Match report

Swansea City 1 v 1 Colchester United

As no-one has sent me a report, I'd better write one myself. I didn't take notes - so it is not as accurate as it might be.

Swansea fielded more YTS youngsters in preference to Jan Molby's experienced signings - Damien Lacey, Ryan Casey, Kristian O'Leary and Lee Jenkins gave the side a very inexperienced look. Steve Torpey also returned after a 3 match ban.

Swansea couldn't have had a worse start. The heavens opened up just before they came out and the resulting slippery surface played a part in the opening goal after just 2 minutes. Just like the last home match, an elbow high ball was handled in a dangerous area - but this time just OUTSIDE the box! However, Colchester had more success from this than Hull had from the spot kick. A perfectly delivered ball over the back of the Swansea back line saw the visiting centre half battle with Dai Thomas to reach the ball from just 8 yards out - Thomas won this race, but at a cost! He only managed to slot the ball into the left hand corner of the net as he slid along across the goalmouth.

This surprisingly lifted the crowd to encourage Swansea, but this gradually disappeared as SWansea struggled to find any rhythm on the wet surface. In fact - the supporters around me on the North Bank were happy to see Molby being sacked on this season's record.

On 30 minutes, Colchester almost doubled their lead when they hit the bar. The rebound fell fortunately to one of their strikers and with Freestone stranded on the ground, he looked certain to score. It was Freestone again who saved the Swans by reacting well with his feet to turn the ball to safety. From the resulting counter-attack, the ball fell to Torpey just 5 yards out. He fluffed his shot to the great dismay of the crowd.

Five minutes later a perfect flick on by Thomas put Torpey in sight of goal just outside the area - the crowd groaned - but he controlled the ball well, held off a challenge from his marker and buried an unstoppable shot in the top corner of the net from just inside the box. Cue raptures from the crowd - and the resulting noise lifted the Swans immensely.

Both players and the crowd were angered by the antics of Nottingham referee Frazer Stretton. To describe him as having a nightmare, would be disrespectful to Freddy Kruger. Time and again he missed blatant incidents that occurred under his nose and his answer to these shortcomings were to wave the yellow card indiscriminately when questioned by the players. In fact, I swear that he had the card in his hand not his pocket as he reffed! the game.

Swansea took the game to Colchester in the 2nd half and the youngsters who had struggled a little before the equaliser, played with a confidence that belied their years. The clever one touch passing, especially on the edge of the box, created several openings for the Swans. This time it was Colchester's turn to rely on the crossbar as Dai Thomas was desperately unlucky not to score.

Another flowing move, saw Molby body-checked as he moved for the inside pass and with Swansea committed forward - the ref once again underlined his ineptitude by missing this - and Swansea were very nearly behind again form the breakaway. Poor finishing saw a just outcome. Stretton - who had obviously been studying Man Management and How to Get on With People promptly booked Molby for questioning his ability.

With just 3 minutes to go, Colchester had the ball in the Swansea net but the linesman flagged for either off-side or pushing and the goal was disallowed.

An entertaining second half but Swansea again failed to kill off inferior opposition.

Team: Freestone, Casey, Lacey, O'Leary, Walker, Jones, Penney, Molby, Jenkins, Torpey, Thomas.