Swans Swim in the rain again.

Knocked out of the FA vase for this season, all Gary Flinn can do is to get the Swans higher up in the league to justify his return to Newport Pagnell Town FC. The match today looked like an easy match on paper for Flinn as they faced second from bottom Oadby Town. The Swans at the start of the match were in the upper half of the league in 8th position with quite a large gap between 8th and 7th. The rain was out in full force again making the match a little more difficult for Flinn’s side. Nothing other than a win today for the swans would do to satisfy the diminished number of home supporters who had bothered to turn out to support their team in the rain and cold.

Swans greet Oadby Town in the winter cold rain.

In the first five mins, there were no shots on goal as both sides started to slug it out on the soggy grass. The ball slithered from end to end as each side tried to get things going. Newport started to fight and win but more of the ball in the Oadby half but their dominance was far from clear as you would expect a top team playing a bottom of the league side. Was it the rain or the Swans non penetrating play the reason, as the first half moved closer to the second quarter? In the 12th minute, a first opportunity emerged for the swans as a striker receiving a long pass broke free into the Oadby penalty area. There was a lot of shirt pulling from an Oadby defender to stop the Swans capitalising which resulted in a yellow card being issued and a free kick just outside the penalty box. The free kick was deflected over the cross bar by the Oadby goalkeeper but the right corner that followed was more deadly. Douglas got a touch to the ball as the corner kick dropped in front of the goal and the Swans were one nil up in the 15th minute. In the 18th minute, a cross from the left hand side dropped down again to a inches from the Oadby goal line but this time there was no Swans striker able to connect with it and make them two ni up. Sensing blood, the Swans were able to start swimming a bit more in the rain and show some dominance as Oadby were looking now a bit deflated. Being second from bottom you need more than conceding an early goal to keep your spirits and hope up. The rain didn’t ease and neither did the pressure from Newport. In the 25th min, another dangerous pass connected with a swans striker close to the Oadby goal. A second goal looked inevitable but the shot was not decisive and Oadby were let off the hook. Another long shot at goal by the swans immediately followed but still no connection with the back of the net. In the 34th min, more Swans striker presence in the Oadby goal mouth resulted in a foul and Pickering was able to finally make it two nil from a penalty kick. Still with more rain and more dominant Swans play the floodgates started to literally open as the first half moved towards its conclusion. Another free kick following a foul in the 39th minute was awarded to Newport which looked like a rout could start. However, fortunately for Oadby nothing came of it and all they could do was hope they could get to the half time break no more scathed. However, in the 42nd minute, Jo was able to capitalise on yet another opportunity in the Oadby box and the swans were three nil up with a rout now looking a reality. Oadby needed the whistle and the changing rooms to spare them from the slaughter and thankfully for them after two mins of extra time being awarded, it came.

Local football was not doing so well for MK FC who were two nil down half time away to Tranmere and had dropped from third to sixth in the table. In the second half the swans came out looking to finish were they had last left off .

The rain stopped from the second half which may explain the more stable play:

Oadby so behind were left with little to

Fight for. The swans kept trying to extend their lead and Oadby never really looked like getting back into a match which looked like it had already been won. All the Swans could do was to extend their lead by another two goals and turn the first half rout into a final score slaughter of 5-0.