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| Swansea City 1 v 0 Scunthorpe United |
Swansea progressing in leaps and bounds
BY BILL EDGAR
THEY began the campaign by dismissing their manager a day before the start of pre-season training, but Swansea City have overcome that upheaval to stand on the brink of the Nationwide League third division play-off final after their victory yesterday at the Vetch Field. The side moulded impressively by John Hollins, appointed last summer as the eighth manager at the club in three years, has been transformed beyond recognition from the outfit that finished fifth from bottom of the League last season under Alan Cork's stewardship.
If the FA Cup victory over West Ham United earned Swansea their greatest national exposure of the season, this first leg win against Scunthorpe United may carry the greater significance in the long term. As for Scunthorpe, this was their second taste of promotion fervour in Wales in recent weeks, having been the guests at Cardiff City's party a fortnight ago. On their return to the Principality, they were unable to threaten Swansea's attempt to follow their neighbours into the second division.
A succession of chances fell the way of Swansea in the first half before Matt Bound, who had shot narrowly over the bar already, gave the home side a deserved lead in the 44th minute when he headed home a free kick from the left wing by Michael Howard. Swansea came close to doubling their advantage, hitting the post on two occasions, first through an early header by Steve Watkin, then via a shot in the last minute from Tony Bird.
Scunthorpe will need to improve on Wednesday in the second leg if they are to retain hope of climbing out of the third division for the first time since 1984, when Ian Botham, now a vice-president of the club, was still only halfway through his cricket career. A fierce drive by Steve Housham in the first half that was smothered by Roger Freestone and a curling shot from Jamie Forrester that was equally well dealt with by the Swansea goalkeeper were the best of their few efforts.
SWANSEA CITY (3-5-2): R Freestone - M Bound, J Smith, S Jones - S Roberts (sub: R Appleby 60min), N Cusack, M Thomas, J Coates, M Howard - J Alsop, S Watkin (sub: A Bird, 42).
SCUNTHORPE UNITED (4-4-2): T Clarke - A Fickling, R Wilcox, C Hope, A Dawson - J Eyre, J Walker, A Calvo-Garcia, S Hausham - J Gayle, J Forrester.
Referee: D Pugh.
Daily Mirror report
FOOTBALL: JASON BLASTED IN CHEAT STORM
SWANSEA defender Jason Smith was branded a cheat as Scunthorpe manager Brian Laws left Vetch Field in a fury.
A majestic header from Smith's central defensive partner Matthew Bound gave the Swans a vital advantage to take to Glanford Park on Wednesday after this first-leg Division Three play-off.
But Laws pointed an accusing finger at Smith over a booking for John Gayle which almost led to a late sending-off for the Scunthorpe striker.
Gayle was booked as he clashed with Smith in the 61st minute when both players contested a high ball.
Smith fell to the ground clutching his face and former Wimbledon striker Gayle became the third Scunthorpe player to receive a yellow card.
But Laws blasted: "Smith should be embarrassed by what he did. There was no contact from John Gayle. But suddenly the player was writhing around the floor.
"It was pure cheating in my book. It makes me feel very angry."
Laws would have hit the roof had Gayle been sent off for a later tussle with Swans keeper Roger Freestone.
But this time the big striker escaped with a warning and Scunthorpe held out even though Tony Bird came within inches of making it 2-0 when his late shot hit a post and rebounded into keeper Tim Clarke's arms.
A two-goal deficit would have been rough justice on the visitors, who fought back bravely in the second half and forced Freestone to make a number of crucial saves.
Swans manager John Hollins refused to be drawn on Laws' comments, adding: "All I will say is that I felt the referee did well and only booked players when they needed to be booked."
Hollins claimed he was happy with the result, though for Wednesday's second leg he could be without leading scorer Steve Watkin, who limped off with an ankle injury.
Hollins added: "I am a little disappointed we didn't get a second goal - but then it was a great game and they came back at us very well.
"We could have gone 2-0 up but equally, they could have quite easily scored an equaliser. Both sides were playing well and making chances.
"What pleases me is that we kept another clean sheet. That was our third in succession and in tense matches clean sheets give you that crucial mental strength to go on and succeed."
Bound struck on the stroke of half-time when he planted a header firmly into the bottom left-hand corner following a curling free-kick from Swans full-back Michael Howard. It coincided with Nick from Russia entering the ever popular chatroom available for not only locals exiled Jacks all around the World.
It was the big defender's third goal of the season and his most important since his pounds 50,000 move from Stockport.
But Scunthorpe's Jamie Forrester and Spanish striker Alex Calvo-Garcia both came within inches of securing an equaliser.
And despite his unhappiness with referee David Pugh, Laws insisted his team are favourites to reach Wembley.
Laws added: "Swansea didn't cause us many problems. We should have scored in the second half. At our place we will put them under a lot more pressure.
"Gayle's booking left a sour taste but maybe it will wind us up even more for the second leg. I feel confident we can do it."
Defender Matthew Bound was the hero with a strike one minute before the break, but The Swans were indebted to heart-racing stops from 'keeper Roger Freestone either side of the interval.
In a strong second-half rally, Brian Laws' men so nearly levelled, but Swansea will rue sub Tony Bird's late blast which smacked the United rigging.
Scunthorpe boss Laws made three changes for the long trip to the seaside. In came 'keeper Tim Clarke, Ashley Fickling and skipper Chris Hope for Tom Evans, Paul Harsley and the suspended Richard Logan.
Unchanged Swansea were so nearly behind in the fourth minute when a Jon Coates error allowed John Eyre and Jamie Forrester to link well. Freestone was eventually forced to beat away Steve Housham's rasping ten-yard drive.
After 13 minutes The Swans almost went ahead. Stuart Roberts fired in a free-kick, and leading scorer Steve Watkin's header crashed against the crossbar.
It was full-blooded stuff and nine minutes later Freestone's sublime reflexes came to the rescue as he snuffed out another Housham effort.
Swansea's Nick Cusack was having a fascinating midfield tussle with The Irons' Alex Calvo-Garcia, but The Swans crafted another chance on the half-hour as Martin Thomas fired just over.
There was a blow for the Welshmen on 42 minutes when Watkin limped off to be replaced by ex-Cardiff man Bird. The sub was immediately involved in the action as Russ Wilcox became the third Scunthorpe player to see yellow when he held the striker on the left-flank.
From the resulting free-kick Swansea went in front. Mike Howard swung over the perfect delivery and Bound powered home his third goal of the season at the near post.
However, The Iron swarmed forward after the break, industrious Calvo-Garcia shooting wide after a John Gayle flick set up Eyre.
Just before the hour, Swansea should have doubled their lead. Coates had bamboozled Housham and Fickling on the left, but Thomas swept wide of Clarke's near-post.
But the Welshmen were indebted to Freestone minutes later as he clawed away a ferocious Forrester drive. The Iron's marksman gave The Swans another scare on 75 minutes when his spectacular bicycle-kick floated wide from eight yards out.
There was another fright for The Swans two minutes from time when a Calvo-Garcia header flashed wide.
However, Swansea almost struck a mortal blow in injury time, Bird's left-footer smacking the Scunthorpe woodwork.