Match report

The classic team performance!
There were many good things to admire in today's performance from the Swans - some great approach play, constructive football, mastery of the conditions, many skilful touches and plenty of aggressive running. But the most impressive was the blood sweat and tears which were shed for the cause by every man Jack.

Given the appalling playing conditions - the pitch was a quagmire - both teams produced an enterprising and compelling contest, in which we deservedly came out on top having done more to contend with the variable bounce and leg wearying surface. Hartlepool with six straight home wins under their belt began brightly, but it wasn't long before our calmer and more assured approach play began to take control. Despite the surface Lacey & Cusack looked to feed our wide players with measured passes, though many of them did no more than stick in the mud, and sensibly the aerial route towards Alsop (who won everything in the air today) became an outlet. We nearly took the lead when a good run from Price resulted in the ball ricocheting to Coates who placed his shot just over. Our other attempts on goal were mainly speculative at that stage, and Hartlepool caused us one or two flutters with some decent crosses.

We deservedly took the lead after 38 minutes, when following some skilful wing play from Coates the ball broke to the rampaging Price whose shot was half saved by Hollund only for Price to calmly turn in the rebound behind the goalie. JJ's delight was obvious, and he turned to the Swans crowd and vigorously pointed to his name on his shirt, presumably pointing out who our top scorer is!

Shortly afterwards Freestone had to make a smart save from a close range shot from Gary Jones, but after that it was all Swans to the half time whistle, Lacey particularly dominant in midfield and Coates & Price looking dangerous down the flanks. Watkin was also very active, and when he became victim of a nasty stamping incident from Brown, his reaction was suitably restrained. Brown was promptly sent off.

The second half began with a positive attempt from the Swans to press home the advantage and extend their lead. Tactically, they got it just right - the build up play was patient, and they passed the ball from flank to flank cleverly draining the energy of the ten man opposition on the heavy pitch. Gaps were created - a shot from Lacey was deflected over, an excellent run and shot from Coates was excellently palmed away by Hollund, and a second goal from Coates was disallowed due to a previous infringement. Up to the last quarter, we were attacking at will and nearly scored when a solo run from Coates ended with a shot which squeezed narrowly wide. The only disappointment during this phase was that our slick attacking did not bring the relief of a second goal.

Inevitably some late Hartlepool pressure ensued and it was clear at this stage that the Swans players were tiring. Price was sacrificed in favour of Thomas, but rather than shoring up the midfield, he "sacrificed his wicket" by, firstly arguing with the ref. and then minutes later making a rash two footed challenge to earn his 2 yellow cards. The only blemish on an otherwise resolute team effort.

We nearly paid the price 4 minutes from time when a good cross from the Hartlepool right found Gary Jones unmarked (for the only time all day), but his shot was weak and easily saved. Roger made one other slightly difficult save but otherwise was not extended due to the excellence (even by their own standards) of the Smith Bound combination.

Player ratings:
Freestone - 9 Made no errors and shouted himself hoarse to encourage the team.
Jones - 7 Pretty steady
Howard - 7 as above but good attacking play too - he even ventured into the opposition half quite regularly!
Smith - 10 headed everything and also showed terrific mobility - the timing of his tackles was excellent and he covered every blade of grass (or clump of mud!)
Bound - 9 more than solid, but we reckon that if he hadn't been there Smith would have done his job too! One particularly important clearing header late on.
Cusack - 8 influential and played a captain's role.
Lacey - 8 best performance we have seen from him. Plenty of industry and some good passing.
Price - 9 ran them ragged for 60 minutes. Still unpredictable but it worked today. As ever a great attacker, a liability in defence.
Coates - 9 Our most potent attacking player, showing some excellent dribbling skills (sorry Ugo!), but lacked the finishing touch.
Watkin - 7 Some hard running and link play, but didn't have a serious chance on goal.
Alsop - 8 Superb in the air and showed some good skill on the ground, including 2 attempted scissor kicks!

Subs:
Thomas - 3 Didn't give himself time to do anything.
Jenkins - 5 Fairly anonymous for his few minutes.

In summary, this was a result achieved through a combination of quality and endeavour. The team produced a Herculean effort to overcome stiff opposition on an appalling surface. Tactically, they got it spot on, cleverly draining the opposition when they needed to. But the quality of the approach play was down to the quality of the players on the day, and they can feel rightly proud of themselves. Their reaction at the final whistle spoke volumes - punching the air, embracing each other and acknowledging the delight of the crowd. This was not the reaction of a team of malcontents - the spirit and determination to succeed was there for all to see.

So, fifth in the league, unbeaten in 7 league games, five consecutive league clean sheets and only one defeat in 10 games in all competitions, along with one of the best defensive records in the division. We don't know if this will result in promotion, but we can see how far we have come from the dark days of being in the bottom five of the football league. The only way we will get promotion is to get behind John Hollins and allow him to finish the job he has so positively started.

Western Mail report

SWANSEA CITY moved up to fifth place in the Third Division following a deserved victory over in-form Hartlepool at Victoria Park.

The Swans are now unbeaten in their last six and look like genuine promotion contenders after they coped well on a heavy pitch. Hartlepool - who had won their previous nine home games - had the better of the opening 25 minutes but they never really troubled Roger Freestone in the Swansea goal.

Swansea assistant manager Alan Curtis said, “This was a great result for us. “We said beforehand that it was going to be a battle and it was. “We feel that if we match teams we have the better players to go on and win games. That is what happened here.”

As early as the fourth minute, Pool’s Andy McAvoy played a lovely 1-2 with Gary Jones. But McAvoy’s shot from 22 yards cleared the crossbar.

Swansea had to wait until the 16th minute before they had their first shot, which came in the form of a long-range effort from midfielder Damien Lacey. Three minutes later Steve Watkin squandered another chance from eight yards as Graeme Lee managed to make a last-gasp challenge on the striker.

Although both sides rarely threatened the two goalkeepers, Swansea looked the more dangerous with striker Julian Alsop instrumental in their attacks. Swansea created a couple of half openings before becoming the first away side to score at Victoria Park in 847 minutes.

Jonathan Coates broke from midfield in the 35th minute and fed the ball through to Jason Price. His initial shot was well saved by Martin Hollund but Price was left to put the rebound into an empty net.

Hartlepool made it even more difficult for themselves when captain Michael Barron was sent off for stamping on Watkin. As events unfolded, the pitch deteriorated and it began to look more like a ploughed field than a football pitch. But both sides continued to try and play football and Swansea saw Coates’s second-half effort ruled out. Alsop’s attempt at an overhead kick was deemed to high by ref Kevin Lynch before Coates put the ball in the net.

Although Pool manager Chris Turner brought on two substitutes for the last 15 minutes, they could not square the contest.

But there was a blot on Swansea’s display as substitute Martin Thomas was sent off 12 minutes after coming on to the pitch. Thomas was dismissed for two bookable offences but Swansea survived a late onslaught from the home side.

• SWANSEA CITY have been drawn away to Exeter City in the second round of Auto Windscreens Shield’s Southern Section. The Swans, who won (??? drew) at Exeter in the league earlier this season courtesy of a Walter Boyd goal, will make the trip to St James’s Park in the week starting January 10.