Match report

Among the beneficiaries was Andy Robinson, who was asked to perform a forward-looking centre midfield role whilst flanked by the ball-winners Craney and O’Leary. As it turned out he did a fair bit of ball winning himself, but many are blind to that. Up front, Bayo led the line, with Trundle and Butler to his right and left respectively. Trundle’s roaming right-sided role allowed him to create more space for himself, but also regularly dragged half the Doncaster side out there with him, thus creating more space in the centre, from which others profited. At the back, Duffy and Painter were asked to perform full back roles which favoured their natural preferred feet (“phew” I hear you say, but surely that one wasn’t too hard for Kev to work out). In the middle, Izzy partnered the imperious Lawrence, who led the team with authority and by example. Nugent also kept faith with Willy in goal, and despite numerous reports from people who weren’t there, the big man didn’t let him down.

The first twenty minutes was all Swans, as we surged forward playing neat passing football on a smooth surface. Despite this, the first decent effort came from the lively Jonathan Forte who struck a volley from a difficult angle which Willy tipped over the bar – the first of several excellent saves he made today. Thereafter, the Swans poured forward. First, a great cross from Butler on 5 minutes just evaded Bayo. Then on 12 minutes Bayo controlled well and flicked an excellent ball to Trundle, who took two touches to send the ball crashing against the bar with a right foot drive; Bayo was just unable to turn the rebound home. A minute later another terrific through ball from Bayo sent Butler through on goal; he rounded the keeper well, but dragged his shot just wide. And then a minute later, there was another great Swans effort as Trundle swung a terrific cross-field pass to Butler, who cut inside and drove a low shot towards goal, which was blocked.

The goal was coming, and a minute later it did. A long punt from Gueret was controlled brilliantly by Bayo, who then struck a fantastic shot into the roof of the net from 20 yards. A fine goal and nothing more than we deserved at this stage. Notable was the team’s celebration – all 10 outfield players coming together to celebrate the goal in a show of unity and delight. No sign of a rift there.

Inevitably, the shell-shocked home side began to rally. Firstly, the lively Price bought a free kick on the edge of the area, only to see a colleague drive it against our defensive wall; and then Coppinger fired a shot well over the bar. But the Swans remained positive in their approach, and Robinson entered the fray on 27 minutes with a fine curling left foot shot that just dipped over the bar. Sadly, we then got caught out by a sucker punch. Coppinger fed a neat through ball to Price who had made a good run inside the full back. Price turned, and with a precision he rarely showed in a Swans shirt, fired a low drive across goal and into the corner of the net. Certainly not Willy’s fault – if anything Price’s run should have been picked up by a centre half or one of our defensive midfielders.

The Swans responded well to the disappointment, and Trundle produced a mesmerising run, ghosting past four markers, before firing a cross which just evaded Bayo. Then Bayo himself had a half chance which he dragged wide. But the game was more even now, and on 35 minutes the lively Heffernan got the better of Izzy to get into a shooting position from a narrow but decent angle – again, Willy produced a fine point-blank save. A few minutes later Forte had another shot, which hit the stantion behind the goal and had the home fans on their feet, but Willy looked like he had it covered.

Then it was the Swans turn once again to seize the initiative in this pulsating half. Deep in our own half, up popped Lee Trundle (yes, Trundle) tackling back to win possession back for the team. This initiated an attack which culminated in Robbo producing a superb jinking run into the area. He drew a foul, and won a clear penalty. Trundle despatched the spot kick with ease and deservedly restored our lead. Once again, the players goal celebration was a joyous and united one.

We were almost into injury time now, but there was still plenty of incident to come. There was a scramble in our goalmouth which Painter finally cleared, and from the resulting break, Robbo slipped a perfect through ball to Trundle – his shot looked goal-bound, but the home keeper managed to turn the ball away with a desperate outstretched fist. Then in the dying moments, a fantastic swirling drive from Coppinger was brilliantly parried away by Gueret to preserve the lead. It had been a half in which we had been the better side, and could have scored five or six, but at the same time had been kept in it by three fine saves from Gueret. Neutrals would have been purring.

We knew Donny would be dangerous after the break and so it proved. But the Swans came out with a real determination to seal the game; unfortunately, this was the spell in which we should have clinched it, but sadly we failed to do so. On 49 minutes we produced a fine flowing move involving Butler and Bayo, who slipped the ball to Trundle who was advancing on goal from his wide right position. Sadly, Trundle’s shot was blocked when he knew he really should have scored. Then three minutes later Robbo once again surged forward with purpose from centre midfield before releasing a ball inside the defender for Trundle to run on to, this time from a left-sided position. Again, the finish lacked conviction and was blocked by the keeper, but as Trundle tried to retrieve the rebound to slot home, he appeared to be clearly held back by the defender – but no way was the referee going to award us a second penalty.

Thereafter the half became more even. Forte and Robinson exchanged low drives, Robbo’s the better, but both were saved. And shortly after this, Heffernan had a shot which was deflected for a corner. But then came the moment which swung the initiative back to the home side. Heffernan picked up the ball in a wide left position, and with Duffy showing no real urgency to get to him, was able to drift into the area to line up a right foot shot. And boy did he unleash one – the ball zipped past Gueret with real pace, and whilst the Frenchman will be disappointed to have been beaten at the near post, he might well ask why neither the full back nor anyone else, had got near enough to the scorer to prevent the shot. Seconds later, Heffernan was in again, but this time Willy reacted smartly to smother his close range effort.

This was a crucial period as we could have folded under this sudden spell of pressure. But we responded well – producing a neat and intricate passing move between Trundle, Butler and Craney, whose shot was dragged wide. At this stage, the tiring Robinson was withdrawn for Pratley, which resulted in much of our forward thrust from midfield being removed. Chances became less frequent at both ends, as a period of attrition set in. Trundle had a good low effort blocked and a Donny corner was headed over our bar. On 81 minutes there was a sudden moment of magic from Lawrence who surged forward with the ball a full 60 yards, tricking his way past four or five defenders before drawing a foul. It resulted in nothing, but it was a fantastic moment for the away fans. The game seemed to be petering out into a draw, but then we produced one final great move which so nearly grabbed us the points. Trundle received the ball in his wide right position, and proceeded to cut inside before drifting a perfect cross to the far post, which took out all of the defence. Butler rushed in to meet it with a firm header, only to see the home keeper scramble across goal to parry the effort. This was the last meaningful action in what had been an excellent game.

Gueret – 8 Some great saves and good under the high ball.
Duffy – 5 Probably our weakest link…seemed languid and off the pace.
Painter – 7 tenacious and determined.
Lawrence – 8 commanded the centre of defence
Iriekpen - 7 Generally good, despite one or two hesitant moments
Craney – 7 Determined and combative in midfield
O’Leary – 7 As above, though offered less going forward.
Robinson – 7 Real impetus from midfield and set up a couple of excellent chances as well as winning the penalty; faded in the latter stages.
Butler – 7 dangerous and direct; shares Robbo’s instinct to cut inside (though strangely no-one seems to slate him for it) so today’s formation suited him.
Bayo – 8 Held the ball up well and scored a superb goal.
Trundle – 8 Scintillating at times, occupying almost half the opposition single-handedly on occasions; a pity he didn’t slot away one of those other chances.

Pratley – 6 Still not fit but battled hard for 20 minutes
Amankwaah – not on for long; replaced Duffy late on.
Abbot – A slightly worrying sign. Nothing stuck to him, and he looked cumbersome and ineffective. Still too soon to form a view on him though.

Nugent – well done Kevin, for trying something a bit different and for taking such a positive approach to the game. Very unlucky that his team did not secure the three points they deserved, but ultimately, the positive formation and approach was always likely to leave some gaps. He has three crucial games in the next ten days – who knows, he might even stake a claim! And a word for the travelling fans – generally good, noisy, positive and unconditional support. Usually the case away from home – well done! The season is not gone yet…at least not this week.