Venue: Westlands Sports Ground, Yeovil
Sat 16th August 2003, 11.00am kick-off.

Scorers: Shaun Macdonald (72 mins, 0-1)

Attendance: 45

Referee: Mr B Roberts.

Assistant Refs: Mr N Clarke and Mr P Locke

Bookings:
Yeovil: None
Swansea: None.

Line up : Danny Barker, Ross Plain, Jamie Price, James Underwood, Andy Holmes, Luke Clennell ( Dar Kewley 62 mins ), James Ansell, Richard Cullingford, Rob Platt ( Kevin Betlem 62 mins ), Brad Bryant ( Shane Adcockcase 82 mins ), Andy Martin. Sub not used : Tom Warren.

Swansea City: Kyle Letheren, Darryl Tippings, Liam Kenna, Liam Preece, Robert Thomas, Shaun MacDonald, Luke Bowen, Matthew Thompson, Lewis Powell, Stecen Macnabney, Michael Jones. Sub not used : Liam Powell.

An unpublicised change of venue from Huish Park caused this reporter to arrive 10 minutes late for the Youth’s team debut in the Under-17s League. On my arrival Yeovil appeared to just have the edge in possession, and during the next 15 minutes the Glovers had a number of chances created by their front trio of Cullingford, Platt and Bryant. The standard of football by both sides was impressive, the ball being pushed around confidently on the ground with only an occasional hoof down the field.

From the half hour play evened up, with fast breaks by both sides. Bryant’s spinning turn and quick pass sent Platt free behind by the Swansea defence in the 36th minute and only a diving save by Letheren kept Yeovil off the score sheet. Almost immediately Thompson rattled a fierce drive off the crossbar at the other end. The rebound passed up the field and saw Cullingford one on one with the Swansea keeper, but the angle was too sharp to convert the opportunity. At the other end another fine effort by Thompson forced a save from Barker. Runs by Clennell and Cullingford ended with shots just wide, and Macnabney finished the half with a drive just outside of the upright.

Swansea restarted after the break with a 10-minute blitz. Powell ended up in a heap in the penalty area after a collision with 2 Yeovil players, but not a single cry of ‘Penalty’ was heard, such was the sporting atmosphere of this game. The Glovers’ defence held, and from the hour play was again evenly matched, Yeovil having perhaps the better chances but not converting them, Swansea having less possession but making more of it through their determination and commitment.

The Glovers should have scored in the 66th minute, after Bryant and Betlem had made an opportunity that was brilliantly stopped by Letheren, ending with a goalmouth melee in which just about every green shirt had a go, the ball ricocheting off countless knees, shins, backsides and feet. But it was Swansea who converted their own chance in a similar melee in the Yeovil goalmouth a few minutes later to take the lead, Shaun MacDonald slotting the ball past a prostrate Barker to score the only goal of the game.

Yeovil applied pressure until the end, Bryant and Betlem creating several chances including another goalmouth melee in the 81st minute. Cullingford, Underwood and Ansell each had chances in the last 10 minutes, but Swansea held firm around the commanding Macdonald to retain their lead at full time.

Tony Elbourn

Back to Top of Page