Match Report

Swansea produced a hard-fought victory to extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points and ease any promotion jitters. The Swans couldn't have had a worse start to the game after conceding a sloppy goal after just 28 seconds, and again it was the left side of the defence that was found wanting, and although James Brown's shot should have been comfortably dealt with by Dorus he only managed to palm the ball straight to Hartlepool's Gary Liddle who tapped it into an empty net.

The Swans regrouped and battled back to dominate the first half although the defence still looked panicky under any pressure. Darren Pratley equalised on 22 minutes, driving home from 15 yards through a sea of defenders after Hartlepool failed to clear their lines. Playing with a strong wind at their backs and having had the majority of the possession, Swans would have felt that they should have been ahead at half time but it wasn't looking likely until referee Mr Probert gave a very dubious pen on the stroke of half time. Darryl Duffy had valiantly chased down a lost cause and then fed the ball through to Jason Scotland who looked to have been dispossessed cleanly by Clark but Mr Probert saw things differently. Jason Scotland sent Cardiff-born keeper Lee-Barrett the wrong way from the spot, and increased his awesome goal tally yet again.

In the second half the wind intensified and battling against the gale Swans found it problematic to retain possession and clear the ball upfield. Thankfully Hartlepool lacked an end product and the Swans defence was able to soak up the pressure. On 73 minutes and on a rare breakaway, Pratley got to a through ball just ahead of Humphries and Lee-Barrett and toe-poked the ball into the net. Swansea comfortably saw out the remainder of the game for a hugely significant three points, and sent the travelling faithful of 430 fans, who despite the conditions had kept up the noise levels throughout, home happy.

No man of the match today, but a straw poll on the Dunvant bus travelling to Newcastle's finest hostelries for the evening thought that Alan Tate, Darren Pratley, Darryl Duffy and Leon Britton were worthy contenders.

Hartlepool 1 - 3 Swansea City - Match Report Soccernet.com

Swansea ended their recent lean run with a 3-1 win at Hartlepool which strengthened their grip on the League One title race.

But the game was shrouded in controversy as Hartlepool claim they were robbed by a refereeing decision late in the first half.

The home side made a dream start by taking the lead after 28 seconds. Joel Porter gave James Brown the chance to shoot from the right and when his effort was parried by goalkeeper Dorus De Vries, Gary Liddle pounced on the loose ball to score from two yards.

Swansea came back, though, and after a lot of pressure they were level after 23 minutes, Darren Pratley blasting in a 20-yard shot after the home defence failed to clear a right-wing free-kick from Thomas Butler.

There was controversy on the stroke of half-time when Swansea took the lead, referee Lee Probert giving a penalty after what appeared to be a good challenge from Ben Clark on Jason Scotland, who scored his 29th of the season from the spot.

After the break the game wasn't quite so hectic, though De Vries did well to tip a Michael Nelson header over the bar and then saved well again from the same player as Hartlepool pressed for an equaliser.

But Swansea broke after 72 minutes and Pratley scored his second as he rolled in a 20-yard shot as home goalkeeper Arran Lee-Barrett came off his line and lost the ball.

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