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| Swansea 4 v 1 Barnet |
by Phil Blanche - Western Mail
Resurgent Swansea swept to their biggest win of the season as they stung the Bees into submission at a foggy Vetch Field last night.
Richard Appleby, Jason Smith and a second-half brace from Anthony Bird fired the Swans to an easy Auto Windscreen Shield first round win.
Bird flashed an early goal warning after eight minutes – ’keeper Lee Harrison parrying to safety – but a minute later, Barnet’s Sean Devine lifted over after teenage debutant Marlon King had knocked down.
But after 12 minutes, midfielder Appleby fired Swansea ahead with his third goal in seven days. John Doolan had brought down Appleby in a central position and the geordie rose to smash a quick-fire right-footer past Harrison.
Overworked Bees keeper Harrison beat away a header from the menacing Julian Alsop after 20 minutes, but was helpless 60 seconds later as Smith powered home Appleby’s corner from the right.
In a spirited second-half rally, McGleish struck back for the Bees with an 89th-minute reply after Swans hesitation at a Wilson corner.
But the status quo was restored as Bird drilled home right-footed from 12 yards on the stroke of full time, and one minute into stoppage time Bird swooped for a second and Swans’ fourth.