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Doncaster 3-1 Swansea

Report by Clive Alabaster

Last nights match at a frosty Belle Vue was a real test of resolve for players and supporters alike. About 150 travelling Jacks witnessed a decent performance and the return to league action of both Karl Connolly and Brad Maylett. In truth, Swansea played better and deserved more than the score line suggested. Swansea lined up as follows:

Freestone
Duffy Iriekpen Tate Howard
Durkan Johnrose Robinson Coates
Nugent Thomas

Subs: O'Leary, Maylett, Connolly, Jones and Murphy

The first surprise was the absence of Britton, even from the bench! The second was some rather pointless pre-match entertainment from a bunch of young teenaged cheerleaders. Ee bah gum, as they say in these parts.

The game kicked off on a frosty pitch in front of 6500 fans accommodated in largely open terraces. Within 3 minutes Andy Robinson made his intentions clear with a run from the centre of the pitch followed by a powerful 30 yard drive which brought a brilliant save from Andy Warrington in the Doncaster goal. The 150 or so Swans fans, huddled together for mutual warmth, rose and fell as one as the ball was first driven along our line of sight towards the top left corner of the goal and then parried away by their keeper. From the resulting corner the ball was half-cleared just beyond the area then shot back through a crowd of players. Thomas reacted instinctively to redirect the ball into the goal but placed it agonisingly just over the bar. Things were looking up, the Swans were playing brightly and I even felt a surge of warmth go through me.

Then on 9 minutes a Rovers attack down our left looked to have been foiled when the referee awarded a penalty. As we were accommodated at the far end we had seen no offence and were completely dumbfounded. A half-time chat with Brad Maylett ascertained that there had been a handball. (Incidentally, I hope you appreciate the exclusive interviews I get with the players.) Michael McIndoe duly slotted it home to Roger's right. Before and during the penalty the PA system played a crescendo of crackling crowd noises which was both deafening and annoying. I only hope that Roger didn't have that din to contend with; isn't there a rule about that sort of thing? In spite of the set back, the Swans continued to look bright and create the better chances. Robinson was denied with a low hard drive which Warrington, having seen it late, did well to push round the post. Nugent later lobbed Warrington but his goal-bound attempt was headed clear from right under the bar. Then on 19 minutes Ro!
vers attacked down our left flank, the ball was crossed in and swept beyond Roger's reach for their second of the game. Thereafter, Swansea managed to steady the ship and match Doncaster in every department. An entertaining, though disappointing, half ended 2-0.

During half-time the cheerless leaders made a re-appearance. This time they had dispensed with their pom-poms and did a routine which would have been more at home in a pole- (or lap-) dancing bar! Even from the away terrace the goose bumps were clearly visible. Brad Maylett, clearly cheesed off with the whole thing, wandered over to sign autographs and generally seek out some male company.

The second half lacked a lot of the zip that the first half had offered. It became a midfield slog in which the Swans were struggling and with few goal-mouth chances. Maylett came on for Durkan on 58 minutes, then O'Leary for Tate (62 mins) and finally, Connolly for Coates (70 mins). A brief period of enthusiasm followed in which Robinson finally got the goal he deserved with a powerful shot which their keeper could only parry into the top right hand corner. However, the substitutions and goal didn't really alter the pattern of play. Swansea's attacks largely broke down around the edge of the area because the hopeful flick played by one attacker didn't happen to find the other attacker. All crosses from wide positions were aimed at the far post where Morley, Rovers' central defender who resembled the Eiffel Tower, dominated. Consequently, Swansea were unable to sustain any pressure on Doncaster's goal. Connolly and Maylett had a couple of runs but didn't succeed in turning t!
he game our way. Roger made some good saves and there was good defensive work from O'Leary, Iriekpen, Howard and Robinson. Duffy took a knock which required some treatment and thereafter looked a little hesitant (wonder what he was thinking about?). A couple of yellow cards were shown to players of either side (Connolly and Johnrose??) and Doncaster made a series of late substitutions, all of which was entirely meaningless, and the contest drifted to a close.

Two minutes into injury time, the match provided one last twist. Swansea were awarded a free kick deep in defence by the corner flag. Roger waved everyone forward for one last attack and attempted to put the ball into orbit. However, it broke to one of Doncaster's mid-fielders who promptly played a through ball for Blundell to run on towards an unguarded goal. Meanwhile Roger was scampering madly back into goal, but before he could set himself the ball was planted firmly into the back of the net. I guess there's a lesson in that little episode.

Seconds later the final whistle was blown and players and supporters applauded each other, although the disappointment was hard to conceal. Given our first half chances, we were perhaps worth a draw. The three points Doncaster secured put them, for a day a least, on top of the third division. In spite of the score, the Swansea players can hold their heads high. The match sponsors awarded the man-of-the-match to Doncaster's Paul Green but for me the hero of the night was Andy Robinson for his tireless work rate in attack and defence and for his ability to strike a ball cleaner and harder than anyone else I know.

There are worst ways to spend an evening, I know, but I can't think of any right now. By 'eck, its grim up North.

PS. If anyone from Doncaster is reading this, please, please, please get that tannoy of yours fixed.

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Doncaster 3-1 Swansea

Western Mail

BEFORE this top six Division Three clash boss Brian Flynn had demanded a huge improvement on Swansea City's abysmal performance against Southend last weekend.

As it was, Flynn probably had to give his players another ear-bashing after they failed to act on his words and slumped to a second successive defeat for the first time this season.

To their credit, there was no lack of invention going forward but ultimately it was more kamikaze defending that cost Swansea this match and possibly their place in the top seven if results go against them this afternoon.

And ironically it was former Swans captain Dave Penney celebrating after his men recorded a win that took them to the top of Division Three for the first time in 10 years.

Swansea fell behind after 10 minutes when Alan Tate was penalised for handball and Michael McIndoe scored from the spot.

Doncaster doubled their lead 10 minutes later when Paul Green profited from lax Swansea defending to fire past Roger Freestone.

Andy Robinson pulled a goal back with a superb 74th-minute strike but Gregg Blundell sealed three points for the home side in the 90th minute.

This was the first meeting between the two sides since they fought out a scoreless draw at the Vetch in April 1998 - six months after Swansea had claimed a 3-0 win on their last trip to Belle Vue.

That was the season Rovers lost their place in the Football League which, after five years exiled in the Conference, they claimed back last season via the play-offs.

And under Penney, who spent four successful years at the Vetch before his departure for Cardiff in 1997, Rovers' return to the Third Division has been nothing short of sensational.

Worryingly for Swansea, the men from south Yorkshire went into last night's tie second in the table having lost just one previous home encounter.

The home side included former Cardiff striker Leo Fortune-West in their starting line-up, while Flynn was forced to make one change to the side left red-faced by eight-man Southend, Jon Coates replacing the injured Leon Britton in midfield.

Swansea made a promising start and with just 55 seconds on the clock the lively Robinson stung the fingertips of goalkeeper Andy Warrington with a fierce 30-yard drive.

Going 1-0 down after 10 minutes was therefore a touch harsh on the Swans.

John Melligan's cross from the right was met with a header from Michael McIndoe but Tate's arm intervened.

McIndoe dispatched the spot-kick with ease, sliding low to Freestone's right.

Doncaster looked dangerous with every forward move and 10 minutes of sustained pressure paid off with a second goal.

On-loan Wolves midfielder Melligan supplied another pinpoint cross and this time Green took advantage of Swansea's failure to clear by glancing the ball past Freestone.

Swansea then created a succession of good chances and certainly made Warrington work hard.

Kevin Nugent saw a scooped effort cleared off the line before Warrington scrambled Robinson's superb left-foot volley out for a corner.

In the 34th minute James Thomas had a low left-foot shot saved by the keeper and then Warrington kept out another decent effort from the industrious Robinson.

The second half was a drab affair and it began with the out-of-sorts Tate almost contributing to a third Doncaster goal when he gave possession away to Gregg Blundell.

Izzy Iriekpen came to his rescue by clearing the resulting danger.

With few chances being created by either side, Flynn introduced Brad Maylett and Karl Connolly and swapped Tate for O'Leary.

But it was the man who had threatened to cause damage from the start who claimed the Swansea goal, Robinson collecting a Richard Duffy square ball and evading a lunge from Dave Morley to drive a brilliant left-foot shot past Warrington from 20 yards.

With nine minutes to go Freestone made a superb fingertip save to prevent Morley scoring with a header.

But Swansea's misery was compounded in the 90th minute when John Doolan intercepted Freestone's poor kick out and threaded through for Blundell to score.

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Doncaster 3 Swansea City 1

Doncaster Rovers pre Christmas game saw them line up against sixth place Swansea City, knowing that a win would take them to the top of the Third Division. They made one change from the previous game, John Doolan replacing Ricky Ravenhill, who dropped down to the bench. It was a damp and cold evening with a threat of fog in the air and maybe later on some frost. 1 min, Doncaster Rovers brought Freestone, in the Swansea goal into action straight from the kick off but he only had to field a loose ball. The visitors attacked from the keeper's clearance with Robinson firing in and bringing a flying save from Warrington. 9 mins, after both teams had settled down to some even play, Melligan for Doncaster received a pass from Fortune-West and crossed immediately to the near post where a Swansea defender, Iriekpen was penalised for handball. McINDOE did the needful from the resultant penalty by rolling the ball into his left hand corner whilst Freestone went the other way. 1 - 0 to Doncaster . 12 mins, from a corner on their left by Durkan, the ball came to Johnrose just outside the area but he fired over. 18 mins, Doncaster gained a corner on their right and eventually the ball was cleared back out to McIndoe, still on the right after taking the corner. His cross into the middle was adroitly turned into the net by GREEN to put Doncaster two up. 20 mins, in a Swansea attack, Nugent robbed Warrington and shot goalwards but Morley was there to kick off the line. 22 mins, Contiuing on the attack, Robinson for the Swans hit a shot from 18 yards but Warrington dived full length to his right to tip the ball round a post. 32 mins, Swansea attacked when Robinson put the ball through for Thomas, who shot across the keeper but again Warrington was equal to the task and went full length to his right to push away the shot. 34 mins, Robinson, for Swansea, cracked in a 25 yarder that had Warrington diving to his right to push away. 45 mins, Swansea had been well in the game from the half hour mark and Warrington had been the busier of the keepers but Doncaster were also playing some good football and causing the visiting defence a few problems. They were also leading by two goals when the half-time whistle went. 51 mins, McIndoe latched on to a misplaced pass by Tate, went down the left and hit a low cross for Blundell, on his own on the edge of the 6 yard area but Iriekpen had got back and stuck a long leg out to divert it for a corner to the Rovers. 58 mins, Swansea substitution, Maylett for Durkan. 62 mins, Melligan, Rovers, cautioned for pulling back Howard as he attempted to go down the Swansea left. 62 mins, Swansea substitution, O'Leary for Tate. 70 mins, Swansea substitution, Connolly for Coates. 73 mins, a poor clearance out of Doncaster defence came to ROBINSON, 25 yards out, who fired a low shot just inside Warrington's right hand post to pull a goal back for Swansea. 77 mins, double substitution for Doncaster , Ravenhill for Green and Hynes for Fortune-West. 82 mins, Hynes, Doncaster , cautioned for a foul on Robinson. 83 mins, Doncaster substitution, Rigoglioso for Melligan. 87 mins, Johnrose, Swansea, cautioned for foul on Doolan. 89 mins, An altercation between Robinson and Rigoglioso resulted in both being cautioned. 92 mins, a goal kick by Freestone went straight to Doolan, who sent BLUNDELL through on goal with only Freestone to beat. He slotted it nicely past the keeper as he came out, leaving Doncaster winners by 3 goals to1. Teams - Doncaster - Andy Warrington; Simon Marples, Dave Morley, Steve Foster, Tim Ryan; John Melligan, Paul Green, John Doolan, Michael McIndoe; Gregg Blundell, Leo Fortune-West. Subs used - Ricky Ravenhill for Green 77 mins; Peter Hynes for Fortune-West 77 mins; Adriano Rigoglioso for Melligan 83 mins. Subs not used - Mark Albrighton, Barry Richardson gk. Swansea City - Roger Freestone; Michael Howard, Kevin Nugent, James Thomas, Lenny Johnrose, Jonathan Coates, Kieran Durkan, Andy Robinson, Richard Duffy, Izzy Iriekpen, Alan Tate. Subs used - Brad Maylett for Durkan 58 mins; Kristian O'Leary for Tate; Karl Connolly for Coates. Subs not used - Stuart Jones, Brian Murphy.