Match report

Scarborough 0 v 1 Swansea City

Report courtesy of John Burgum - Evening Post

Midfield man Lee Jenkins hit a second half winner on the icy Yorkshire coast today as the Swans recorded their first away win since September. Colleague Linton Brown, however, was sent off.

Swansea were hopeful of pulling off a surprise at the McCain Stadium after lowly Hartlepool's shock 4-2 defeat of the high-flying home side. The visitors were unchanged and, after a heavy overnight frost, teams of volunteers worked for several hours to make the pitch playable.

The Swans started in fine style with Kwame Ampadu putting over a great ball to Jonathan Coates who set up Lee Jenkins for a shot which was brilliantly saved by keeper Ian Ironside.

At the other end Jamie Mitchell and Andy Ritchie produced a fine move which saw John Kay drive into the goalmouth where Stephen Jones was on the spot to head clear.

Kay and Mitchell began to put the Swans' defence under pressure and the Seasiders went close twice within five seconds. Veteran Ritchie had a volley blocked by on-form keeper Roger Freestone then Gareth Williams followed up and Freestone saved ably.

Drama struck after just eight minutes when both sides were reduced to 10 men. Kay fouled his opposite number Linton Brown who then retaliated by kicking Kay and the two men clashed, surrounded by both teams.

Referee Trevor Jones had no hesitation in ordering both men back to the dressing room.

Ritchie had a great free kick cleared by Ampadu as nearly all the play was concentrated in the Swans' half. But Scarborough just could not find a chink in the defence.

Boro keeper Ironside made a great saves from Coates as the visitors became more and more into the game. They produced their first corner in the 33rd minute and had a second less than a minute later but both were cleared. Ampadu had his name taken in the 35th minute for showing dissent and tempers became frayed as both sides stepped up their bid to be ahead by the interval. Swansea hopes were raised when Moreira drove into the centre only to see Ironside save.

David Penney was then unlucky with a first time shot which was cleared in a goalmouth scramble.

Just over 60 Swansea fans had made the journey to the Yorkshire coast but they saw Scarborough continue to create the better chances thanks to Mitchell and Ritchie.

Half-time: Scarborough 0, Swansea 0.

The pace slackened after the re-start but Scarborough were robbed of a good chance when Thompstone headed into the goalmouth but the ball was cleared off the line amid a ruck of players.

Scarborough produced some quality set pieces but were unable to convert them into goals.

The Swans were constantly in the hunt in their bid to pull off their first away win for almost two months and their hopes were raised with a curling free-kick by Ampadu which was cleared from the goalmouth.

City's determination paid off with a surprise goal in the 59th minute from Lee Jenkins who scored from 12 yards with a side-footed shot, blasting home a rebound after Steve Torpey had seen his shot well saved by Ironside. The Boro keeper failed to gather and it fell to Jenkins who made no mistake in driving it into the corner of the net.

Swansea now had to work hard to hold on to their slim lead as Boro piled on the pressure in a late rally. Ritchie hit the bar before the Seasiders produced three corners in quick succession only to find Swansea packing their goal.

At the other end Coates put over a neat ball to Torpey who forced Ironside to make a full-length diving save. Swansea could find no reply to Scarborough's domination in the dying mmutes but, by packing their defence managed to absorb the home side's pressure. Hopes of a first away win since September 28 - when the Swans beat Doncaster Rovers were becoming a reality.

Boro continued to throw everything at the visitors' defence but the Swans retaliated by hacking away the ball in all directions. Keeper Freestone kept his cool as frustrated Boro battled hard and Penney almost made it 2-0 with a 25-yard free-kick which grazed the bar.