Western Mail

Jason Scotland made his first start of the summer as Swansea eased past the team from the Eredivisie - and gave his clearest indication yet he could make a shock Charlton comeback.

Last season's top scorer had only managed a cameo 10 minutes against West Brom in all pre-season after undergoing rehabilitation from a stomach op.

But the talisman from the Trinidad gave enough signs he is ready to start the season at the Valley in three days' time with a timely return against ADO Den Haag.

It was left to Andrea Orlandi to grab the game's only goal on 37 minutes as Swansea aptly wrapped up their pre-season programme against a team named Alles Door Oefening - Everything Through Practice.

But, with the result meaning little at this late stage, and with Gorka Pintado out of Saturday with a groin strain, it was the test passed by striker Scotland that would have pleased manager Roberto Martinez the most.

Because the man whose 29 goals last term helped fire the Swans into the second tier was clearly sharp enough here to produce some of the twists and turns that brought so much success in League One.

And, though it could still be too early for Scotland to force his way into a starting berth against the Addicks, the 29-year-old should at least boost Swansea's attacking options in South London as life in the Championship begins for Martinez's men.

Scotland had started this contest in attack with Febian Brandy, the young Manchester United loanee needing the game-time to sharpen his striking skills having sat out three of the four games in Spain with an ankle sprain.

But, with Martinez insisting he viewed the fixture as a handy top-up for players still needing match minutes, it was again difficult to know what to make of his selection.

For instance, there were outings for Garry Monk and Ferrie Bodde, two almost certain starters at the Valley, while Dorus de Vries - with no sign of traillist Derek Soutar - was an obvious starter against his former side.

Yet all the players lining up at the Liberty last night would have still convinced themselves their manager has not yet fully made his mind up about his August 9 XI.

So the back four did themselves little favour when they twice found themselves breached inside the first 10 minutes, Karim Soltani failing to test de Vries from Yuri Cornelisse's cross before Soltani's centre was poorly met by Hans van de Haar.

Not that there seemed to be much panic from the hosts. After all, in many ways this was the friendliest of friendlies.

Regarded as "sister clubs" - a relationship formed through Swans director and Den Haag native John van Zweden - Swansea have built up close bonds with the green and yellows of the Netherlands.

That relationship could have easily been tested when Swansea took their best player off their hands last summer in the shape of Bodde, this pre-season contest a result of that deal.

But the vocal visiting contingent didn't appear to bear any grudges judging by the way they cheered their opponents as much as their own side.

Just as well, really, given the way Swansea proceeded to control matters after their sloppy start. A misjudged header by captain Alek Rankovic could have easily resulted in the hosts opening the scoring on 18 minutes, only for Brandy to fail to capitalise on the inroads made and Shaun MacDonald's inability to convert the follow-up.

There would be more chances, especially with the way Scotland began to ease into the old routine, one good turn allowing Orlandi the opportunity to shoot.

Scotland again lost his marker on 25 minutes, winning Orlandi a free-kick that Bodde couldn't quite glance goalwards.

But the breakthrough came eight minutes from the break when Orlandi, fed from Leon Britton, cut inside from his wide left role and drilled home.

Scotland missed a glorious chance to double the lead when he benefitted from a ricochet on the edge of the ADO area, hitting the side netting when he should have squared to an unmarked Bodde.

The tempo inevitably dropped after the interval, a fact not helped when the substitutions came around the hour mark.

And it took a curling free-kick from Orlandi to bring the first notable moment of the second half, some 22 minutes after it had started.

But it was another outing that heightened expectations around Orlandi and Brandy and MacDonald were two others who did no harm to their cases.

Indeed, MacDonald was only denied a late second when Robert Zwinkels stopped his close-range strike to keep Swansea's margin of victory to the one goal.