Goal-den Heggs puts Swans on the boil

Super-sub Carl Heggs breathed life into Swansea City's faltering play-off hopes with a second-half double strike to steer his team to a vital win over Mansfield Town.

Mansfield attacked from the first whistle, twice going close within the first 30 seconds.

Timely tackles by Chris Edwards and Thomas Hiller on Mansfield's Steve Harper and Stewart Hadley spared Swansea's blushes.

Mansfield goalkeeper Ian Bowling was forced to head clear outside his penalty area when a Jan Molby pass put wideman Jonathan Coates in on the Mansfield goal.

Mansfield's willingness to attack Swansea from all parts of the pitch paid off in the 18th minute.

Darrell Clarke raced away on the left and cut inside to release a right foot shot that cannoned off the near upright.

The ball rebounded to fullback Tony Ford who smashed a low drive past Swansea's helpless goalkeeper Roger Freestone from six yards .

But the visitors struck back in 60 seconds with Dai Thomas' ninth goal of the season.

Mansfield restored their lead just two minutes after the interval when central defender Scott Eustace headed in a corner.

Substitute Heggs, on for Willer, struck within six minutes of arriving on the scene.

He was perfectly placed to meet Steve Jones' right wing cross to steer the ball in.

There was nothing soft about Heggs' second goal that gave Swansea a 72nd- minute lead.

Coates made ground on the right and Heggs met his bouncing cross with a volley that sent the Swansea fans into raptures.

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