Swansea 2 Scunthorpe 2
Tuesday, 26th Feb 2002 00:00

Mumford Strike Makes A Point

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Colin Addison made two changes from the side that started against Halifax at the weekend, bringing back into the side Mumford and Cusack from suspension and letting Lacey and O'Leary drop to the bench.

Freestone

Phillips Todd Mumford Sharp Howard

Coates Cusack Brodie

Sidibe Watkin

It was a dire first half with Swansea lacking ideas and Scunthorpe little better as goal chances in the first half hour were non existent. Much of the play was in midfield and Swansea played into Scunthorpe's hands with high balls and little play on the floor in difficult conditions.

But the game got going after 30 minutes as a corner from in front of the Jewson stand was headed in at the near post by Alex Calvo-Garcia with Swansea's defence looking poor at marking the corner. It was a simple goal and one that possibly shouldn't have happened had we marked the near post properly.

But the goal seemed to push a little more into Swansea although the equaliser when it arrived was still their only meaningful attempt at goal during the first half. Howard played a cross in from the left and with many of the crowd groaning that the cross was too deep Phillips came in at the back of the area and planted a perfect volley into the corner of the net to bring Swansea level. Whether Howard meant to make the cross so deep is open for debate but the finish from Phillips was top drawer and sent the sides in at half time level in a game that at that stage possibly merited a 0-0 scoreline.

Addison started the second half by bringing on Williams for the ineffective Brodie and again it seemed that this was the change that put a different perspective on the game. Swansea looked more dangerous in the attack and playing into the gale force wind seemed to have more confidence going forward.

This led to the second half being much more entertaining than the first with Swansea several times spurning chances to take the lead. Gareth Phillips picked up a loose ball and fired in a shot on the hour only to see the keeper deflect the ball over the crossbar but the most glaring chance of the second half fell to Sidibe who found himself on a one on one situation before rounding the keeper but then seeing his ball across the area deflected away before Watkin could reach the ball sliding in.

Sidibe also missed a chance from a corner with a header that looped over the bar as did Sharp as Swansea were starting to look the side most likely to take the three points away with them. Scunthorpe's best chance of the half fell to former player Steve Torpey who fell flat on his arse when a ball that Mumford should have cleared fell to him much to the delight of the Swansea faithful, down again at just over 3,000.

As the clock seemed to be running out and the game was heading towards a 1-1 stalemate a Scunthorpe corner from Swansea's left was floated into the front post and Qualiey standing in front of Roger managed to deflect the goal in for an almost carbon copy of their first goal.

A Scunthorpe win was the only possible outcome now surely as the fourth official held up the board for three minutes of stoppage time just as Sidibe had his own chance at the near post from a corner that he was unable to push towards the Scunthorpe goal.

But in the final minute the referee gave Swansea a free-kick in a central position 30 yards from goal and Mumford stepped up just as a certain Mr Beckham had done for England against Greece back in October. Mumford's free kick was perfect and as the ball hit the back of the net, the Llanelli man was already on his way to the North Bank to acknowledge the remaining spectators who had elected to stay and watch the game to the bitter end.

Brian Law in true unsporting fashion decided to confront the referee at the final whistle and if there was ever one football manager it was nice to get one over on, this is the man. Where was that flag tonight then Brian?

A draw in the end was probably the fair result although Colin Addison will be worried by the marking at the two corners that led to their goals. Five games unbeaten now for the Swans, a sixth against Hull on Friday will do very nicely thank you.

My man of the match was going to Mumford before his goal, the equaliser just confirmed that opinion.

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