Match Report

Match Report Nigel Gigg, Pictures Andrew Thomas

After six straight wins at home, Roberto Martinez and just about every Swans fan would have expected Swans to make it seven against non League Havant and Waterlooville in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup.  

It was very much a no win game for the Swans but with the possibility of a glamour tie in Round Four Swans would have wanted a comfortable win with no sendings off, bookings or injuries.

Roberto Martinez put out a stronger team than many would have anticipated. The most worrying aspect pre game was the return of the dreadful Mr Attwell as referee just two months after his last visit against Gillingham when he totally lost control of the game.  

Side- De Vries, Amankwaah, Tate, Austin, Painter, Butler, Britton, Allen, Pratley, Robinson, Scotland. Subs- Monk, O’Leary, Orlandi, Bauza, Duffy.  

Swans started well and Andy Robinson went close as early as the third minute with a dipping shot that had H&W keeper Kevin Scriven beaten, but the ball went just wide of the post.

A minute later and after excellent work by Tom Butler and Darren Pratley, Jason Scotland had a great chance to put the Swans ahead but his right foot shot smashed against the bar.  

Referee Mr Attwell soon reminded everyone present about his incompetence, failing to deal effectively with a poor challenge by full back Justin Gregory on Andy Robinson. Just a minute later and an even worse challenge by Gregory again on Robbo was totally missed by Mr Attwell.

There was a scare for the Swans when H&W created a chance after Kevin Amankwaah went missing from the right back spot but Jamie Collins shot straight into the arms of Dorus de Vries.  

On 17 minutes Leon Britton made a great run from deep and news of his goal scoring prowess must have reached Havant as the defence stepped aside and allowed Leon a run right to the edge of the box. His left foot shot thundered off the bar and straight into the arms of the lucky Scriven.

After the bright opening Swans went somewhat off the boil. Jason Scotland was all too often left isolated and he was unable to hold the ball up long enough for midfield players to arrive.  

H&W had another chance when Kevin Austin tried to head the ball away for a corner but only succeeded to heading the ball straight on the head of Rocky Baptiste. Thankfully Baptiste had not anticipated the present and he headed wide.

Andy Robinson and Justin Gregory’s feud continued and Mr Atwell had to hold play up to lecture the pair. However, he even mishandled this, allowing Robbo and Gregory to stand toe to toe eyeballing each other with Mr Atwell’s words no doubt going in one ear and out the other. Both players continued a verbal assault on each other after Mr Atwell’s sermon had concluded.  

With H&W sitting deep it seemed strange that both Darren Pratley and Joe Allen were playing so deep. Both players like to start moves from in front of the back four and with Pratley demanding the ball constantly Allen became something of a passenger.

Despite hitting the bar twice early on Swans had failed to put enough pressure on the H&W goal and Scriven in goal had barely been called upon.  

A minute into the second half and Gregory came right through the back of Robbo and could easily have had a straight red card. Mr Atwell decided yellow was sufficient.  

Robbo dusted himself down and almost scored a few minutes later with a free kick that Scriven just got his finger tips to. That effort apart there was little improvement from the swans and on 56 minutes Daryl Duffy replaced Joe Allen.

On 61 minutes Swans hit the bar for the third time. This time it was Darren Pratley’s turn after good work from Andy Robinson and Jason Scotland.  

With 20 minutes to go Gulliem Bauza and Andrea Orlandi were waiting to come on when Swans won a free kick 5 yards outside the area. Andy Robinson floated the kick over the wall and beyond the reach of Scriven to finally put the Swans in front. The substitutions went ahead before the restart with Jason Scotland and Tom Butler making way.

On 75 minutes Mr Atwell made a dreadful  decision even by his own dire standards. Marcos Painter seemed to be brought down by, surprise, surprise, Gregory. With Painter on the floor, Gregory stamped on him, infuriating Swans fans and players. Mr Atwell gave no free kick and although speaking to Gregory, this seemed more in order to placate the crowd than anything else.  

With Mr Atwell seemingly turning a blind eye to every indiscretion  H&W it was no surprise that H&W’s other full back Brett Poate committed a dreadful two footed lunge at Andrea Orlandi that could have so easily have broken his leg. A melee developed immediately and Atwell dived in to show the red card to Poate but six or seven players were already involved in an unsightly scene. No punches seemed to be thrown but there was pushing and shoving on both sides. Mr Atwell took the opportunity to even things up by showing a red card to Alan Tate and gave Kevin Austin and H&W’s Shaun Wilkinson yellow cards.

With ten against ten the game became more open but Swans were trying hard to score a second and committing numbers forward. With four minutes to go this proved costly. A move down the Swans right should have been broken up by Kevin Amankwaah  but he was slow to react. Tony Taggert was given the freedom of the Liberty and crossed from the Swansea right. Marcos Painter and Kevin Austin could both had been guilty of ball watching allowing Rocky Baptiste to fire home from 15 yards.

Swans couldn’t get the winner in the time remaining and so we have an unwanted and unnecessary replay in all probability with the same idiot officiating.  

It really isn’t sour grapes but H&W’s physical approach did not deserve a replay. The thought of them earning money from a replay and Mr Atwell being paid to referee another of our games, well……..

The final insult, only one person was dull enough to put the Swans down for a 1-1 draw on predictascore and she now tops the table. A certain Anne Gigg and worse she’s starting to think she understands the game! 

Ratings

De Vries 6 – Not sure whether he could have done something about the goal. Never looked fully confident today.  

Amankwaah 3 - Not sure if he wasn’t interested, lacked match fitness or was just inept. Probably a combination of the three. Not likely to get many more run outs if this form continues.
Tate 6 – As captain he should have known better than to have charged into a melee.

Austin 6 – Almost gifted H&W a goal.
Painter 7 – Pick of defence.  

Butler 6- Good first half. Lacked support form Amankwaah.
Britton 7 – One of the few who could come off with his head held high.
Allen 5 – Couldn’t impose himself on Pratley let alone the game.

Pratley 6 – Way off his recent form. Sometimes wants the ball too much.
Robinson 8 – Did well not to react to the thug marking him. Excellent game.

Scotland 6 – Again some way off his best.  

Subs- 

Duffy 5 – One chance that he failed to connect with and drifted offside anyway. Confidence in bits.
Bauza 6 – Didn’t impose himself on game.
Orlandi 6 – Lucky not to be in hospital having his leg put back together after the game.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Swansea: De Vries, Austin, Tate, Painter, Amankwaah, Britton, Pratley, Robinson, Butler (Orlandi 75), Allen (Duffy 57), Scotland (Bauza 75). Subs Not Used: O'Leary, Monk.

Sent Off: Tate (80).

Booked: Austin.

Goals: Robinson 74.

Havant & Waterlooville: Scriven, Gregory, Poate, Smith, Warner, Oatway (Wilkinson 54), Harkin (Taggart 83), Collins, Potter, Pacquette (Slabber 83), Baptiste. Subs Not Used: Taylor, McEnery.

Sent Off: Poate (79).

Booked: Gregory, Wilkinson, Scriven.

Goals: Baptiste 87.

Att: 8,761

Ref: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).

Would you like your match report printed here? Email it to the site straight after the match.

Click here to return to the main page.