Match report

Cambridge United 2 v 1 Swansea City

Report courtesy of John Burgum - Evening Post

SWANSEA'S revival came to an end on a day which ended with police separating opposing players after the game's final whistle. Jan Molby sprang a selection surprise by handing teenager Robert King a debut chance in the middle of defence on the strength of a number of impressive reserve team performances.

King was preferred to Richie Appleby as a replacement for Swansea's injured manager while Kristian O'Leary took over in defence from Christian Edwards, in the Wales side which beat Holland in an under-21 international last night. Another of Swansea's rising stars, Gareth Phillips, was named among the substitutes.

Cambridge included former Swans Paul Raynor and Jamie Barnwell in an unchanged side. Swansea were forced back on the retreat early on when Walker conceded a foul just outside the area after the referee had spotted him holding back Barnwell. Raynor was involved in the free-kick but Granville misdirected his cross and it sailed over Freestone's bar. Cambridge stayed on the offensive and should have snatched the lead on three minutes when Hayes delivered a superb cross which caught Swansea ball-watching. But the visitors were saved further embarrassment when Hyde amazingly put a simple chance wide from six yards.

Swansea, reverting to the now familiar wing back formation with three central defenders, responded immediately when Brown burst into the area and drove an angled shot wide of the post. Play was held up for several minutes while Walker had lengthy treatment for a back injury. Although he appeared to have recovered Swansea pulled him out of the fray on 19 minutes and sent on substitute Gareth Phillips for his first team debut.

In between Swansea built a rare attack with Jones releasing Brown only for the striker to drive wide from the edge of the area. Cambridge continued to look the more enterprising going forward and a shot from Hayes served as a reminder that the Swansea defence had to play with discipline and determination in the absence of the injured Walker.

Freestone had to move sharply off his line to cut out a Beale cross intended for McGleish but the pressure finally produced the Cam bridge goal on 31 rminutes. Hayes started the move and, when McGleish teed up with RAYNOR, the former Swan unleashed a right foot shot from 20 yards which took a deflection to wrong-foot Freestone.

Swansea were still struggling to put their game together and rarely got beyond the half-way line. But two minutes before the break Swansea produced their best move of the game and it brought a superb equaliser fmm COATES. Penney started the move driving through midfield and releasing Jones down the right flank. The defender laid the ball back to Clode and Coates was first to react at the far post when the cross came over.

That was Swansea's first strike on target but the celebrations were short lived. On the stroke of half-time Hide and Barnwell sliced through the Swansea defence to set up McGLEISH who drove a low, angled low shot into the far corner of Freestone's net.

Half-time: Cambridge United 2, Swansea City 1

Cambridge resumed with central defender Paul Wanless taking over in goal from the injured Scott Barrett. The home keeper had been injured in the move which lead to Swansea's equaliser.

In the reshuffle Matt Joseph moved into the middle from wing back with the experienced David Preece coming on.

Swansea started brightly and Brown twice burst into the box only for the alert Joseph to tidy up.

When Cambridge responded, Barnwell looked to have a clear sight on goal only for Kipg to whip the ball off the striker's toes.

Swansea were now playing some of their best football of the match twice forcing corners which might have easily produced a second equaliser.

Torpey climbed above everyone to direct the first of them on target only for Wanless to fingertip his effort over the crossbar. Jones homed in on the second corner but that one was also directed beyond the crossbar.

It was Swansea's best period of pressure in the match but it failed to produce the goal they desperately needed to level the match a second time.

The first bookings of the match arrived when Hyde and King were booked for an off-the-ball incident which was spotted by an alert linesman.

Having survived a period of pressure, Cambridge came storming back after an intended MoGleish cross had bounced off the Swansea bar.

Three times in the space of three minutes Freestone pulled off critical saves. First he turned a Hyde shot around the post and then he produced a reflex save from the corner to push a McGleish effort over the bar. Almost immediately Raynor sliced through the brittle Swansea cover but he too found no way past Swansea's keeper.

Swansea hit back again with Torpey directing a Coates cross straight at the keeper. After Torpey had been booked for a foul, McGleish produced a header which Freestone brilliantly parried away.

Carl Heggs arrived as a replacement for Phillips but passed up a superb chance sliding wide from close range. Despite a grandstand finish from Swansea, Cambridge hung on but there were ugly scenes when police and stewards raced onto the pitch to separate players from both sides.

Team: Freestone, Brown, Clode, Walker, O'Leary, Jones, Jenkins, Penney, Torpey, King, Coates. Subs: Phillips, Heggs, McDonald.