Abergavenny -1

Swansea University - 4

ALTHOUGH Abergavenny slumped to yet another defeat at the hands of Swansea University, for the neutral observer, entertainment was the order of the day.

Abergavenny are struggling in this division and despite playing well, they have yet to win a game. However, team confidence remains high as does morale.

This week saw Aber make a further several changes, with youngsters Issac Pritchard and Alex Morgan in defence, with a recalled Huw Davies, Chris Bu and Alex Mac all contributing to bring the average age of the team down a little.

Dilwyn Thomas made a start at left midfield, and Tom O' Leary started as a lone attacking player.

Abergavenny got off to a good start, hassling the Swansea team from the off, and forced errors and poor passes from the visitors.

Nevertheless, it was Swansea that drew first blood, a questionable umpiring decision allowing the students a free hit just outside the D.

Despite touching a Swansea foot, the hard shot was touched past the 'keeper into the net.

It wasn't long before Swansea scored again, this time a piece of poor marking from left back Geraint Davies, allowed the visitors in unopposed on the right post, for an easy goal.

Frustrated, Abergavenny then went back up the pitch and scored one of their own through O' Leary, in a good piece of pass and move hockey.

In fact, it was pass and move hockey that dominated the game, with both side playing excellent hockey, with very little to chose between the sides.

Abergavenny had further chances through O' Leary, Alex Mac, and Huw Davies, as did Swansea, though excellent defence by Pritchard and Morgan in particular saw many of the shots either ending as easy saves for the 'keeper, or more often than not, as clean interceptions.

Davies made up for his previous error, with controlled play in difficult circumstances, and Meredith's tackling, while perhaps not par to normal, was made up for in its enthusiasm and aggression.

Going into the second half, vice captain Peter Hewinson's message was to keep things going. Unfortunately, soon after, an over zealous tackle on the edge of the D led to a Swans short corner.

The subsequent stop was stopped on the line by Davies, but the rebound was too strong, allowing the visitors to pounce and make it 3-1.

Abergavenny continued to make good chances. A strong cross passed two metres in front of an open goal, Hewinson's claim for a short corner or penalty flick was turned down when his arial ball was scooped out of the sky by a Swansea stick, and both Kevin Phillips and Dilwyn Thomas created openings for themselves in the D but lacked the composure to put the ball in the net.

With Abergavenny getting tired, Swansea were finally able to score a final goal of their own, after both Pete Hewinson and Davies were judged to have fouled the opposition midfielder. Swansea made no mistake, and slammed home to make the score an unflattering 4-1.

Abergavenny have much to take from this game. Against fast and nimble opposition, they played a good pass and move game, getting into good positions, and creating many chances. Defence in the most part played well, with good composure on the ball, and the ability to run the ball from the back line to create an opportunity in midfield.

However, the town team are also relying overly much on the long hard ball from the back, and at this level, this tactic, while a required spanner in the toolbox, is certainly not the answer to all woes.

Next week, Abergavenny travel to Swansea, for a game against the higher city side. Swansea have had a poor run of results recently, so if Abergavenny continue with the good work, a result may yet be on the cards.