Issue 150

9-man UWS take victory

04th December 2006

Swansea secured another vital win amid a wave of controversy at Sketty as two players were dismissed in their 2-1 victory over Hertfordshire. Captain Tom Hopper's message before the game was that this was make-or-break for Swansea's season. Victory would lift them 3 points clear of their opposition, defeat would leave them firmly at the foot of the table.

Hertfordshire had the better of the opening exchanges as they looked to spread the ball wide to their pacy wingers. Swansea's dogged midfield, however, restricted them to a couple of harmless long-range efforts.

As the half wore on Swansea began to get into the game and their forward pairing began to click. Richard Ryan and Vinny Wattleworth started to get on the ball and create a number of chances. First Ryan broke free down the left, cutting inside and producing a good save from the Hertfordshire goalkeeper. Then Wattleworth collected a sublime through ball from Tom Hopper and rounded the keeper, but his effort was cleared off the line.

It was not long before Swansea made their pressure count. Wattleworth crossed to Ryan on the left edge of the area where he took his time, controlling and jinking inside, before placing the ball perfectly inside the far post.

Swansea were beginning to show their class and within two minutes they were two goals to the good. The Hertfordshire defence were caught napping by Chris Wells' quick free kick, which found Ryan. He turned inside the box and curled another shot over the stranded Hertfordshire keeper.

The front two were at it again minutes later as Wattleworth collected the ball wide on the left and put over a delicious ball for Ryan, but he spurned his chance of a hat-trick, volleying over from 15 yards.

Hertfordshire almost grabbed a goal back as they troubled the Swansea defence from a number of corners late in the half, hitting the bar direct from one, and heading over unmarked from another. Swansea, though, finished the half strongly, Wattleworth and Ryan going close again before the interval.

At half time Swansea were cruising and beginning to play some attractive football. Whilst Hertfordshire looked dangerous when they spread the ball wide, they were being over-run in the middle of the park as Hopper and Wells looked to stamp their authority on the game. But it was Wattleworth and Ryan that were the stars of the show, running with pace and power, and showing some neat touches.

Swansea started the second half the stronger side, creating more chances through Hopper and Wattleworth. Hertfordshire struggled to create any clear-cut chances and were once again restricted to long-range efforts.

Then came two minutes of madness that changed the game. Whilst Swansea were preparing to take a corner, an off the ball incident appeared to have caught the eye of the assistant referee. After consulting him, the referee proceeded to dismiss Swansea striker Richard Ryan for what was later confirmed by the officials as "foul and abusive language to the assistant". Swansea, somewhat shell-shocked, found themselves defending a free kick deep in their own half a minute later, when the referee was called over by the assistant at the other end. The referee then called over Swansea's Chris Wells and he was red carded for the same reason as Ryan.

Swansea, down to nine men with 20 minutes still to play, were up against it. Hertfordshire poured forward in numbers and were queuing up to score when a heavy challenge brought a penalty appeal that was turned down. They made the two-man advantage count in the 88th minute as they forced home a scrappy goal from a corner.

Swansea dug deep but Hertfordshire kept coming forward. In the 5th minute of stoppage-time, another corner was half-cleared and the Hertfordshire midfielder tried an audacious bicycle-kick, but his effort went wide and Swansea were home and dry.

Swansea will be delighted with their victory, and with their performance as they secured a much-needed, vital win. Captain Tom Hopper reiterated this, and was particularly pleased with "the great character the boys showed to hold on with nine men". He was, however, critical of the refereeing, claiming the red cards were "harsh". Hopper will, though, be happy with his side's overall performance, his strike pairing of Wattleworth and Ryan who ran the show, and his players dogged determination to hold out for an impressive win.

This leaves the Swansea side in fourth place of the Mens Premier division south with three fixtures left. They are only 4 points behind the two teams above them, Bath and Brunel, so there is still a decent chance of them finishing in the top two of the division if results go thier way.

Tom Mooney