Planet Swans ArchivesSwansea gained a very valuable three points at Plainmoor after two second half goals from Mamady Sidibe capped a second half comeback in what was literally a game of two different halves.
Colin Addison was again forced into changes from the starting line-up that took on Rushden at the Vetch last weekend. Steve Evans came in for his debut in place of the injured Mickey Howard and Sidibe came back into the side after injury at the expense of Williams.
It was Torquay though that made all the early running although Swansea were probably seeing more of the posession. They could and maybe should have scored within 5 minutes as Brown hit the bar after Roger had parried an initial shot. But their goal was not long in coming as there were just nine minutes on the clock when Richardson was presented with a free header from the cross and he placed it past Roger to cheer up the home crowd and the travelling support of around 500 wondering why we keep giving away goals from free headers.
Swansea were struggling to make any impact in the Torquay half and despite some encouraging runs from new boy Steve Evans, they headed into the half-time break a goal down and looking unlikely to force their way back into the game.
Addison sent on Damien Lacey for Phillips at the start of the second half and Swansea started to show better football although Tyson was a couple of times guilty of wanting to take one step too many with the ball and was caught in possession too often.
Jason Smith had a goal bound effort cleared off the line early in the second half as Swansea continued to come back into the game and it was Torquay who were struggling to make inroads into the Swansea defence. The header from Smith was one of his last impressions on the game as Addison threw on Williams in place of him on the hour and reverted to a flat back four with Tyson moving out to the wing.
But it was the other wing that produced the Swans equaliser as the impressive Evans broke on the left and sent a perfect cross which Sidibe headed into the top corner with Dearden in the home goal powerless to prevent the equaliser.
With this goal, Swansea turned up the pressure and looked a different side to the one that never looked like scoring in the first half. Tyson and Evans were battering the home defence and Roger was becoming a spectator in front of the Swansea fans in his goal.
Tyson though was still taking one step too many and this is something that he will need to work on if he is to become the finished article. Sidibe’s pace was also proving a handful and when Williams nodded down a Coates cross with 10 minutes left, Sidibe turned and placed the ball past Deaden to send the travelling support wild.
It was now time for Swansea to try and hang on to the lead and they did this with some comfort, despite the five minutes of injury time that appeared from nowheere and as the final whistle blew, Swansea’s players celebrated a hard earned and deserved win.
Man of the Match is a tough one to call today. Sidibe and his two goals are naturally at the fore but, liking to be different, I am going for Steve Evans who looked the perfect left wing back and his pace, strength and determination will be a valuable addition to the squad in weeks to come.
After a disappointing first half, it was nice to see Swansea fight back and get three points at Plainmoor for the first time in 13 years and at the same time edge themselves a little bit further up the table.
The support was loud and strong today and second half the players responded to that to produce this win. More of the same next time please.
