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| Swansea 1 v 2 Halifax |
SWANSEA City’s play-off ambitions were dealt a huge blow today as an injury time strike from substitute Jamie Patterson earned fellow promotion hopefuls Halifax Town maximum points.
Swansea made one change from the side that won at Peterborough last week, Ryan Casey coming in. He replaced Richie Appleby who was serving a one-game suspension despite winning an FAW appeal which reduced the red card he received at Southend to yellow.
Lee Jenkins came onto the bench for a game Swansea had to won to maintain their promotion push. They faced a Halifax side going into the game two points and a place behind eighth-placed Swansea.
The visitors were without striker Justin Jackson and central defender Paul Stoneman through suspension while full-back Andy Thackeray was out with a knee injury. Former Bangor striker Marc Lloyd-Williams was absent as well, having just completed a £30,000 move to York after asking for a transfer. Captain Kevin Hulme returned to midfield while Dave Hanson was also recalled. Jamie Patterson took his place on the bench, starting a recovery from injury which forced his absence since December 19.
Swansea were given a warning after just 11 seconds when Mark Bradshaw saw a looping shot drop inches over Roger Freestone’s bar. Halifax passed the ball well in the opening five minutes before Swansea responded with a Julian Alsop shot which was blocked in a crowded goalmouth.
Swansea were soon in full flow and one long throw from Kristian O’Leary found Nick Cusack inside the area. He laid it back to Jonathon Coates on the edge but his shot was deflected wide for a corner.
The first booking arrived in the 16th minute when Casey was harshly judged to have fouled Kieran O’Regan. From the free-kick Halifax had the ball in the net but only after Hanson had fouled keeper Freestone.
Swansea responded by making the breakthrough on 17 minutes. Alsop was held down by Mark Sertori and when Matthew Bound delivered the free-kick to the far post, captain CUSACK kept his composure to head into the top corner.
Less then 60 seconds later Steve Watkin nearly doubled the lead when he shot over. At this stage Swansea were starting to get well on top. They put together a great move in the 25th minute, Alsop being helped on by Watkin and Coates before the big target man saw a shot deflected wide.
Casey was having nothing but grief from the referee and he was pulled up for two harmless looking fouls before Watkin was somehow adjudged offside from a Casey through-ball.
The young Irishman was in the thick of it again when he picked out Cusack in the 36th minute from a corner. Cusack rose well only for his header to fly just over. A minute later and Casey took another corner, this time seeing Jason Smith rise highest only for his header to be saved by Lee Martin. It was the last action of the half as Swansea went in at the interval holding the upper hand courtesy of Cusack’s first league goal.
Half-time: Swansea City 1, Halifax Town 0
Swansea went straight on the attack from the re-start as James Stansfield lost possession to Stuart Roberts. As the young winger raced into the area, Stansfield was all over Roberts like a rash as he went down but the penalty appeals were waved away to the annoyance of the home fans.
Halifax hit back as a Hanson shot flew wide. Halifax skipper Hulme joined Casey in the referee’s notebook in the 54th minute for a foul on Coates.
A long throw from Jamie Murphy in the 61st minute picked out Hanson and the big centre forward flicked it on for Matt Bradshaw whose header was saved by Freestone. Halifax made their first change a minute later as top scorer Jamie Patterson replaced defender Stansfield.
Swansea were having to defend more and more and one Bradshaw cross found John Brown whose goal-bound shot was deflected wide by Bound at the expense of a corner. Patterson was starting to get into the game and he had his first shot in the 70th minute as Halifax started to apply to the pressure.
Swansea were finding it hard now to get out of their own half and maintain possession. And they were dealt a heavy blow in the 77th minute as Halifax struck an equaliser. A Patterson corner was flicked on at the near post by Lee Power and Jamie MURPHY arrived unmarked at the far post to deliver a stooping header beyond Freestone.
Seven minutes from time Swansea won a free-kick 25 yards out. Cusack tapped the ball to Bound who unleashed a fierce drive into the top right hand corner of the net only for the referee to disallow the effort after Halifax midfielder O’Regan was booked for encroaching.
Swansea were left furious by the decision, a good goal ruled out by a poor refereeing decision.
Swansea were finally starting to apply pressure now and Alsop was brought down by Murphy on the edge of the area. O’Leary smashed the free-kick into the wall and Bound followed up but his shot was deflected for a corner.
Coates delivered it and Smith rose to power a header against the bar. Bound followed up but his header was saved by Martin.
With Swansea looking for a late winner they were dealt a massive blow. Town substitute Jamie PAITERSON picked up a loose ball on the edge of the Swans area and curled a shot into Freestone’s far corner. The winner came a minute into injury time and, although Tony Bird came on for Watkin, it was too little, too late.