We are top of the league, we are top of the league!!!" was the chant from a large contingent of travelling Jacks who cheered their team on to a well earned point today, against a team which showed themselves to be probably the best footballing team in the division. And contrary to the comments of the Radio 5 reporter, who curiously described the game as "sterile", this was a thumpingly entertaining end-to-end encounter between two well organised yet attack-minded teams.

The Swans lined up in their now regular 4-4-2 formation, with the recently settled back four and midfield line-ups fronted by Bird and Alsop as our, perhaps optimistic, striking partnership (Watkin having failed to shake off his injury picked up against Northampton). The bright and sunny weather seemed to be calling for Walter Boyd, but again he failed to make the bench. The pre match talking point, apart from the pie and peas which ran out too quickly, was the pitted and rutted state of the Darlo pitch, which really is in awful condition.

However, neither team allowed this to bother them in a bright opening, where Darlo showed their attacking intentions from the kick off. Gabbiadini was quickly into the action and nearly got a break through early on when a neat 1 -2 with Duffied gave him a half chance which he scuffed. But the Swans also settled into an attacking rhythm, Cusack and Thomas battling hard and doing their best to play the ball quickly forward to feet on the bobbly pitch. Indeed, our fast breaking midfiled, mainly coerced by Thomas, created two golden chances in the opening minutes - the first a vicious strike from Alsop, having been put through by Price, which the keeper saved; the second an effort from Price who shot weakly having burst through a gap in the Darlo defence.

The pace of the game was intense, with Darlo having slightly more possession, but failing to create many clear cut chances, a near post header over the bar from Liddle being their closest effort. Our third golden chance again fell to Price who volleyed over from six yards after a header from Bound. We thought we were going to regret these missed opportunities when Darlo took the lead on 28 minutes. Our full backs had been defending our flanks well, but in a raid on our left, Gabbiadini got the better of Howard and sent over a magnificent flighted cross which cleared Freestone before dropping on to the head of the unmarked Duffield to score from 1 yard. A good goal, which was fair reward for Darlington's positive approach, but is was scant reward for ours.

In the second half, we began as though we believed we could retrieve the game, and got our reward in the 49th minute when a Coates free kick was powerfully headed into the net by Cusack. The thousand or so Swans fans erupted. The game then fell into a pattern of Darlo pressure countered by swift breaks by the Swans. In general, we stood up very well at the back, and only came close to conceding on the rare occasion - Gabbiadini missed a header when he really should have done better, allowing Smith to clear; and again Gabbiadini came close when he cut inside from the right and floated a chip to the far post which Steve Jones brilliantly headed of the line with Freestone beaten. But it was certainly not all one way and for much of the half we looked the more threatrening, with Price raiding well down the right and Bird performing well in the Watkin link role. A long range shot from Price was competently saved, but our best chance again fell to Alsop who, having been played in by Bird, strode forward and hit a fierce strike towards the top corner, which was well saved. Two good efforts from Jules in this game, but if he had shot low instead of high we might have been celebrating all three points.

For his troubles, Jules was poleaxed in our penalty area in an accidental collision and ultimately was substituted, clearly badly concussed. We also picked up bookings for the competitive Thomas, and needlessly, for Cusack for dissent. However, the referee's propensity for ignoring the use of the elbow was clearly winding up everyone in a Swans shirt today. He also contrived to add on plenty of time for Darlo to equalise, and they nearly achieved it deep into injury time when another Darlington header was headed off the line, this time (we think) by Howard. Eventually, the final whistle came, the players punched the air with delight, the Swans contingent sang themselves stupid with the "top of the league" song and the Darlo fans trooped out dejectedly (those that had not left early).

Player profiles:
Freestone - 6 A little edgy at the moment - not as commanding as usual.
Jones - 7 Defended the flanks well, but some of his distribution poor.
Howard - 7 As above, but seems to be maturing into a better attacking player.
Bound - 7 Rock solid after a slightly dodgy start
Smith - 8 Very consistent today, and kept his young head together well when the pressure was on.
Price - 7 Terrified them with his fast breaks, but didn't do enopugh with the ball when he got it.
Coates - 7 Some intellignet passing play from wide midfield, and controlled the pace well in that area, but didn't get behind them.
Cusack - 7 Aided the defence well, but prodded the ball forward too quickly. Good goal though.
Thomas - 9 (MOM) Covered every blade of grass, and passed the ball well; but his tenacious tackling prevented the Darlo midfield from dominating, and that was a crucial battle to win.
Bird - 7 A good all round linking performance, and battled hard, but never looked like scoring.
Alsop - 7 Won a lot in the air, and had two excellent strikes on goal, but perhaps should have finished them.
O'Leary (for Cusack) Not on long enough to make an impression.
JH and AC - a well worked tactical performance which got us the point we deserved, But why no Walter on the bench?

At the end of the day we would all have taken a point from this one before the game, and ultimately it was what both teams deserved from this entertaining battle. There was plenty to admire from the Swans in this difficult fixture - guts, determination, solid defence, some last ditch defending and some very fluent and skilful attacking, against very strong opposition. Ultimately, if both sides go up then both will deserve to. But it has to be said that the point today was partly earned by the terrific travelling Swans fans, who sang from start to finish, visibly lifting the the Swans players and silencing the rather surprised Darlo fans - and we did this without any of the trouble-makers today...long may that last! Looking forward to Carlisle and Brighton! C'mon you Swans!!!

Well there's only one way to start this report, WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE, WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE.

The game was played in bright sunshine, with Cusack rightly choosing to play into the sun as in the second half it would be lower and into the Darlos keepers eyes. A frantic start saw Darlo on top for the first few minutes but the Swans soon settled and gave as good as they got, with the first half fairly evenly matched. The major points of the first half were a couple of chances by Price and one by Alsop for the Swans and a glaring miss by Gabbiadini who took a lot of stick from the Swans fans throughout the Game.

Like him or not he did cause a lot of problems for the Swans defence, but did not have his finishing boots on today, but hustled and bustled and found space well. To be fair our defence only gave him that one chance at goal. Their goal came from a cross from the goal line on the right, not effected by the sun, which went over and across Rog, and bundled in on the line. Maybe they just about deserved the lead, but a strange non decision by the Ref, (was he the only one who did not see Gabbiadi

Darlo came out for the second half a good 2mins before the Swans and the ref, they huddled in a circle in the Celtic way and seemed to be up for it, was this a Psychological ploy? The Swans settled first and equalised 5mins into the second half with a header on the six yard line by Cusack. A couple of half chances by both sides, with Steve Jones and Mike Howard with headed goalline clearances.Just before the goal Thomas was booked and for sickening moment we thought he was off , thinking he had been booked in the first half.

The rest of the half was again even, with Darlo getting more physical in the challenges and a few times arguing amongst themselves. Darlo used three subs late in the game, but the Swans held firm, The only Swans sub was O'Leary for Alsop who was either concussed or suffering heat or dehydration as he stumbled off with the help of Bird. Again he has many knockers but had run himself into the ground, winning many balls in the air and taking a lot of knocks. One other incident saw Price getting a tap punch in the face after a run and the ball out of play. Again nothing from the ref.

In general a very good game played at a fast pace where a draw was a fair result. We estimate about 350-400 fans who gave their all especially in the second half where for the last 20mins it was constant singing.We are hoarse. Great atmosphere created again. At the end the players and management team came across to show their appreciation and the first one being the scorer Mr Cusack. One little tit bit, as we were leaving the Scotch Corner services before the game, into it came a certain Doug Sharpe in his Merc which still displays the personalised Swans registration.

Now can't actually say he went to the game, but he did pass us on the way back on the M42, so the timings suggest that he did. So his heart must still be with the Swans. 10 more games left, with 4th place Peterborough 9 points behind with a goal diff of +8 and us on +19, so thats worth an extra point. To catch us this means 4 games taking them to 40 played so as long as we don't lose to them at home on April 8th we can already think of division 2 next season. We have had our doubts but for the first time really feel confident of making it.

Nearly there

Rotherham's home defeat on Friday evening gave this game added spice and the second-placed Swans and the third-placed Quakers certainly delivered in front of their crowd of 6,632.

Darlington had scored eight goals in their previous two home games but they failed to trouble the visitors and indeed Swansea should have taken the lead in the opening minutes of a keenly fought contest.

As early as the second minute a corner from Jonathan Coates was almost stabbed home by lanky striker Julian Alsop, but his effort landed inches wide of goal.

A poor clearance from Swans keeper Roger Freestone almost let in Peter Duffield but the Darlington striker was unable to convert the chance.

Alsop was denied again by a fine save from home keeper Mark Samways in the tenth minute and a minute later Jason Price broke clear but was denied by the Darlington keeper.

The home side went close as the 13th minute almost proved unlucky for the visitors. A Neil Heaney corner was headed goalwards by defender Steve Tutill, but again just wide of target.

Quakers top-scorer Marco Gabbiadini miskicked in front of goal after Duffield had put him in the clear.

Price then fired wide for Swansea with a shot from just inside the area.

The home side took the lead with a goal that was credited to Duffield.

Gabbiadini crossed from the right and when the ball looped over Freestone it appeared to be over the line but Duffield made sure and was credited with the goal.

The second half began brightly for the visitors and they grabbed an equaliser after 49 minutes, ironically through former Darlington striker Nick Cusack.

The home defence failed to cut out a Michael Howard free-kick and Cusack headed the ball home when almost on the goal-line.

Darlington decided to supplement their attack taking off Heaney and replacing him with Glenn Naylor.

But it was Swansea who looked the stronger towards the end and Samways had to be alert to tip over a drive from Alsop and then a long-range effort from Price failed to catch the keeper out.

Gabbiadini wasted a good opportunity with a 25-yard free-kick that was blazed high and the Swansea fans knew that their team had done enough to go top of the pile.

Photographs courtesy of Dave Williams (Northants)