 |
Press cuttings |
|
Saturday, November 09, 2002 Swans signings must wait until after cup |
| Western Mail KEVIN REEVES has revealed Swansea City are unlikely to make any new signings before next Saturday's FA Cup clash at York. The Swans entertain Macclesfield Town today three points adrift of Third Division safety and desperately need fresh blood to help their fight for survival. Concerned that they could be watching Nationwide Conference football next season, supporters have called for the club to dip into the loan market to avoid being involved in a relegation scramble. First-team coach Reeves said "things were being put in place" to strengthen the side, but warned fans it would probably not be for at least another nine days. "We've spoken to a number of managers this week, but most of them don't want to let players go (out on loan) before the FA Cup next weekend," said Reeves. "They don't want play-ers getting cup-tied which is understandable. "And if we couldn't field a loan player against York, him being here would be a waste of seven days. "We'll hopefully set things up next week, but I think it's unlikely that anyone will come in before York. "If something is going to happen, it will probably be the week after next." Loan signings are the hot topic of conversation at the Vetch, with the Swansea City Supporters Trust this week launching a survival fund aimed at giving boss Brian Flynn extra cash to spend on loan players. As well as appealing for their financial support, the club has urged the legion of missing Swans fans to turn up this afternoon to give Flynn's side some much-needed backing. Reeves believes supporters can play a "massive" part in helping Swansea get out of trouble. "Given our situation, we need people to turn up and get behind us more than ever," said the former Manchester City and England striker. "They've experienced some good times over the years and the current situation is therefore very frustrating. "You can't blame the fans for registering their disappointment, especially after the 4-0 home defeat against Kidderminster. "But, on the flip side, the players really do need - and appreciate - their support, particularly when you've got youngsters in the team." Reeves insists the build-up to today's match has not been affected by tales of the club's desperate financial position. "That has not been a distraction, and neither should it be," he said. "If you're a professional footballer being paid to do a job you love, it shouldn't affect you. "Don't forget that Swansea are not unique in having financial problems. "It applies with at least 30 per cent of clubs in the Football League. "It's obviously a concern, but as far as players and the coaching staff are concerned, it's about going out on a Saturday to play a game of football." Reeves admits that he and Flynn desperately need to record their second victory since taking charge at the Vetch seven weeks ago. "We keep saying it, but Macclesfield is another must-win game," he said. "There's a real stigma attached to being bottom of the league and, psychologically, it doesn't help to be three points adrift. "Confidence will obviously play a big part, but generally (apart from Kidderminster) our home performances haven't been too bad." Stuart Jones could make a return in defence while midfielder Paul Reid is available again after missing last Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Cambridge through suspension. Macclesfield, 16th in Division Three, arrive in South Wales on the back of a 2-1 home defeat against Shrews-bury Town. |
|
Friday, November 08, 2002 Swans get £10k Sky game boost |
| Western Mail SWANSEA CITY received a welcome financial boost yesterday when Sky Sports announced plans to televise their Third Division clash at Rushden & Diamonds on February 1. The cash-starved Swans will pocket a £10,000 appearance fee from Sky, who will show the game live with kick-off switched to 5.35pm. The news comes as Swansea - on course to lose £250,000 because of falling attendances at the Vetch - pleaded with missing supporters to turn up to help ease the financial crisis. "The money from Sky is an unexpected bonus and will come in very handy," said Swansea communications manager Peter Owen. "It's obvious that Sky feel they get value for money whenever they follow our matches." Swansea's last appearance in front of the Sky cameras was the thrilling 3-2 defeat by Wolver-hampton Wanderers in the first round of the Worthington Cup on September 11. Swansea were also live on television when they thrashed Queens Park Rangers 4-0 in the FA Cup first round last November. And the last time a Swans league game was televised was in March 2000 when John Hollins's side thrashed Northampton Town 4-1 at the Vetch. Goalkeeper Roger Freestone, meanwhile, has decided to contribute to the survival fund set up by Swansea City Supporters Trust. The group hope to raise £375 a week over the next three months for the club to sign players on loan and are asking fans to pledge £5 a week. Freestone, in conjunction with his biographers Phil Sumbler and Keith Haynes, will contribute one week's wages for a loan player. "The club means so much to me, and I consider myself as big a fan as anyone else connected with the club," said Freestone. "It's a drop in the ocean in Premier League terms, but all three of us have put our hands in our pockets and hope that others, who can do so, will follow suit. "If our money pays for a loan player for a period of time and it gets us out of this mess, then we have done our bit." Swansea entertain Macclesfield Town tomorrow three points adrift at the bottom of Division Three after last Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Cambridge United. Director of football Brian Flynn has midfielder Paul Reid available again after his suspension and could also restore youngster Stuart Jones to the starting line-up. |
|
Thursday, November 07, 2002 Freestone makes donation |
| BBC Online Swansea City goalkeeper Roger Freestone has decided to make a contribution to the club's recently launched supporters fund. The Swansea City Supporters Trust has set up the fund to allow the club to sign players on loan. They hope to raise £375 a week for the next 3 months. Freestone, the club's longest serving current player, is celebrating 11 seasons at The Vetch this season. But with the club in serious trouble at the bottom of the Third Division, Freestone is determined to do all he can to avoid relegation. Freestone's biographers, Keith Haynes and Phil Sumbler, have also made a donation. Said Freestone: "The club means so much to me, and I consider myself as a big fan as anyone else connected to the club. "This is a drop in the ocean in Premier League terms but all three of us have put our hands in our pockets. "We hope that others, who can do so, will follow suit. "If our money pays for a loan player for a period of time and it gets us out of this mess, then we have done our bit. "Of course, the squad will remain fixed in our own objectives to turn things around with a very good managerial team." Swans manager Brian Flynn has earlier paid tribute to the fans for their generosity in organising the fund. "It's a fantastic gesture," said Flynn. "It just shows how much passion the Swans fans and the people of south Wales have got for Swansea City. "It's a very important gesture at this moment and one that everyone at the club is delighted with."
|
|
Thursday, November 07, 2002 Flynn hopes survival fund will pay off |
| Western Mail BRIAN FLYNN hopes a survival fund launched by Swansea City supporters yesterday will prove to be as fruitful as a similar scheme set up during his time at Wrexham. In an attempt to stave off the growing threat of relegation to the Nationwide Conference, Swansea City Supporters Trust have urged fans to pledge £5 a week towards a fund for loan signings. By going cap in hand to fans, the trust, which in exchange will receive shares in the struggling Third Division club, aims to raise a minimum of £375 per week for the players' fund. The plea came as cash-starved Swansea revealed they are on course to lose £250,000 this season, unless thousands of stay-away Swans fans return to the Vetch to get behind the team. Flynn echoed the board's rallying cry to the missing supporters and welcomed the launch of the loan players' survival fund. "It's a fantastic gesture which is very much appreciated," he said. And the Swans director of football said a similar fund set up by Wrexham fans in 1990 had paid dividends. "The supporters' committee, Wrexham Revival, raised the money for us to take Eddie Youds on loan from Everton for three months," said Flynn. "Eddie, who was only 19 at the time, came in during the season that we were fighting to avoid relegation from the old Division Four. "He was instrumental in helping us to survive that year. And because they raised the money to buy him, the fans had a great affinity with Eddie. "It would be wonderful if we could do something similar at Swansea." Cash raised by the supporters trust is likely to be in addition to what money Flynn currently has available to bring in loan players. Swansea director David Morgan told The Western Mail last week that limited funds were in place, though the board of directors painted a gloomy picture of the club's finances in their rallying cry to supporters yesterday. In addition to the projected loss on gate receipts - £10,000 a week because crowds are not meeting the break-even figure of 4,500 - the club must drastically reduce a £1.1m wage bill. And Swansea must also pay out around £450,000 towards the Company Voluntary Arrangement agreed in March. As well as urging supporters to help ease the financial crisis, the club piled the pressure on Flynn by insisting finishing third from bottom of Division Three "will not be acceptable." |
|
Thursday, November 07, 2002 Sharp hopes new treatment will shorten injury lay-off |
| Western Mail SWANSEA CITY defender Neil Sharp is hoping a revolutionary oxygen healing process will speed up his recovery from an ankle ligament injury. Two weeks ago Sharp needed reconstructive surgery on his left ankle after it was badly damaged during Swansea's 2-2 draw against Hartlepool on September 7. Doctors told the 24-year-old centre-half he would be sidelined for up to four months which would mean Sharp returning to first-team action in February at the earliest. But the former Barry Town player could be back a lot sooner thanks to an alternative form of treatment which is being pioneered in Wales by Swansea firm Hyperbaric Medical Systems. It involves Sharp being isolated in a "decompression" chamber in which high concentration doses of oxygen are pumped into the system so the wound can benefit from its healing properties. "Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment (HBOT) has been tested at several football clubs and it has been found that recovery time can be cut by up to 70 per cent when used in conjunction with physiotherapy," said Swansea physio Richard Evans. "We are extremely grateful that we are able to offer Neil this service and hope it will result in him returning to action sooner than anticipated." With his present contract up at the end of the season, Sharp admits he needs to get back as soon as possible. "The sooner I'm fit and playing the more chance I have to show I'm worth a new contract, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed," he said. "I'm looking at being out until February so anything that might help me get back playing earlier has got to be worth a go." Of Swansea's other injury victims, Terry Evans, who picked up a thigh injury in the 1-0 defeat at Oxford on October 12, is back in training but is not expected to be available for the visit of Macclesfield Town on Saturday. And striker David Moss (ham-string) and defender David Smith (calf) are still sidelined. |
|
Wednesday, November 06, 2002 WE NEED YOUR HELP |
| Western Mail
Swansea City are putting pressure on fans to do their bit with the club haemorrhaging £10,000 per home game in the scramble for Nationwide League survival. |
|
Wednesday, November 06, 2002 JUST STAYING IN THE LEAGUE WILL NOT BE GOOD ENOUGH |
| Evening Post
Swansea's owners will not settle for preserving their Football League status this season. |
|
Wednesday, November 06, 2002 SWANS WANT YOUR FIVERS |
| Evening Post
Swansea City Supporters' Trust today appealed to the club's fans to dig deep in their pockets to help the fight for Football League survival. |
|
Tuesday, November 05, 2002 Swans paying he price for stalling Flynn |
| Western Mail FORMER Swansea City manager Colin Addison believes the Third ivision strugglers are paying the price for failing to appoint Brian Flynn sooner. Flynn was close to taking charge in April but the move collapsed then Swansea refused him permision to appoint his own coaching staff and insisted he take on Nick Cusack as his assistant. Instead, Cusack was handed the job of player-coach but lasted only ix months after a disastrous run of esults saw the Swans slide to the ottom of the Football League for he first time in their history. Swansea, now three points adrift of safety after Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Cambridge, finally secured Flynn's services but Addison beieves the club should have found a way of doing so in the summer. "The problems should have been sorted so that Brian was in charge at he start of the season," said Adison, who was sacked along with No 2 Peter Nicholas in March. "It's quite possible that Swansea wouldn't be in the trouble they are now had Brian had the pre-season to assess the situation and bring in his own players. "It's not easy for a new manager o come in a third of the way through he season. "Swansea have already signed 10 ew players and so Brian must largely work with what he as inherited." In April Addison warned it would be the "wrong deision" for Swansea to appoint Cusack, insisting the club needed to head into the 2002-03 campaign with an experienced man at the helm. "Considering the state the club is in they should bring in someone who has been there and done it and who has contacts in the game," said Addison at the time. "Without being disrespectful, I think it would be the wrong decision. If it happens then I fear the fans could be in for another long season." The club's board of directors disagreed, believing Cusack would make a decent fist of the manager's job and at least bring Swansea some mid-table security. But two victories in 17 league matches from a squad that promised much at the start of the season tell a different story and Addison's gloomy prediction has been proved correct. "No-one wants to say `I told you so', but it was always going to be difficult for Nick and that's how it proved to be," said Addison, now in charge at Dr Martens League side Forest Green Rovers. "Nick signed 10 players in the summer, but it seems they haven't gelled and the fact only two or three of them are playing at the moment says it all." The club's atrocious start to the season again called into question the decision to sack Addison and Nicholas. The management team were dismissed despite reversing the Swans' poor start to 2002 by recording a six-match unbeaten run that lifted the club into the top half of Division Three. Addison, with more than 30 years of management experience behind him, believed he could have built a squad capable of making an impact this season had he been retained. But the former West Bromwich Albion and Hereford boss, who had a short spell as Newport County assistant manager earlier this year, was forced to seek pastures new and is now fighting to keep Forest Green in the Nationwide Conference. And he said he doesn't expect to come up against the Swans next season. "I don't believe they will finish in the bottom two," said Addison. "Brian's an experienced manager and he knows the Third Division well. I've no doubt he will get Swansea out of trouble." Addison's view is not shared by South Wales bookmakers Jack Brown who have installed Swansea as 6/4 favourites to be relegated. "The Swans have won only two games all season and those are the only matches in which they've kept a clean sheet," said spokesman Karl Williams. "Swansea have yet to win away from home but Carlisle (2/1 for the drop) have won away twice and Boston (also 2/1) are out of the drop zone despite their four-point deduction." |
|
Tuesday, November 05, 2002 SO SERIOUS THAT NO-ONE CAN MAKE LIGHT OF THIS |
| Evening Post
So the Nationwide League's yellow ball has arrived to help our vision, but the light at the end of the tunnel is becoming increasingly difficult to see. |
|
Tuesday, November 05, 2002 FIGHT FOR OUR LIVES |
| Evening Post
Jason Smith has assured Swansea City's fans that the players are doing all they can to stave off the ''unthinkable'' prospect of non-league football. |
|
Monday, November 04, 2002 Flynn left with battle royal to avoid the drop |
| Western Mail RIGHT now Swansea City manager Brian Flynn could do with the same drop of good fortune as his close friend Paul Burrell. Royal butler Burrell has a story said to be worth millions of pounds (what chance of him investing at the Vetch?) after being cleared on Friday of charges that he stole from his late employer, Diana, Princess of Wales. Flynn, meanwhile, will not reflect on the past week with the same fondness as Burrell after defeats against Kidderminster and Cambridge leave Swansea anchored to the foot of the Third Division with a three-point gap to close on the teams immeditely above them. Forget regal assistance. At his rate Swansea - with only two wins in 17 games this season - will need divine intervenion to stay in the Football League and prevent Conference trips to the likes of Northwich snd Nuneaton next season. To be fair to Swansea, there aws no repeat of the Kidderminster horror show four days earlier, although Cambridge would have strengthened their position as the division's top scorers had they not been so profligate in front of goal. But the outcome was still frightenly predictable and, despite the fact that Swansea batled manfully, the only surprise was that the hosts took 53 mintes to beat Roger Freestone. Once beanpole striker Dave Kitson had headed home his 11th goal of the season it was just a case of how many Cambridge would win by. Swansea, overwhelmed in mid-field and struggling to contain lively widemen Shane Tudor and Omer Riza, were stretched to the limit and rarely hinted at an equaliser, either before or after Flynn's three second-half substitutions. "They came at us all guns blazing in the second half and once again that pace has caused us problems," said Flynn, who will again seek to bring fresh blood to the Vetch this week. "We defended really well early on and even had some opportunities, so I was pleased with the way we got Tuesday out of our system. "But collectively we need to be better when teams get on top. We started to get further apart when they raised the pace and they capitalised on those gaps." Last week's gales had damaged part of the main stand at the Abbey Stadium, but those winds looked tame in comparison to the ferocity of Cambridge's early attacks. From a Tudor corner, Michael Howard sensibly kept to his far-post station to clear Paul Wanless's effort off the line before the ever-dangerous Tudor, who was tormenting Leigh De-Vulgt down Swansea's right, skipped past two defenders to send a 25-yard shot close. Luke Guttridge also drove wide as Swansea soaked up incessant pressure, but the visitors stood firm and gradually got a toehold in midfield with some neat possession. But it is glaringly obvious why no Swansea player other than James Thomas has scored since September 7. Support to the front two is slow to arrive - Brian Cash has yet to prove his worth since joining on loan from Nottingham Forest - and when it does a final telling ball is missing. At the Abbey, Swansea had a 20-minute spell in the first half where confident sides would have taken the contest by the scruff of the neck. Cambridge played a high line but, with no pressure on the ball in midfield, their square defence was a dis-aster waiting to happen. Wood's lack of pace saw the first opportunity spurned but the next two chances fell the way Swansea would have wanted - into the path of Thomas. For once, though, the big striker who held possession well throughout and looks a cut above his colleagues, did not prosper. Racing onto Freestone's huge punt with the home defence napping, Thomas poked the ball a yard wide. Then Wood set him up on the edge of the area but Shaun Marshall batted his goal-bound shot away. Had Thomas taken either opening it may have been a different story. The home crowd had began to show their frustration and Cambridge manager John Taylor was concerned enough to switch Tudor and Riza from their favoured flanks. But then came half-time and Swansea were soon in danger of drowning amid the monsoon-like conditions. Wanless hit the crossbar within 30 seconds of the restart and Freestone saved Kitson's follow-up. Cambridge, though, scored for the 20th consecutive league game when Howard backed off Tudor and Kitson beat Freestone to a cross perfectly delivered into the six-yard box. Riza, Tudor and substitute Tom Youngs all went close to further rewarding Cambridge's superiority, while Swansea could only muster a feeble chip from substitute John Williams. Thinking it couldn't get any worse, it promptly did for Swansea's beleaguered players. Trudging off soaked after their post-match warm-down was conducted in a downpour, news filtered through of wins for Carlisle and Exeter and a worrying gap above them. "Confidence is not the highest obviously but we've got a full week now (before Macclesfield) and we have to lift them," said Flynn. "Survival is the key, and every single game will be tough. But I still think we'll be OK." |
|
Monday, November 04, 2002 Smith and Swans 'fighting for future' |
| Western Mail JASON SMITH has admitted Swansea City's players are fighting for their futures after dropping to the bottom of the Football League again. The Swans are now three points from the safety zone after Carlisle and Exeter made the most of their 1-0 defeat at Cambridge on Saturday with surprise wins. Swansea showed greater character than was evident in the 4-0 home defeat to Kidderminster Harriers four days earlier, but the obvious dearth of quality in Brian Flynn's ranks has put Swansea's Football League status in peril. "The players think about that every day," said Smith. "We know what a disaster it would be if Swansea didn't have a team in the Football League. "We're determined to keep Swansea in this league and we've got to dig in. You don't think about anything else sometimes - but you've got to do it on the pitch." Smith dismissed the idea the Swansea players didn't care about the club's plight after another defeat that makes Saturday's visit of Macclesfield Town another must-win occasion. "Whatever people think, the boys are giving everything in every game," said the centre-half. "It might not look like that, but we are not the type of play-ers who give things up. "It hurts us as much as it hurts anyone else. The fans might think we don't care, but our careers are at stake. "It's the last year of our contracts, it's our lives - and if we don't do the business we don't have a job. We all want to be footballers and we know what it's like in the real world. "If we don't win, get points and move away from the bottom, then our careers are on the line. But you can't confuse a lack of effort with performance. "People can criticise my performance - I'm not bothered about that - but never my attitude, determination or effort. I will always give my all and so will the rest of the players. "We know we're down there and if we don't improve on the last 17 games there's a chance we're going to go down. We're not stupid, but we've got to pull out of it." And Smith said his experience at Swansea provided a glimmer of hope in the club's battle to beat the drop into the Nationwide Conference. "I remember in my first year here we were second from bottom and ended up in the play-offs," he added. "That's the type of thing we've got to look at. "Teams have won around us and it's not looking good, but we've just got to keep going. Hopefully, it will turn and we will get a couple of breaks. "We were better than we were on Tuesday. That was embarrassing, my worst day at the club for four and a half years. It just didn't happen for us, we were poor, they were good - one of the best sides we've seen this season. "But the boys will give everything. We seem to do well for 45 minutes, but then don't do the business in the second half. Sometimes it just doesn't go your way, but you've just got to go again. "We could have gone one or two up in the first half, but it didn't happen. We've got to add a second-half performance to the first half to hopefully get a win on Saturday." |
|
Monday, November 04, 2002 Contrasting views in this tale of two cities |
| Western Mail LENNIE LAWRENCE has promised Cardiff City will win promotion in style - just as Swansea City are fighting for their Football League lives. Three successive wins in which Cardiff have scored eight goals and conceded none have taken Lawrence's side top of the Second Division as Sam Hammam's Ninian Park revolution continues to gain momentum. By contrast, Swansea's 1-0 defeat at Cambridge United on Saturday has cut them three points adrift at the bottom of the Third Division - and Wales is now in grave danger of losing one of its three Football League clubs. With Swansea spiralling towards the Nationwide Conference, there could be three divisions next season between the two greatest rivals in Welsh football. "It's taken us a while to get to this stage, but we've got six, seven or maybe eight players who would hold their own in the First Division," said Lawrence after Peterborough were the latest opponents to be swept away at Ninian Park. "Playing at Ninian Park used to be a problem for us. But we have won the last seven at home. "Now the opposition are coming to our ground thinking, `We are not sure about this, let's get out of here with some respect'. We are going to show that you can get out of this division playing good football, the sort that the crowd at Cardiff demand. "If you do not pass the ball and end up hoofing it and not getting the results you will be heavily criticised. But I have got players who have the ability to play good football." Wins over Tranmere, Mansfield and Peterborough have not only taken City top but moved their goal difference in line with the rest of the promotion challengers. "We are getting a passing style going," said Lawrence. "We are working on this and recent results have helped. "We have only been second-best once this season - at Blackpool. We know that if we take teams for granted then we will be whacked." Meanwhile, in this modern-day tale of two cities Swansea's future gets bleaker with each passing week. Victories for fellow strugglers Carlisle and Exeter on Saturday heaped the pressure on manager Brian Flynn and his players after they drew another blank at the Abbey Stadium. "Our careers are at stake here," said Swans' defender Jason Smith. "If we go down this year we know our careers are on the line. "The players are aware what it's like in the real world - and we know that if we don't win, get points and move away from the bottom then it's going to put our careers at stake. "We're giving it our all and it hurts when we don't get results. We're trying every week and supporters can criticise our performance - but not our commitment. "We know we're down there and that if we don't on what we've done so far there is a chance we're going to go down. But we've got to pull away from it. "Teams around us have won and it's not looking good, but we've got to keep going and hopefully it will turn. "I know the fans are hurting, but it's hurting us more than anybody. It's our lives. We're in the last year of our contracts and if we don't do the business we don't have a job." |
|
Sunday, November 03, 2002 Swans fail Cambridge test |
| Wales on Sunday THE spectre of Nationwide League Conference or Mitsubishi Welsh Premiership football looms ever larger for Swansea after this latest defeat at the English seat of learning. For sheer battling qualities the Swans deserved first-class honours in Cambridge's leafy-lanes. But they failed their latest examination because of the acute dearth of pace amongst their numbers. Flame-haired David Kitson's early strike after the break condemned the Vetch side to their ninth league defeat of the campaign. Damning statistics read that sad Swansea have taken just seven from 39 points - little wonder their loyal suffering fans are now dusting off the maps to Yeovil, Chester and Barnet. And regular trips to Haverfordwest, Cwmbran and Bangor might now be a reality decided some wag in the stands seconds after the whistle. That cruel jibe was based on the FA of Wales official John Deakin's declaration that Swansea's presence in the section would be welcome if they decided against the Conference. But according to resilient Swans chief Brian Flynn, that choice will never be on the agenda, especially with more than two-thirds of this season still remaining. But Flynn's flounderers are now truly dangling over the Conference trap door after relegation rivals Carlisle and Exeter City both secured victories. Macclesfield's visit to the Vetch Field next Saturday now appears a Cup Final. But ex-Wrexham boss Flynn said cooly: "We are in a yo-yo situation so we have got to understand this will be the case over the next few months. "I have got a few options to bring in new blood - I'll be looking at this in the coming week." For this clash the Welshman recalled combative Gareth Phillips for the suspended Paul Reid, the only change in a side mauled 4-0 by Kidderminster in South Wales last Tuesday. The Swans, seeking only a second victory in 15 league and cup matches, were hell-bent on securing a first third division win on the road since a 1-0 maximum at doomed Halifax inFebruary. They opted for an adventurous 4-3-3 strategy against a Cambridge team who had hit the target in 19 previous matches - a new club record. United are the top scorers in their section and again relied on 10-goal Kitson at the cutting edge, former Oxford warhorse Paul Wanless also got a recall to midfield. Adam Tann and Danny Chilling-worth also slotted in and Swansea centre-backs Kristian O'Leary and Jason Smith were prominent in the trenches during those early exchanges. Cambridge were posing a menace in the 10th minute. Wanless speared a low left-side corner, Leigh De-Vulgt clearing Luke Guttridge's clever flick off the line. Former West Ham star Omer Riza's right-foot snap-shot had Roger Freestone stretching in interval stoppage time. But the spirited Swans held the upper hand for some of the first half. Smith had sent an early effort wide and a giant clearance by Freestone sent Thomas through but he jabbed wide of a gaping net. The visitors were moving forward again seconds later. Thomas played in ex-Manchester United trainee Jamie Wood whose drive was blocked by Angus. The tenacious Swans were belying their lowly position but Cambridge almost broke their resistance seconds into the restart. Wanless powered Terry Flemming's lopping cross against the bar. And Freestone's fingertips just managed to keep out Kitson from the rebound. But the red-haired striker, snapped up by United for nothing from non-league Arlesey Town two years ago, was beaming on 53 minutes after he rifled home from eight yards. That was tough on the Swans. Shane Tudor promised more misery as his 30-yard blockbuster drifted inches over. But Swans players faces at the final whistle told the sorry tale - their club was points adrift in the relegation zone. |
|
Saturday, November 02, 2002 Ankle injury rules out Swans' Watkin from Cambridge trip | ||
| Western Mail
Click here to go back to start page
|