Bauza the hero as Swansea City celebrate

Apr 13 2008 by Blair Wood, Wales On Sunday

SWANSEA CITY secured promotion to the Championship with a nerve-wracking win over Gillingham, yet another of their so-called bogey teams.

Victory ensured Roberto Martinez’s men will be the first Swansea team in 24 years to grace the second tier of league football.

It’s been a long wait for the club but, as their superb season draws to a close, the Swans have finally made sure their promotion dream has become a reality.

Guillem Bauza was undoubtedly the hero of the day. Two goals in as many minutes at the end of the first half overturned Dennis Oli’s early strike and capped a brilliant man-of-the match display from the Spanish striker.

Oli’s goal ensured the Swansea faithful were put through yet another tense afternoon.

But it was sheer joy as opposed to relief that took over when all was said and done.

And, while it wasn’t a vintage performance from skipper Alan Tate and Co, nobody cared as they danced around to mass chants of “We are going up.”

Swansea have earned any luck they have got this season and yesterday was no exception.

Such was the joy at securing promotion, the fact Swansea had beaten the club record of 85 points in a season went relatively unnoticed.

Ample praise for topping such a landmark will follow in due course, but make no mistake, winning promotion and setting a new record is not enough for Martinez and his squad.

And, with Carlisle losing a 3-2 thriller at Leeds, last night’s celebrations will already have turned to a strong focus on ensuring the Swans arrive in the Championship as League One champions.

With Paul Anderson and Marcos Painter making their long-awaited returns to the first XI, Martinez made three changes from the side that drew at Carlisle on Tuesday.

And, in what turned out to yet another masterstroke from the Spaniard, Bauza came in for the unlucky Febian Brandy in attack.

As they looked to secure promotion, Swansea showed plenty of promise in the opening stages. But it was actually the hosts that should have opened the scoring after 12 minutes.

Oli’s long-range effort deflected fortuitously off Tate to reach Simeon Jackson unmarked in the box.

The youngster snatched at the chance though and blazed his shot over from close range.

Swansea’s afternoon took a turn for the worse just 10 minutes later. Nicky Southall found himself in space on the right flank and, when the wingback’s cross eventually reached Oli, the big striker calmly slotted the ball past Dorus de Vries to make it 1-0.

The Gills could then have doubled their lead on two occasions in the next 10 minutes. Fortunately for Martinez and his team, neither Oli nor Wales international Andrew Crofts could keep their respective efforts on target.

With six defeats in their last eight games against Gillingham, it wasn’t looking good for the Swans. But this has been a season for overcoming hoodoos and Bauza’s double soon turned the game on its head.

Both goals followed an identical pattern; long-range efforts from Andy Robinson were spilled by Derek Stillie in the Gillingham goal and Bauza was left to knock the ball home.

The striker’s first after 44 minutes was contentious. Stillie had failed to hold onto Robinson’s shot but, as Pratley lunged in to win the rebound, referee Clive Penton could easily have given a foul against the midfielder.

He didn’t – and Bauza had the simplest of tap-ins to level the scores. The Gills’ fans and players were outraged.

But they soon felt even worse when the Spaniard grabbed his second in time added on.

Stillie was once again at fault but this time, when the ball came to the striker, it took a much better finish to make it 2-1.

The Swans didn’t deserve their lead but, having failed to get the points some of their recent performances warranted, it seemed footballing karma had decided to play a part in their promotion.

The second half ended up just a blur of Gillingham pressure followed by Swansea counter-attacks.

But there was very little in terms of actual chances.

The hosts constantly tried to push forwards but, with the Swans back four looking reasonably comfortable throughout, it was only in the final 10 minutes that de Vries had anything to worry about.

Jackson and Donovan Simmonds both had half-chances, but in the end all the nail-biting and anxiety seemed a bit over the top.

Bauza’s brace had done the damage and Swansea coasted through the second half with relative ease.

It wasn’t a great game and, upon reflection, this will rightly be remembered as the day promotion came, not the day Swansea won it.

That accolade could go to any number of superb performances this season.

And, as everyone involved with the club now contemplates life in the Championship, the players are already looking for title medals to provide the icing for their ever-so-delicious cake.

Swansea City Ratings - page 2