Newport County...2
Swansea City...1

JOHN Williams grabbed his first goal on his return to Swansea City but it was not enough as John Hollins's men were sunk by two goals in a minute in the second half.

Williams has missed the first few pre-season friendlies through injury and personal reasons but looked sharp last night as Hollins continued his search for the recipe for success.

The former Coventry man was on target after 10 minutes when he latched on to a through ball from Frenchmen Mamady Sidibe before slotting past Pat Mountain and produced 45 minutes which would have pleased his manager ahead of the new season.

Williams was dangerous in the air and linked well with his new striking partner before becoming one of a host of substitutions when Hollins changed things around at the break.

The rangy striker announced his intentions with a shot over the bar after only two minutes as Swansea pushed forward from the kick-off.

Michael Keegan fired in some dangerous crosses from the right but there were ominous signs for Swansea when Gary Shephard had a great chance but headed straight at Roger Freestone.

That was one of a number of chances the Dr Martens Premier League outfit created in the first half and the back three of Nick Cusack, Leigh De-Vulgt and Chris Todd looked slightly uncomfortable against the lively Shephard and Raith Plant.

Swansea had their chances also and Sidibe should have done better with a header from De-Vulgt's cross on 28 minutes but he could only knock the ball wide.

Four minutes later Shephard should have equalised but shot wide after a mistake in the Swansea back line had put him in the clear.

It was a satisfactory half but Hollins made five changes at the break with David Arranz, Stuart Roberts, Nicolas Mazzina, Mercos Lencina and Diego Ordonez on for the second half.

Roberts, on his return from his trial at Rotherham, looked bright and his through ball found Sidibe in space but the big striker's effort was smothered by Mountain.

Newport had made a number of changes at half-time also and one of those, Darren Ryan, found Shephard in space but once again he could not beat Freestone.

Things turned round on 67 minutes. Ryan curled in a super free-kick after substitute Bari Morgan had been pulled up for a foul on the edge of the Swansea area and a minute later Shephard was adjudged to have been fouled in the box by Todd and the former Merthyr man stepped up himself to knock the spotkick home.

Both decisions seemed harsh, but Swansea then produced their best spell as they searched for the equaliser.

Mazzina's free-kick was superbly saved by Mountain low to his right on 72 minutes, Roberts shot over two minutes later and then Sidibe missed the best chance of the game with nine minutes left.

He picked up a ball from Todd after a quick throw but saw his first-time left-foot shot go agonisingly wide.

Despite all the pressure Swansea failed to snatch an equaliser even after a last-minute goalmouth scramble.

The defeat will leave Hollins with something to think about but he must be pleased with the form of both Williams and Mazzina.

Only time will tell whether, after the pre-season juggling of players, he finds the right blend for the start of the new season. The next friendly is at Tiverton on Friday night.

SWANSEA City are calling on Spanish speaking supporters to come forward to help new boy Nicolas Mazzina settle in at Vetch Field.

Chairman Mike Lewis made the appeal after Mazzina was unveiled as Swansea's second signing of the summer yesterday.

"We would like to hear from any of our fans who can speak Spanish," he said.

"On the field, Nicolas is doing fine, but he speaks very little English and we want to help him get used to his new surroundings."

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder comes to South Wales through agent Barry McIntosh. Unfortunately, he lacks the linguistic talent of McIntosh's last product, Venezuelan goalscorer Giovanni Savarese who speaks five languages.

Mazzina's girlfriend, an English teacher back home in Argentina, is due in Swansea soon, when life will become a little easier for the former Boca Juniors youth player.

In the meantime, as John Hollins put it, he will continue ‘speaking the international language of football.'

And that prospect is a pleasing one for the Swansea boss.

"I am very pleased to welcome him to this club because I think he is going to be a very exciting player," Hollins said.

"I want people to come to see him play. Seeing him in training with the ball gives you an idea of what he is capable of.

"He understands how to manoeuvre players and to bring others into the game, plus he scores goals."

Mazzina has impressed during Swansea's pre-season matches to date and netted with a fine left-footed strike at Carmarthen last Saturday.

Indeed, according to agent McIntosh there was late interest in Mazzina from an English Premiership club.

But the Argentinian — who holds an Italian passport through his parents so needs no work permit — has opted for Swansea, signing a 12-month deal with a view to an extension.

"He was impressed by the hospitality shown to him in Swansea and with the coaching skills of John Hollins," explained McIntosh on Mazzina's behalf.

"The other players accepted him instantly, and now he is looking forward to helping Swansea win promotion back to Division Two."

SWANSEA City are set to unveil their third signing of the summer at a press conference tomorrow morning.

Manager John Hollins has given no clues as to the identity of the new face, but it is expected to be one of the four players currently on trial at Vetch Field.

"I have looked at all the players and I have made my mind up," he said.

"I know what I can afford and I always go for things I can afford. We have cut the size of the squad in order to bring in quality, which we have already done with the signing of Nicolas Mazzina."

Argentinian duo Mercos Lencina and Diego Ordonez, French striker Mamady Sidibe and Australian full-back David Arranz are all hoping to seal Swansea contracts.

Hollins insisted the return of Stuart Roberts from a fruitless trial at Rotherham United had not altered his transfer plans.

"It hasn't changed anything," he said. "I spoke to Ronnie Moore (Rotherham manager) who said he tried Stuart on the left-hand side and he felt it would not improve his squad so now Stuart is back."

Chairman Mike Lewis added: "Our feeling is at the moment that Stuart will come back to Swansea on his old contract.

"He was given a month to decide on the improved offer we made, but that has now faded out. It was not withdrawn."

The 21-year-old winger rejoined Hollins's squad for training yesterday and produced a good second-half display after coming on as a substitute in the 2-1 defeat at Newport after nearly three weeks in South Yorkshire.

Another who produced a strong half at Newport last night was Hollins's first signing of the summer John Williams.

The Midlander struck a 10th-minute opener and was delighted to be back on the scoresheet in Swansea colours.

"It's always good to score as soon as you can to settle your nerves," said Williams.

"This was my first game after an injury and some other personal problems so I am pleased to get started.

"I am raring to go and want to carry on scoring. I was pleased with the goal, I timed my run right off the shoulder of the defender and finished it well."

Williams, aged 32, said he felt it was like a homecoming to be back at Swansea again.

"This is my third time here and every time the fans and the club have made me feel welcome.

"When I got offered the chance to come back I jumped at it," he added.

Newport County 2 - 1 Swansea City

Tim Harris's team got off to the best possible start to their home pre-season programme with this defeat of Third Division Swansea City and will now look to follow that up with another home win against Shrewsbury Town tomorrow evening.

The Swans took a tenth-minute lead when John Williams, who had gone close in the game's first attack, latched on to a through ball to beat County goalkeeper Pat Mountain.

Newport had, themselves almost found the net through a Raith Plant header and another aerial effort from Gary Kemp.

Swansea's Mamady Sidibe missed a 28th-minute headed opportunity from a cross by Leigh De Vulght and, encouraged by that let off, Newport came close to equalising but Garry Shephard shot wide after 32 minutes.

Newport introduced £3,000 signing Martin Paul for the second half and the former Bath City striker immediately injected pace and venom into the attack shooting across the face of goal from the re-start and firing narrowly over the angle after 59 minutes.

Newport turned the score line around in the space of two minutes, first equalising with a Darren Ryan free-kick of Beckhamesque proportions.

That was immediately followed by a penalty from Shephard who had been felled in the area by Chris Todd.

Swansea were clearly anxious to redeem themselves and new signing Nicolas Mezzina forced Mountain into a full-length save.

The Swans' final chance was lost when the erratic Sidibe shot wide of an inviting target with just a few minutes left.

John Hollins joined his hands in prayer before Nicolas Mazzina, already hailed as "the new Ginola" by Swansea City fans, put pen to paper at the Vetch Field yesterday.

The Swans manager was visibly relieved to get the former Argentina Under-21 international under contract in the face of late interest by an undisclosed Premiership club.

"Can we get Nicolas to sign first before I say anything about him?" Hollins said at a press conference.

The 6ft 1in Mazzina speaks very little English but international agent Barry McIntosh, who recommended the strapping midfielder, confirmed a Premier club's interest.

And acting Swansea chairman Mike Lewis admitted, "We have been very busy over the weekend putting the finishing touches to what could have become a tricky situation."

Through McIntosh, Mazzina, who graduated through the same Boca Juniors Academy that produced Diego Maradona to win U-18 and U-21 recognition, said Hollins and the quality of players at the club impressed him.

"Nicolas has been playing league football in Argentina but is excited by the challenge of playing in the Nationwide League and helping Swansea try to bounce straight back to Division Two," said McIntosh.

"His girlfriend, Natalie, who teaches English in Argentina, will be joining him in West Wales shortly. There are no problems over a work permit because he has an Italian passport - his parents are both from Italy."

McIntosh reckons Mazzina could prove to be the best of the players he has helped Swansea recruit - he also discoverred strikers Walter Boyd and Giovanni Savarese.

"Nicolas has the potential to become a Premiership player but he felt it was best to start his British career at a lower level," he said.

"He has the physical and technical requirements to become an influential figure in the Third Division. And he has tremendous charisma.

"We chose Swansea because I have a good working relationship with John Hollins and Mike Lewis and Boyd and Savarese enjoyed reasonable success here."

Hollins, who regards Mazzina as a major capture, is poised to sign one of Swansea's four other trialists tomorrow.

"Nicolas is a midfield player with a powerful shot in either foot who can score goals and make them," he said.

"I didn't really have to see him play before making my decision to sign him."

Meanwhile Lewis, who bought the club from Ninth Floor plc for a £1 less than two weeks ago, said he is making headway in his moves to attract new investors to the club.

Stuart Roberts resumed training with Swansea City yesterday after his three-week trial at Rotherham United came to nothing.

Rotherham manager Moore had said at the weekend that Rotherham could not afford to make an offer for a player he valued well below Swansea's £250,000 asking price.

"It's good that Robbo is back and it won't affect my thinking as far as new signings are concerned," said manager John Hollins.

Acting-chairman Mike Lewis stressed that Swansea did not want to lose Roberts, but said their second contract offer was no longer on the table.

"Stuart had a month to decide what to do about our second offer, he didn't respond, so it faded out," said Lewis.

Swansea City manager John Hollins knows that he must soon make decisions over which of his pre-season trialists to retain for next season.

Four took part in Saturday's match at Richmond Park and, whilst each played their part, it was Argentine Nicolas Mazzina who stole the show.

The 21-year-old product of the Boca Juniors academy will this week sit down with the Vetch Field management to discuss his future, with his prospects of a permanent contract sure to be increased by his goal and his all-round performance.

West Wales traffic chaos delayed the start of the match, but even when underway, neither side created too many first-half goal-scoring opportunities.

The Swans had the best of what there were with Chris Todd guilty of putting a free header over the crossbar on 37 minutes and Mazzina forcing a full-stretch save from Rob Fitzgerald right on the stroke of half-time.

The second period was just two minutes old when the home side went in front.

Wayne Jones's corner found Neil O'Brien at the far post and the big defender powered a header against the post and into the Swansea net.

That goal saw Swansea move up a gear and on 60 minutes, Mazzina clipped the crossbar with a 25-yard dipping shot.

Two minutes later he found the net after a move that began on the left with substitute Mamady Sidibe, another of the overseas hopefuls.

The Frenchman's cross was held up by Steve Watkin until Mazzina arrived to drill the ball into the bottom corner of the goal from just inside the penalty area.

Swansea had further chances to record a victory but Fitzgerald was equal to everything that was thrown at him.

Richie Appleby, Michael Keegan and Watkin all had efforts saved and, even when Nick Cusack's last-minute effort beat him, the crossbar was there to ensure the ball stayed out.

That chance came in the final minute which also saw Carmarthen have a chance to seal a win. Manager Tomi Morgan latched on to a clearance to shoot but Swansea 'keeper Jason Jones got down well to stop his effort.

Carmarthen: Fitzgerald, Rees, Jones (W) (replaced by Fayers, 49 mins),Thomas, O'Brien, Johnston, Evans, Rossiter (replaced by Berry, 65 mins), Hicks (replaced by Morgan, 78 mins), Chapple, Meredith

Swansea: Jones (J), Todd, Howard, Phillips (replaced by Cusack, 84 mins), Ordonez, Bound (replaced by DeVulgt, 80 mins), Keegan, Mazzina (replaced by Jenkins, 70 mins), Lencina (replaced by Sidibe, 60 mins), Watkin, Appleby.

SWANSEA City's pre-season preparations received a double boost today with the signing of Nicolas Mazzina and the return of Stuart Roberts to the squad.

Argentinian midfielder Mazzina has signed a one-year deal with the club, while Roberts's proposed move to Rotherham has collapsed so he is back at Swansea on a week-to-week contract.

Roberts, 21 yesterday, had been training with the First Division new boys for nearly three weeks and played in their friendly with Mansfield, but Rotherham manager Ronnie Moore stated that Roberts's £250,000 valuation was outside their price range and the Welsh Under-21 international returned to Vetch Field.

Roberts is happy to be coming home. He said. "I never wanted to leave," said Roberts.

"I am looking forward to getting back into training with the lads.

"Rotherham was an option but as soon as the decision came from them I was happy to come back to Swansea.

"I am on a week-to-week contract now and hopefully something can be sorted out in the near future. But I just want to get back to playing with Swansea City.

"Rotherham made my mind up for me I am glad I did not have to make the choice because it would have been really hard.

"Hopefully now I can just get on with playing football and have a good season with the Swans.

Temporary chairman Mike Lewis said of Roberts's return: "I would like to welcome Robbo back into our plans for next season."

Swansea fans can savour the prospect of Roberts and new signing Mazzina lining up side by side in John Hollins's midfield next season.

Boca Juniors youth product Mazzina played for CA Kimberley in the Argentinian second division last season, scoring eight times in 29 games.

The 22-year-old was the star of the show at Aberystwyth last week and at Carmarthen on Saturday, where he scored Swansea's goal.

Former Swansea midfielder Jason Price, meanwhile, is on trial with Second Division Queen's Park Rangers.

Carmarthen Town...1
Swansea City...1

SWANSEA City new boy Nicolas Mazzina celebrated his Vetch Field contract with the equalising goal in a satisfactory draw at Carmarthen Town.

The Boca Juniors youth product fired a low 20-yard drive past Robert Fitzgerald in the 62nd minute to leave honours even at Richmond Park.

Town, without three members of their heroic Intertoto Cup side, had taken a shock lead at the start of the second half after Neil O'Brien latched on to Wayne Jones's corner.

The visitors controlled much of the game either side of O'Brien's strike and should have picked off at least one more goal from a bunch of chances towards the end.

But despite only managing a draw against League of Wales opposition, manager John Hollins was very positive about Swansea's display.

"I'm excited, I really am," he said.

"We looked solid and I liked the way we moved the ball around.

"And with the new boys coming in things looked good. Mamady (Sidibe) came on in the second half and was nice and bright, while Nicolas gives you something extra in midfield. His goal was terrific.

"Overall, it was a good work out and I am pleased. Our fans must have been very happy with what they saw."

The sizeable section of Swansea fans in the impressive crowd of 762 warmed to Mazzina en masse.

The long-haired, fleet-footed Argentinian promises to be as big a favourite with Vetch fans as those players brought to South Wales in the past by agent Barry McIntosh — Walter Boyd and Giovanni Savarese.

And should Sidibe sign this week, he will not be far behind in the popularity stakes.

The French striker charged around the field after replacing Mercos Lencina and it was only a minute after the 6ft 4in menace came on that Swansea scored.

Richie Appleby was another to cause problems while central defender Chris Todd produced another promising display.

Triallist Lencina was quiet, as was Diego Ordonez — a third Argentinian who arrived just before the game to begin a Vetch trial.

Town had new faces of their own, with Dean Johnstone and former Swan James Berry both making home debuts.

Johnstone was solid alongside Shaun Chapple in midfield on an encouraging afternoon for Tomi Morgan's side.

It could have been even better had the 44-year-old player-manager not fired a close-range shot straight at Jason Jones in the 87th minute.

But Swansea would have been very unlucky to lose, and the draw left both sides content as their pre-season preparations continue.

SWANSEA CITY could have one of their fans on the board of directors by early next season.

A working party for the new Supporters Trust meets today in the city to start thrashing out the details of their group prior to an official launch in two to four weeks' time.

New Swans owner Mike Lewis has said he would welcome a fans' representative on the board -provided they had enough cash to buy a place there.

Lewis has valued the club at £1.4 million, which means the Trust needs to raise £140,000 for a very small part ownership of the Swans.

But, reckons Mike Kent - who chaired the initial meeting that gauged interest in the Trust a couple of weeks ago - this six-figure sum is certainly within the realms of possibility.

Some 60 people have already volunteered to work with the group on drawing up a constitution, opening a bank account and other matters.

Kent, who stressed he would be stepping down as the Trust's spokesman once a formal committee had been set up, said: "At last it does appear that there is some forward movement at the club.

"Mike Lewis has valued the club at £1.4m and we can get a 10 per cent share.

"The only other thing is, is the club worth that much?

"I'm sure that the Trust want to get part-ownership of the club.

"If we can get a bit of money together, then £140,000 should not be beyond us in a month's time.

"Our aim is then to get a 51 per cent stake in Swansea City and, ultimately, 100 per cent ownership."

But he also stressed: "If we do get a war chest together, it will be supporters' money that the working party will be playing with so we have to be very careful.

"We've been accused of being anti-Swansea and stooges to the club but it's in every lower league club's interest to work with their customers.

"However, I think everyone is glad to see the back of Ninth Floor [Swansea's previous owners] and our situation is better than it was a few weeks ago.

"There was a possibility that we could have gone into receivership before the start of the season.

"There are so many rumours about Steve Hamer coming in and other people if it was going into receivership.

"But you would like to think that local business people would come in and help the club now."

Speculation about potential investors from all parts of Wales has been around since Lewis, who now has 99 per cent ownership at The Vetch, made a statement saying he was speaking to people about ploughing cash Into the side.

Lewis has promised that the Swans will trade for 12 months at least by which time the Trust themselves may be in a position to push even further forward.

Stuart Roberts returned to Swansea last night, having been told Rotherham United could not afford to sign him.

The Wales Under-21 international is expected to resume training with Swansea City on Monday though other clubs, including Stoke City, have expressed an interest.

His three-week trial with Rotherham ended without the newly-promoted First Division club making an offer.

"Swansea won't get their £250,000 asking price for Roberts. Basically the size of the fee will stop him moving on unless a club is prepared to risk going to a tribunal which is no longer conditional," said manager Ronnie Moore.

"I like Stuart. He's a sharp, two-footed young player.

"But my chairman has just told me there's no money to spend on new players, although there is talk of boardroom changes here which could alter the situation.

"Having to let Stuart go back to Swansea is frustrating for me and him. I was hoping he could do a left-sided job for us.

"But at least we have got him very fit. He's had a hard pre-season with us."

Roberts may reconsider his decision to reject a new contract offer by Swansea who play Carmarthen at Richmond Park today (2.30).

Manager John Hollins will make a further assessment of five overseas trialists with a view to offering two or three of them contracts.

Australian defender David Arranz, forwards Nicholas Mazzina and Marios Lencini, both from Argentina - and Frenchmen Mamady Sidibe and Abassi Bionaheri have impressed so far.

The Swans play Jamaica's national side at the Vetch Field on Sunday August 5, hoping for a bumper crowd.

"The Jamaicans are using our game and one against Brazil in Rio five days later to prepare for forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Honduras and Costa Rica," said Swans press officer Peter Owen.

"They were criticised for not preparing properly for recent World Cup-ties."

Striker Walter Boyd could line up against the side he helped become Third Division champions last year.