Report By Geraint Davies (CS-GAS)
The snow was slowly falling but me and my mate Stan decided to take on the weather conditions and travel the 80 plus miles to Caersws from Glynneath. Just over 2hrs of driving, which including crashing into a round a bout due to the icy conditions we finally arrived in the little village of Caersws. When we arrived the game was 10 minutes old, and as we were paying the 7 entrance fee Caersws took the lead. Me and my mate thought here to go, what a night to go and support the Swans. The crowd was around 300 strong, and provided a pleasant atmosphere that included no more than 30 Swansea fans. The pitch was very icy and hard with a light covering of snow. The wind was blowing and it felt like –10C. I bet all the Swansea players were loving this. At half time Caersws deserved their 1-0 lead. Half time: Caersws 1 Swansea 0 The Swans came out fighting in the second half and the introduction of Andy Robinson for James Thomas proved to be the catalyst for the Swans improvement. The Swans started to play some good football in the second half and it wasn't long before Andy Robinson scored a well deserved goal to make the game all level. This wasn't to last for long as for a few minutes later Caersws went back into the lead with a shot from outside the penalty box. The game slowly progressed with more Swansea pressure and within the 4 minutes of injury time being played Connolly rose highest within the penalty box and from a corner rescued the visitors, and send the match into extra time. At full time it looked like there was only going to be one winner and that was the team from South Wales. Full time: Caersws 2 Swansea 2 Both sides had chances to win the game in extra time. But a Brad Maylett cross that was steered into the path of Robinson by Connolly allowed the Swans to take the lead for the first time. Half time of Extra time: Caersws 2 Swansea 3 Nugent added another moments into the second period of extra time to give the final score line a flattering look for Swansea. The only negative point about the game was in the final minutes of extra time a Caersws player went into a challenge with Murphy the Swans keeper, while he was laying on the floor and kicked out hard at the ball. Murphy was in full control of the ball and was holding it tight against his chest when the player kicked out. The number 12 for Caersws was very lucky to get away with just a booking. This all happened moments later after previously Murphy made an excellent save from a free kick. Final Score: Caersws 2 Swansea 4
Report From BBC On Line
The Swans pulled off a shock FA Cup win against Preston at the weekend, but looked set for a taste of their own medicine against the part-timers.
Graham Evans and Chris Venables put Caesws 2-1 up, Jonathon Coates scoring for the Swans, before Connolly struck.
Andy Robinson and Kevin Nugent scored in extra time to win it for Swansea.
It was harsh on Caersws, who had looked set to emulate Newport County when they knocked Swansea out at this stage in last season's competition.
The mid-Wales side, who lie ninth in the Welsh Premier, coped better in the freezing conditions, which turned the pitch into an ice rink and made it treachourous underfoot.
Evans, the son of Caersws manager Mickey, showed why he has been attracting interest from Football League clubs with a fine opening goal after 13 minutes.
The youngster showed good pace, and excellent balance on the slippy surface, to latch onto a through-pass and slide the ball under Brian Murphy in the Swansea goal.
Murphy was soon in action again as Caersws took the game to the tentative visitors, reacting well to deny Venables.
Moments before half-time, Murphy again denied Venables, whose long drive threatened to loop in under the crossbar.
Kevin Nugent and James Thomas had made little impact up front for the Swans in the first period, so it was no surprise when manager Brian Flynn sent on Andy Robinson in Thomas' place.
Robinson, who scored the equaliser against Preston at the weekend, soon called Andy Mulliner into his first serious action of the night.
The former Connah's Quay goalkeeper couldn't keep out Coates' fierce shot 17 minutes from the end, however, after he had been set up by Nugent's knock-down.
But Caersws restored their lead within five minutes, the Swansea defence failing to deal with a long throw and Venables claimed a deserved goal.
Nugent and then Robinson, with another trademark free-kick, went close as Swansea poured forward in search of an equaliser.
Then a minute into injury time, Connolly rose highest from a corner to rescue the visitors and send the match into extra time.
Both sides had chances to win it before a Brad Maylett cross was steered into Robinson's path by Connolly, with Robinson capping a fine week with another goal.
Nugent added another moments into the second period of extra time to give the final scoreline a flattering look for Swansea.
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