Match report

Match Report Clive Gareth & David, Pictures Gary Martin.

Swansea 3 - 0 Kidderminster

With improved performances and the fact that Kidderminster were on a poor run, it was a game we looked forward to with a view of a comfortable three points. On a day of bright sunshine mixed with drizzly showers and strong wind the game attracted a crowd of 6,462 with around the 62 from Kidderminster.

After Monks red card at Yeovil it was another shuffle in the pack as the team lined up.

The ref immediately signalled a goal but after protests from the Kidderminster players consulted the linesman. After an age, and while the keeper was still being treated the goal stood. More arguments on the touchline with Jan Molby before the game restarted. This did nothing to improve the game as more niggling tackles continued with ex Swan Appleby getting a yellow. On the half hour Izzy was replaced by Tate after looking like he had pulled a muscle. The only other booking saw Trundle getting a yellow after catching the keeper in the head with his studs whilst going for a ball on the goal line at the edge of the box.

So half time saw us happy to be 1-0 up, in what had been defensively a good half but not clicking in attack. The conversation was more of that we would feel badly done by if we had conceded the goal.

The second half saw the Swans with the wind behind them as they took the game to Kidderminster. With the Swans now in total control of a tiring Kidderminster team, it took a bit of Trundle magic to produce the second goal. A through ball saw him with his back to goal turn his marker firing past the keeper. With the cushion of the second goal saw the Swans play some very, very, attractive football. Two chances fell to Connor but bad finishing meant he didn't add to his earlier score. A Robinson burst into the area saw a shot rocket back off the post. The play should be rewarded by more goals, but with a mixture of good saves by the keeper and some over elaborate play the score stayed at 2-0.

With 15mins to go Britton replaced Forbes and immediately stamped his mark on the game with numerous runs at the Kidderminster defence. Kidderminster couldn't get control of the ball as the Swans were rampant. Trundle was at his best, although a mixture of magic and frustration. Connor scored his second with a simple tap in after a good cross from Britton and was then replaced for the last three minutes by Nugent. Nugent did have the ball in the net but the ref had already blown for offside.

The final whistle was met with smiles on the faces of fans and players alike.

Players Comments



Gueret - Not a lot to do, but looked solid and composed.



Gurney - One or two mistimed tackles but overall a good home debut and adds more steel to the team.

Iriekpen - Another commanding display before going off injured.

Austin - Solid display whilst playing out of position

Ricketts - Gets better with every game. Does tend to over hit the ball when joining attacks, but battles to regain control.



Forbes - Another nearly performance. Puts in the effort but things still not going his way.

O'Leary - Another excellent display, his link play improving.

Martinez - Getting more and more involved but some very sloppy passes especially in the first half.

Robinson - A better performance in the second half, but like Martinez did give the ball away cheaply on occasions.



Connor - Battled well, but should have scored at least 2 more goals.

Trundle - A mixed game. Very quiet in the first half, bit magical in the second. Although sometimes over elaborate. (But we can live with it while we win 3-0)

To sum up. Poor first half when the final pass was not there. Second half was a transformation, with football that you enjoy. Whilst it must be said that Kidderminster were a poor team, we could, and should, have doubled the score, so commanding were we in the second half.

Whilst we wont go overboard, after the second half display, and talk of championship. What is good to see is progress from game to game. We are looking a more solid outfit as long as we keep progressing we will see more of the second half performances than the first. Let's enjoy, as unlike last season we should get stronger as the weeks go by.

One downside as we picked up 3 more yellow cards.

Match Report Nigel Gigg, Pictures Gary Martin.

Swansea 3 - 0 Kidderminster

A cloudy, blustery day for the visit of Jan Molby's Kidderminster Harriers.

Kidderminster fielded three ex-Swansea players in their squad - Richie Appleby, Lee Jenkins and Stuart Roberts, although Stuart started on the bench.

Swans reshuffled the defence in the absence of Garry Monk but again no place for Alan Tate who started on the bench.

Tate can not be happy with the current situation, and between him and Kenny Jackett they must resolve matters otherwise I fear we will lose a quality footballer who has shown his ability and desire to play for this club in the past.

After the disappointment of last Saturday at Yeovil, the Swans would appear to have an easier task against a Kidderminster side that had lost five on the trot.

Jan Molby got a tremendous reception from the Swansea fans as he took his seat prior to the game.

Fifteen minutes and the Swans took the lead under bizarre circumstances. A corner from the left, and Iriekpen and his marker went up for the cross and goalkeeper John Danby came for a ball that he was stretching to reach. He managed to get a hand to the ball, but clattered his own centre-half in the process, leaving both players prone. The ball fell to Kris O'Leary on the edge of the box, who chipped the ball goalward and Paul Connor had the simple task of helping the ball on, into the empty net.

Jan Molby on the Kiddie bench was seething and had a lecture from referee, Mr F Graham before the game could continue.

The goal seemed to kick the Swans in gear as they gained control of affairs. Andy Robinson and Lee Trundle both had shots wide.

On thirty minutes after about their fifth altercation Kidderminster centre-half Wayne Hatswell was booked for a challenge on Paul Connor.

A minute later, and Izzy Iriekpen went down injured, and was replaced by Alan Tate. The substitution saw Swansea go off the boil, and the game became patchy again, with plenty of blood and thunder but little to applaud from either side.

On forty-two minutes the Swans finally strung together a few passes, which was finished with a volley from Kris O'Leary that was well saved by John Danby in the Kidderminster goal.

On the stroke of half time, Trundle was booked after a challenge with the goalkeeper. With the ball running out for a corner Lee Trundle appeared to jump clear of the keeper, but evidently caught him in the face with his studs.

As the teams went off at half time, Danby showed the scars of his brush with Trundle, with a cut to his face and a blood-splattered top and shorts.

1-0 up at half time, but it had been a poor quality half.

Swans started the second half with the wind behind them, and immediately stepped up the pace of the game.

Swans almost scored in a goalmouth melee with Forbes' cross coming off the keeper's body, ricocheting off various bodies, and even bouncing off the goalkeeper's head, before the ball was cleared.

Andy Robinson also came close after cutting in from the right and hitting the post with a well struck shot.

On fifty-three minutes after a period of sustained pressure, the Swans went 2-0 up. Forbes did well on the right, played the ball to the feet of Trundle fifteen yards out from goal. He turned his defender brilliantly and passed the ball into the net off the far post. It was Trundle at his very best, and made up for the forty-five minutes of poor quality football in the first half.

Connor had the chance to make it 3-0 again after a good move from Forbes, but he found the side netting when he really should have hit the target.

Andy Robinson was looking more like his old self, and almost scored on the hour with another well struck shot.

On seventy minutes, Ricketts chased a ball down the left flank that everyone else had given up on. He caught the ball on the line, and sent over an excellent cross that was met by Connor, and well saved by Danby.

On seventy-five minutes, Leon Britton replaced Adrian Forbes who had had one of his better games. Almost immediately after coming on Leon nearly set up a third goal with an excellent through ball to Connor to put him one-on-one with the keeper. His shot was straight at Danby who saved easily, and Connor really should have done better with his effort.

On eighty-five minutes Swans finally got their third goal that their superiority deserved. A short corner from Leon Britton found Lee Trundle who played a short pass to Roberto Martinez on the edge of the box. Roberto threaded a pass between two defenders back to Leon Britton. Leon made strides towards goal before sending an inch perfect pass to Connor at the near post, who tapped in from five yards. Route one? I think not.

Kevin Nugent replaced Paul Connor for the last five minutes.

So, the Swans climb to eighth, only four points off the top, after a proverbial game of two halves.


Gueret - 7 - Little to do, but handling and distribution both very good.

Gurney - 9 - Won just about every challenge he went in for and supported well going forward.
Iriekpen - 7 - Didn't put a foot wrong in the thirty minutes he was on.
Austin - 7 - Helped restrict the Harriers to just a handful of shots all afternoon.
Ricketts - 8 - Seems equally comfortable at left-back or right-back, another excellent display today.

Forbes - 7 - Excellent work-rate, does well in defence, but doesn't take on and beat his marker enough.
O'Leary - 9 - Had an outstanding first half, and ran the midfield.
Martinez - 7 - Helped us to gain the upper hand in the midfield battle.
Robinson - 7 - Had a purple patch for twenty minutes or so in the second half.

Connor - 7 - Scored two goals but literally could, and possibly should, have had five today.
Trundle - 8 - In the first half he was starved of support with the ball knocked into him at shoulder height. In the second half, with the ball played into his feet, he showed what he can do.
Subs:

Tate - 7 - Improved as the game went on and had Jesper Christiansen in his pocket by the end.

Sir Leon - 8 - Absolutely brilliant, and toyed with their defenders at the end.

A double from Paul Connor and a classic Lee Trundle strike gave Swansea a comfortable 3-0 victory over a poor Kidderminster side.

Connor opened the scoring in bizarre fashion when referee Fred Graham failed to spot visiting keeper John Danby lying prostrate in the area after a goal mouth collision.

The ball was cleared to new Swansea recruit Andy Gurney who returned it into the danger area for Connor to deflect into the net.

Trundle lit up the game in the 53rd minute when he turned visiting skipper Wayne Hatswell inside out before flashing a shot into the far corner of the net to make it 2-0 to Kenny Jackett's side.

Kidderminster rarely troubled the home side and it was no surprise when substitute Leon Britton put Connor through to complete the rout two minutes from time.

Stats suplied by Soccernet.com

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