's Graham who rounded Freestone to level things up. This was really tough on us as we had been the better side up until that point.

10 minutes from time O'Leary was brought down on the edge of the box. With no Trundle and Robinson to fight for the ball Martinez was left with the responsibility.
A beautiful free kick floated over the wall only for it to hit the inside of the post and loop into the air off the ground. First to react was Nugent who nodded home to give the Swans the 3 points that we deserved.

Player ratings

Murphy Not on long enough, injured in the 7th minute
Coates 6 - Some nice touches - Has he done enough to earn a new contract?
Iriekpen 6 - Solid enough but needs to learn how to keep his temper
Tate 6 - Decent game
Jones 6 - Good game
O'leary 6 - Solid game played the Johnrose role in midfield
Martinez 7 - Some nice passes, great freekick
Maylett 7 - Worked hard, made some good runs, needs to work on his final ball though
Britton 8 - Back to his best
Connor 9 - Worked really hard, and scored a nice goal … my man of the match
Trundle Not on long enough went off in the 13th with a hand injury
Subs Freestone 6 - One good save, but his decision making was poor flapping at a number of crosses
Nugent 7 - Worked hard

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