Match report

Swansea City 3 Boston 1

Another clear, cold day for the visit of Boston, who currently lie just outside the play-off places. The ghost of Christmas past appeared prior to the game in the guise of Paul Raynor. Raynor is now on the coaching staff of Boston and was merely warming his players up and not planning to relaunch his career at the Vetch. After Andy Gurney’s dismissal at Kidderminster, Sam Ricketts returned from his one match suspension to take up the right back spot.

Side- Gueret, Ricketts, Iriekpen, Austin, Anderson, Forbes, Martinez, Tate, Goodfellow, trundle, Connor. Subs- Murphy, Jones, Maylett, Robinson, Nugent.

A large bank holiday crowd was in good voice as the teams took the field. Today’s referee, Mr Singh, had last referred us at Yeovil earlier in the season. He had had a poor game that day, with the majority of his decisions going the way of the home team.

Swans had the games first chance on 3 minutes when Adrian Forbes was bought down about 6 or 7 yards outside the box. With Lee Trundle lining the ball up, probably for a floater toward the top corner, referee Mr Singh booked Boston’s Austin McCann for speaking out of turn. After the booking Mr Singh moved the freekick forward to the edge of the box seemingly denying Trundle his main option. Mr T did not disappoint as he fired a left foot pile driver into the far corner leaving Nathan Abbey in the Boston goal clutching at thin air.

One again a simple piece of Trundle magic had provided the perfect platform. Within a minute, however, Boston almost levelled. Roberto Martinez was guilty of a poor headed clearance and the ball was fired goalward from 25 yards and bought out the best in Willy Gueret as he turned the ball behind for a corner. In the early stages Swans showed no signs of having played 48 hours earlier as they looked energetic and free flowing. Boston had had their Boxing Day clash with Lincoln called off and their enforced rest may be of benefit to them later in the game.

With thirteen minutes gone Swans were awarded another freekick in the same spot where the earlier one was awarded. This time Lee Trundle chose the floated option and was only denied a goal by a spectacular save from Nathan Abbey. From the resultant corner Izzy Iriekpen had a short-range effort cleared off the line. At that stage Swans had the upper hand and were playing some delightful football.

With 20 minutes gone Alan Tate created an opening for himself and fired a 25 yard shot that again Abbey did well to keep out with a full-length diving save. Abbey’s parry was partially cleared by a defender to Adrian Forbes out wide on the right. His low cross seemed harmless as it was directed far too close to the keeper. Inexplicably the goalkeeper’s first move was out from his line, probably expecting a high cross. He made a move back toward his goal, lost his footing and could only watch from the floor as Forbes’s cross sailed into the empty net. Boston again responded with some good moves, but it was Swans that were playing the more attractive football and looking the more threatening.

It was no surprise on 30 minutes when Swans made it three. Paul Connor found Lee Trundle on the edge of the box and despite the close attention of two defenders; he played a superb ball into the path of Marc Goodfellow running in from the left. Goodfellow, as he did at Kidderminster looked full of confidence as he bore down on goal. As he got within 4 or 5 yards of the keeper, he fired a left foot shot into the corner of the net. It was our sixth goal in 35 minutes of football. Goodfellow almost grabbed the fourth a couple of minutes later when again put through by Trundle, who had held of the attention of three defenders before his slide rule pass. Goodfellow had more to do this time but did well to get his shot in and although beating the keeper the ball rolled agonizingly past the far post.

Whilst Boston had a couple of further half chances Swans again came closest to scoring with efforts from Trundle and Connor.

Half time saw Swans three up through a combination of Trundle magic, luck and an excellent teamwork. The second half started as the first ended with both teams committing men forward and both looking capable of scoring. Ten minutes into the half Lee Trundle almost got his second. He raced onto an Alan Tate through ball and looked second favourite for the ball against a defender and the keeper. He just got his toe in first and saw the ball beat the keeper but just sail past the post.

With the Swans 3-0 up things were no longer going their way and the game began to drift although Boston were creating very little by way of a threat. Boston were growing increasingly frustrated and Chris Holland and Daryl Clare were booked for a poor challenge and talking back to the referee respectively.

With 20 minutes left Lee Trundle had a trademark turn and shot that Abbey did well to keep out but the keeper was unable to hang on to the ball which fell into the path of Paul Connor whose short-range effort was smothered by the diving Abbey. On 79 minutes Andy Robinson replaced the ever hardworking Adrian Forbes. With 10 minutes left Paul Connor burst onto a Roberto Martinez through ball, held off his marker and did really well to fire a left foot shot which hit the angle of post and bar.

Being Paul Connor, he had an easier chance 5 minutes later after being put through by a Lee Trundle flick. This time to fired meekly over the bar.

It was to be Connor’s last contribution as he was replaced by Kevin Nugent. Within a minute of Nugent’s introduction Boston grabbed a consolation. A corner from the right was poorly defended and a free header came back off the post to substitute Jason Lee who tapped in from 5 yards. The goal gave Boston some hope but they never really threatened again.

So another win and with Southend losing a 7 point gap to 4th place. Today saw an excellent first half performance and with the game safely won Swans went off the boil in the second half.

Gueret 7 – Punched a few times when he could have safely caught the ball.
Ricketts 6 – Not up to his usual high standard.
Iriekpen 7 – Picked up a booking but very solid game.
Austin 9 – Thou shallt not pass
Anderson 7 – Getting better with every game and beginning to make it difficult for KJ to let him go.
Forbes 8 – Another totally committed performance.
Martinez 7 – A few excellent passes today.
Tate 7 – Looked superb for the most part. Trademark couple of wayward passes which are not so costly with him in midfield.
Goodfellow 7 – Took his goal brilliantly again and excellent going forward.
Connor 7 – Another whole-hearted performance.
Trundle 8 – Quiet by his standards, but was involved in most of the good things we did today.
Subs
Robinson 6 – Didn’t have the same impact as at Kidderminster.
Nugent 6 – Hardly involved in the time he was on.

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