|
Player ratings and comments
Swansea City 3 Rushden 0 - Nigel Gigg
Earlier in the season Saturday's games were looked forward to all week. In recent weeks it's become more of a duty than a pleasure going to the Vetch. Still, could the magic of the FA Cup see Swans turn in the sort of performance that had us in raptures earlier in the season?
Thankfully, Brian Flynn put out his strongest available side, with Richard Duffy the only surprise replacing Lee Jenkins at right-back.
Sides- Freestone, Duffy, O'Leary, Irierkpen, Howard, Durkan, Johnrose, Britton, Robinson, Trundle, Nugent. Subs – Murphy, Jenkins, Jones (S), Coates, Thomas.
Swans started brightly and even in the first couple of minutes it was obvious the side were up for it. Lenny Johnrose set out his stall with a couple of strong midfield challenges.
On 11 minutes, Durkan and Duffy combined well and the ball was fed through to Trundle, with his back to goal, on the apex of the 18-yard area. He turned brilliantly and struck a left foot shot which hit the angle of bar and post.  Swans got better and better as the half went on and were controlling the midfield with Johnrose in particular catching the eye. Robinson, Durkan and Robinson all helped out the attack and Trundle, well - he was Trundle. Full of tricks and causing all kinds of problems to Barry Hunter and his fellow defenders.
Over the last couple of years every time I've seen us against Rushden, Hunter his been outstanding. Today with the ball more often than not played on the floor Hunter and his co defenders were at sixes and sevens.
Swans spurned a couple of goal scoring opportunities most notably a free Durkan header that flashed past the post. It seemed despite the better of things we would again go in at the break goalless.  On 37 minutes though, a great one two between Trundle and Nugent ended with Trundle hitting a low drive from 12 yards past an outstretched Evans in the Rushden goal.
Swans probably just about deserved their lead but absolutely no doubt Lee Trundle thoroughly deserved his goal.
In the next 5 minutes Swans created three or four clear-cut chances with Robinson going close with a shot and an Iriekpen header going just over. Going in 1-0 was probably something of a disappointment with the late pressure Swans had had.  The opening 15 minutes of the second half saw Swans play some of their best football of the season and this spell was ended with a beautifully crafted goal. Trundle was through on goal and bearing down on the keeper. He pulled up, presumably as he was on his right foot and unselfishly fed the ball to Nugent who took one touch before hitting an unstoppable shot from 8 yards.
The goal finally inspired Rushden to get into a game that was bypassing many of their players. They had their best spell of the game over the next 20 minutes or so but created very little and the Swansea defence came through a difficult period unscathed.
Coates replaced a tired looking Robinson, who once again had worked his socks off and he received a suitable reception from the Vetch faithful.  On 85 minutes with Rushden having thrown virtually everyone forward, Kieran Durkan picked up the ball in his own half. He raced forward and was in a two on two situation. Unsurprisingly he looked for Trundle but with both defenders seeming to be anticipating this, Durkan cut back and floated an absolute peach of a lob from 25 yards that caught Evans of his line and dropped just under the bar. It was an obvious candidate for goal of the season.
Lee Trundle meanwhile looked on somewhat bemused that he had been out Trundled. At least he had the knowledge that the 'magic dust' he had sprinkled in Durkan's boots had worked their magic.
Trundle took his bow with a couple of minutes remaining, replaced by James Thomas and Swans ran down the clock.
It had been a magnificent performance.
Freestone 8 – Little to do but did nothing wrong.
Duffy 7 – Back to the form he showed prior to his suspension.
O'Leary 8 – Composed performance.
Iriekpen 8 – Won just about every aerial and ground challenge.
Howard 7 – Comfortably his best performance of the season.
Durkan 8 – Is he Trundle in disguise?
Britton 8 – Again, back at something near his best.
Johnrose 9 – Dominated the midfield and broke up Rushden possession time and again.
Robinson 8 – Offers us so many attacking options.
Nugent 8 – Superb foil again to the outrageous Trundle.
Trundle 9 – One goal, one assist, a couple of magic moments. Pretty much what we've come to expect.
Subs
Coates 6- didn't have long, but didn't really give us the options that Robinson was offering.
Thomas – Not on long enough.
Swansea City 3 Rushden 0 - Soccernet
Swansea 3-0 Rushden & D'monds: FT Report PA Lee Trundle made an immediate impact on his return from injury by scoring one goal and creating another in an easy 3-0 win over FA Cup opponents Rushden.
Trundle, sidelined for the past month with a knee injury, fired the Swans ahead shortly before half-time after collecting Kevin Nugent's pass.
The striker ran on to a perfectly-weighted ball which gave him plenty of time to shoot low past Paul Evans.
Trundle then repaid the favour after the break when he set up Nugent, who made no mistake with a clinical finish to put the hosts 2-0 ahead.
The lead was thoroughly deserved after the Third Division outfit had dominated the first half and it was no surprise when they completed the rout with the goal of the tie.
Kieron Durkan picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and steered a wonderful lob over Evans with the final whistle moments away.
Would you like your match report printed here? Email it to the site straight after the match.
Click here to return to the main page.
|
