Swans Hammered
Saturday, 25th Aug 2001 00:00

Lincoln City 3-0 Swansea City


FULL TIME REPORT
LINCOLN CITY	3	v	0	SWANSEA CITY

The worrying aspect was that Lincoln were nothing special, it was more to do with us being so poor.

However at the start of play the 3-0 scoreline looked far from likely as the Swans started the brighter and with Sidibe and Watkin connecting up well upfront, allowing the midfield to flood through, but as always the shots were from long distance and well off target. Lincoln looked no better going forward either with O'Leary and Todd dominating Lincoln's forwards.

Watkin left the field with what appeared to be a strain after 10 minutes to be replaced by John Williams. Then the heavens opened, and when I mean it was raining, it was coming down by the bucket with sheet lighting and thunder to boot which I'm sure was Howard's excuse when he blazed a shot from 15 yards high and wide. The conditions made playing decent football almost impossible and a long stalemate endured with little to no action and neither side looked to threaten.

Lincoln however had a spate of corners and from a resulting clearance which was scuffed by Howard and fell to Freestone who duly picked it up, it was such an obvious scuff it was hard to believe the referee awarded an indirect freekick 3 yards from the Swans goal-line. The siege was held (eventually!) and the normal lack of goalmouth activity was resumed until half time. The best chance of the half came from Argentinean Mazzina when another of those long range shots screamed past the post with the keeper stranded.

As usual Hollins' half-time friendly chat sent the team to sleep and the Imp's were eager to capitalise and they did on 50 minutes. Some concerted pressure down the right wing sucked all the Swans defence in and with a great switch ball left the Imps wing with acres of space down the left wing, and with a great cross and the Swans defence in six's and seven's the Imp striker couldn't miss with poor old Freestone left with no protection.

Now I must apologise to any Lincoln fans reading this match report but I couldn't remember half the chances you had in the 2nd half as you had too many!

The slippery pitch was causing a lot of mistakes from both sides, but with Lincoln happy to retain possession they looked a lot more comfortable on the ball and as the Swans frustration started to tell. With ease they got sucked in and Lincoln played some good balls in and forcing O'Leary & Todd to turn causing them no end of problems.

Another chance from Lincoln forced an excellent save by Freestone only for it to fall in front of goal. A race between Todd and ex-Welsh international Kingsley Black endured, which Todd managed to win & to force it wide but then foolishly pulled down Black and the penalty was awarded and converted despite Freestone getting a hand to the ball.

Hollins decided to switch to a 4-3-3 formation taking Mazzina off for Keegan, pushing Stu Roberts upfront, but this was even less effective as aimless balls rained forward and nearly every 50:50 ball was lost. Lincoln took full control and was making a mockery of our defence and the final nail was put in the coffin when Todd slipped leaving poor old Roger in a one on one situation with an Imp striker who coolly finished with Roger in no-mans land.

With the win complete Lincoln sat on the ball and frustrated the Swans forcing them into some foolish fouls with Howard and O'Leary both booked for silly challenges. In the meantime Lincoln could easily have scored 3 or 4 more with some easy chances spurned.

The Swans rarely threatened the Imps goal but Sidibe was unlucky when he was manhandled down in the box with the linesman flagging for a penalty the referee ignored the 150 travelling support's pleas for a small compensation for the long journey ahead. Sidibe almost scored with a spectacular overhead bicycle kick, which just went wide after a Williams's header went just wide.

I know there are always a few strange results at the beginning of the season, but I hope to God that the 3-1 win up at Macclesfield was more the norm than the exception as this performance ranks as one of the poorest I've seen in a while and that includes last seasons desperation!