We set out for Sunderland not knowing what team we would be able to field. Then, to crown it all, only five hours before the kick-off John Swannell slipped and hurt his back to become another doubtful starter.

Sunderland officials placed their medical room and ground at our disposal. Intense heat treatment and fitness tests to our injured followed with the result that Roy Drake and Danny Lakey were ruled out.

Our plan was to snatch an early lead and then to contain the opposition. The result proved the plan succeeded and though we do not like to win matches this way our style of play was dictated by our inability to field an attacking side, the type of game we have endeavoured to adopt all season.

We must give credit to the players for adapting themselves so well and are sure that the rest of the team will agree special mention should be made of the younger members, Micky Cooper and Dave Shacklock for their composure under almost constant pressure and to skipper Bobby Cantwell, Roy Sleap and Dave Hyde for their encouragement. What pleases us was that this was a team effort.

But the match of the match was undoubtedly John Swannell and his display will be talked about whenever the game is recalled. This certainly was John's "finest hour" and his save in the dying seconds of the game was nothing less than sensational.

A rocket drive of some 30 yards looked all the way a winner as it careered to the far top angle of the goal, but John, with a superhuman effort flung himself full stretch and fingered the ball over the bar for a corner.

Geoff Riddy's opening goal in the first minute of the game alone was worth the journey, Roy Sleap added before Tony Knox replied with a penalty.

The second period was played a tremendous pace without further addition to the score.