Lucky Swans Fight Back For Point


By Martin Williams 4/10/03
October 4 2003

Swansea City lost their 100% home record after drawing 2-2 with Lincoln City at The Vetch Field today. In a rare poor display from Brian Flynn's side the goals came through Andy Robinson and an own goal from Ben Futcher, demonstrating Swansea's luck today.

 Swansea City 2
Lincoln City 2
Saturday 4th October 2003 Football League Division Three
The Vetch Field Attendance: 7,914
Referee: M Evans
Andy Robinson (17) Richard Butcher (11)
Ben Futcher (OG 74) Paul Mayo (pen 15)
No. Pos. Player Rating
1 GK Roger Freestone

4
3 LB Michael Howard

6
2 RB Richard Duffy (off 72)

4
22 CD Izzy Iriekpen

8
4 CD Kristian O'Leary

7
7 RW Leon Britton 6
25 CM Mark Wilson 6
11 CM Lenny Johnrose 6
18 LW Andy Robinson 8
8 ST Kevin Nugent (c) 6
10 ST Lee Trundle 7
    Subs  
2 RW Lee Jenkins (on 72) 5
No. Player
1 Alan Marriot
2 Mark Bailey
3 Paul Mayo
4 Ben Futcher
5 Paul Morgan
8 Richard Butcher
11 Peter Gain
15 Simon Weaver
26 Richard Liburd
27 Gary Fletcher (off 77)
28 Marcus Richardson
  Subs
14 Matthew Bloomer (on 77)
Subs Not Used: Murphy, Smith, Pritchard, R Jones. Subs Not Used: Wattley, Willis, Green, May.
Yellow Cards: Kevin Nugent (39), Lee Trundle (39). Yellow Cards: Richard Butcher (56), Ben Futcher (60), Paul Mayo (67), Peter Gain (69).
Red Cards: None Red Cards: Paul Mayo (69)
Swansea City lost their 100% home record after drawing 2-2 with Lincoln City at The Vetch Field today. In a rare poor display from Brian Flynn's side the goals came through Andy Robinson and an own goal from Ben Futcher, demonstrating Swansea's luck today.

Lincoln found themselves 2-0 up after the first quarter of an hour without really creating anything. Richard Butcher had put the Imps 1-0 up on 11 minutes after Roger Freestone's complete miss-kick from a goal kick fell to the feet of a Lincoln player. In the scramble that followed Butcher managed to slot the ball home from close range.

Richard Duffy then stupidly handled the ball inside the area when the ball was going across him. Roger Freestone got a hand to Paul Mayo's penalty but it was not strong enough to keep the striker's shot out.

Swansea then played one of their few decent footballing moves of the day that resulted in Andy Robinson scoring a superb goal from outside the box. The Liverpool born player smashed the ball into the bottom corner.

But Swansea rode their luck again just before half time. Roger Freestone had gone to collect Mark Bailey's free kick near the goal line, but the former Chelsea keeper let the ball float over his head looking for a goal kick. Little did he know that Ben Futcher was lurching behind him and his header was cleared of the line by Kristian O'Leary.

HALF TIME: SWANSEA CITY 1-2 LINCOLN CITY

Brian Flynn had clearly said something to inspire the Swans at half time. While not playing like we have come to know them this season, the players looked ready to do battle during the second period.

Their chances of getting an equaliser were boosted when Paul Mayo was sent off for two yellow cards on 69 minutes after colliding with Leon Britton twice in two minutes. That makes it an incredible six players sent off for opposition teams at The Vetch this season in the same number of games.

Five minutes later the equaliser came when Andy Robinson released Lee Trundle. His powerful shot across the face of goal was deflected in by defender Ben Futcher.

Andy Robinson came very close to winning it for the Swans late on in the game but his effort flew just over the bar.

FULL TIME: SWANSEA CITY 2-2 LINCOLN CITY

Two points dropped by the Swans today and the 100% home record gone. In the league table, Swansea still occupy an automatic promotion slot but have slipped from 2nd to 3rd behind Hull and Mansfield.

swansfootballclub.co.uk