Match Report

The Swans arrived in Cumbria for this re-arranged fixture, which was postponed due to snow and ice prior to Christmas, knowing that a win would just about secure a return to the Championship barring an improbable turnaround in goal difference. The high-flying Swans were literally that, arriving into Glasgow Airport from Bristol and would return the same way the following day. They definitely needed a lift after the double blow in the Cherries defeat the previous Saturday! However, the return of Painter and Anderson raised the hopes of the travelling contingent of around 450 that the squad, who look to be running on empty, could muster one last big effort to clinch promotion.

But awaiting was a resurgent Carlisle, buoyed by their victory over Yeovil on Saturday, and no doubt thinking that a win this evening would give them a good chance of not just promotion, but the title too.

The Swans starting eleven was a bit of a surprise with Tate and Austin filling the full back berths with Lawrence and the debutant Williams at centre backs. Dorus was all present and correct as expected. Midfield had a by now familiar look with Robinson and Butler flanking Leon and Pratley. The front two were Scotland and Brandy with Duffy not even on the bench but both Painter and Anderson warmed it joined by Way, Bussy and OTJ.

A lively start saw us getting the better of things in the first ten minutes but then Carlisle had a decent patch getting hold and keeping the ball better than us for a spell of 15 or so. But they never really troubled our goal although Williams had the tendency to stand off his man a bit too much for my liking and Lawrence looked like a cat on hot bricks again. Dorus made a good stop from close range after Austin was turned and left for dead on the edge of the six yard box but other than that they were limited to long range efforts.

This was a rugged affair and the Ref set his stall out early failing to flash the cards for some heavy challenges on Robbo and Brandy. He seemed determined to not send anyone off although Carlisle must count themselves lucky to have ended with eleven.

Butler had a strong and straight run towards goal ended by a typical Carlisle scything tackle. With the keeper off his line yelling for a wall the ball was played into the empty net but the Ref did not allow it of course. It was taken from the right place and very soon after the foul but the Ref obviously wanted us to know he could count to ten.

But Robbo nearly scored anyway hitting the crossbar with a fine shot which the keeper should have really got a hand on as it was down the middle. More chances followed when Scotland was played in on his left foot and he hit it first time. It was a screamer and the keeper would not have sniffed it but unfortunately it lifted over the bar.

The half ended in a bad tempered way after Brandy was hacked down yet again, this time resulting in a booking. But then Robbo crossed the width of the pitch to mouth off at the Ref, presumably complaining about similar treatment he had received, and was booked himself. If that wasn’t enough he then continued a heated battle with their defenders and had to be held off and calmed by Austin. The skirmish continued as the half ended and it looked as if something kicked off in the tunnel as the players left. We did wonder if we would still have a full team at the restart! But there was no doubt we had shaded the first half and were unlucky not to be in front.

In the second half we ran them ragged in truth. Williams looked more confident and played calmly and safely at the back and both Tate and Austin looked solid down the sides. There was the odd scare of course but all told this was a much more solid defensive performance. As the game opened up Scotland began to show more and he was combining with the lively Brandy much better. Brandy annoyed them by going down after the lightest of touches but in fairness to the boy when you are going at that pace it does not take much to bring you down. Robbo fancied his chances again and again he beat the keeper only to see it cannon back off the underside of the bar and away to safety. Not our night it seemed and so it looked when Robbo hit the woodwork yet again with a cross come shot which rolled along the top and away.

And as we secured the midfield with the excellent Britton showing more and more, we came at them in wave after wave. But lots of good possession and position was not turned into clear cut chances and the score stayed level.

Bussy replaced a tiring and limping Brandy and by now the game was helter skelter. In fairness to Carlisle they wanted to win too and the game was frantically end to end but with few chances other than when Dorus had to pull off a fine one handed save from a snap shot from 25 yards. That was as close as they came.

At the end there should only have been one winner and that was us. That did not stop the nerves of course but there were no slip ups this time and it ended goaless.
This was a fine point. At any other stage of the season this would have been close to the limit of our ambition but I fancy we might just be a little disappointed not to have sewn it up tonight.

But this was a much more gutsy, higher tempo performance than of late. Take anywhere near this sort of form to Kent on Saturday and we will be up at 5.00. Unless Donny foul up on Friday night of course in which case it could be job done.

We are going up, and on this showing going up as Champions too.

Carlisle: Westwood, Raven, Livesey, Murphy, Horwood, Dobie (Taylor 71), Grant Smith, Lumsdon, Bridge-Wilkinson, Hackney (Madine 89), Graham.
Subs Not Used: Howarth, Joyce, Arnison.

Booked: Grant Smith, Bridge-Wilkinson, Raven.

Swansea: De Vries, Tate, Williams, Lawrence, Austin, Butler (Anderson 87), Britton, Pratley, Robinson, Brandy (Bauza 74), Scotland.
Subs Not Used: Painter, Tudur-Jones, Way.

Booked: Robinson, Bauza, Scotland.

Att: 10,623

Ref: Steve Tanner (Somerset).

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