Supporters' views - & player reactions

What a sickener. A match which I thought we dominated without creating too many clear cut chances was cruelly lost in injury time. I thought the referee had a good game but I wonder if his decision to move the ball a yard for the fateful kick, AFTER Roger had lined up the wall, was a contributory factor. Still it could have been worse - we could have gone down to C*rdiff there in a similar fashion - and that would have been the end of the world.

I wonder what next season will bring? New owners, new players? Will Molby be here? Will our youngsters get snapped up by bigger clubs? They certainly didn't harm their chances of this on yesterday's performance.

I'm already looking forward to the Chester and C*rdiff matches next season - can't wait.

I suppose the most poignant reminder of the day was at the end of the shock, strolling forlornly to the exits, a steward turned to me and, pointing to the delirious Cobbler multitude, said: "That's the first time we've 'eard the fuckers. You lot kept them quiet. Never mind, mate, shit happens in fuckin' bucketfulls"

I agree we were robbed. If I saw that referee, I would ask him the following questions.

1. Where did the 3 minutes of injury time come from in the second-half.
2. Why did you order for the free-kick to be retaken.
3. Why did you tell Frain to replace the ball at least three yards from the original spot.

Never mind, we'll go up as champions next season or at least finish second or third.

Richard Major (RMajor@compuserve.com):

I think we would have won had Molby not played.

There you go. I've said it now.

Molby was highly ineffective for most of the game - I can only remember one telling pass from him over 90 minutes and that was only 5 minutes in when Heggs had his shot tipped over the bar. The only memories I have are of him losing possession or just slowing the game down. Swansea's strength at Chester was that our pace completely overpowered them...this just didn't happen at Wembley.

I accept that most of the team played below their best but I think Molby's inclusion was the crucial factor.

Mind you, I haven't watched the video of the game yet and when I finally get around to watching it I might change my mind. In the meantime, call me a tosser if you think I'm wrong!

Okay the numbness has begun to subside so we're feeling brave enough to face the world again (but not too many Peterborough supporters!)

Just a few details from our particular day yesterday...

We arrived at Stanmore tube station to find we were the only car not displaying claret and white ribbons and proudly strutted along to buy our tickets, wearing our colours and getting a lot of abuse from a couple of 5 year olds (the fairweather cobblers were out in force and did not know how to abuse us!!). Imagine the anxiety when we got to the front of the automatic ticket machine queue ... and it broke down, thus thoroughly p***ing off about 500 Cobblers (Oh dear!)

We were slightly cheered by a group of cobblers fans singing "Cheer up Barry Fry..."etc and we had to agree with them on that one.

We made our way to our seats and were greatly impressed with the rendition of Calon Lan going on in the concourse, good on you lads! This out singing continued throughout the entire game.

No need to comment on the game or the total feeling of unfairness but thats life and football I suppose (doesn't mean we have to like it!) Several neutrals who watched it on Sky commented to us today that "we were robbed!"

There is no blame on any of the players, Coates included. You couldn't help feeling so sorry for them all as well at the end - they were devastated and had played really hard - it just didnt work out for them! Molby had to play - who else could have shown such experience and settled the players down?

The journey back to the car was weird - a train full of Cobblers and us! They were very subdued - we began to think we'd got it wrong and we'd really won!

The ultimate irony - went into a pub in Peterborough this evening to drown our sorrows, only to find it was quiz night. Q17 was "who scored the winning goal for Northampton in yesterdays playoff at Wembley?" - we actually weren't sure of the answer but the quiz master was nearly lynched!

Oh well, hope the new consortium were impressed with the support and the teams dedication - look forward to that. Division champions next year - and please a couple of good stuffings for Fat Barry and the boys thrown in for good measure!
See you all next season,

Well the numbness has gone slightly, i am a lot soberer, but still very bitter!

Having digested the events of Saturday, i can only agree that if Molby hadnt played we would have won. But saying that, if Chapple had played we would have probably lost again! Putting Dai Penney at right-back was the wrong decision. I am sure that between Moreira, Walker, Edwards and Willer they could have organised a back 4 with Ampadu and Penney in the middle.

Anyway, its in the past now. I still think Molby is the man to take us up a couple of divisions, starting with automatic promotion next season. I just wish that we didnt have to go to scunthorpe again!

hello all you happy jacks

i remember looking at the wembly clock (90 mins)as the englishman prepared to have his second bite at the apple right in front the beckoning goal. i turned and, as an aside, said to a new found friend, from the penlan area of swansea, "imagine if they scored right now" or something in that vein.

the rest is history

in the instant following the tragedy the whole day seemed to zoom in, to compress and focus on what has to be the most unbearable and poignant moment in the swans' history. as far as i'm concerned any way. the little mind photos stick in the memory. someone with his head in his hands, the throwing down of a flag (me) and the massed northampton glee compared to the individual agony of the mostly seated (collapsed) swansea players.

it was a long trudge back up the steps and back to the coach. nobody (including me) seemed to want to talk much. I did remark that,"it could have been worse," "it could have been cardiff scoring that goal," fate spared us that sad end to a remarkable year or so. but this finale was not much less cruel.

on the way home i was consoled a little by the thought that if in the swans' position, with a goal blasted in in the last seconds like that, the welsh joy would been no less fervent and the english despair no less deep.

i eagerly await the constructive valid debate to follow from our friends on the net who give allegiance to cardiff f.c.

As M People blasted out 'Move It On Up' to 31,000 frantic Northampton fans, the 'Big M'- Jan Molby - trudged a lonely path around the Wembley track.

Having joined the rest of his side in clapping their appreciation to the Swans faithful, Molby left the wake to make his own sad journey back to the solitude of the Wembley dressing room.

A lonely figure way out in front of the Swansea pack, Molby, having donned a Swansea cap like a broken-hearted schoolboy, looked one dejected individual.

"Wembley is no place for losers" declared Molby in the pre-match build-up. He had learned that from his own experiences with mighty Liverpool. Now, for the first time, the rest of his Third Division squad knew exactly what he meant.

A day which had started with the same pomp and ceremony which befits FA Cup final day had ended with a funeral march.

Swansea's loyal support, standing at a slightly disappointing 14,000, left Wembley with a tear in their eye - but also safe in the knowledge that their respect was intact. Their side had outplayed the opposition and they had also outsung a Northampton contingent who had outnumbered them by more than two-to-one.

"Northampton may have brought the whole town with them, but by the sound of the singing it was Swansea who brought the true football fans," commented a knowing Wembley spokesman afterwards.

"They are still the same fans then," added former Swans full-back Steve Jenkins. "They were superb."

"You couldn't hear Northampton," chipped in Andrew Legg on a last escape before his wedding in a fortnight's time.

"They used to sing like that or me you know," joked ex-skipper John Cornforth - and Legg's best man.

John Hartson was there as well. He'd been seen shouting for his favourite club. But the Jack Army had already dragged him off to the nearest pub, and he's never been one to complain!

The only thing missing from the whole experience was the taste of victory and positive news, even a rumour, of a Vetch Field takeover.

Molby had finished his own walk past the Swansea contingent. It took him deep into Northampton territory and the Swansea manager remembered exactly what a Wembley victory felt like - even if it was for those sporting the colours of the opposition.

Hands aloft, Molby applauded the Northampton masses. The masses applauded Molby. It was a tribute which summed up Molby as one of the games most respected players and football ambassadors.

Now it's time to give him the financial support to propel Swansea City and his own managerial career onto that same plain.

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