Memory Match – Number Eighteen
7th FEBRUARY 2004
Match – Swansea City 1-2 Torquay United
Competition – Division Three
Venue – Vetch Field
Attendance – 7,323
Swansea City are now an established Premiership side, but twelve years ago the Welsh team were in Division Three and hosted a promotion chasing United team led by manager Leroy Rosenior.
The Gulls had been flying, with three wins on the bounce including a 4-1 win over Macclesfield. Rosenior made one change, bringing in Martin Gritton for Jo Kuffour who had suffered a knock in the previous game.
Torquay started very well and it wasn’t long before they took a deserved lead. A poor header from Howard was intercepted by David Graham, and the striker cut inside a defender before beating goalkeeper Freestone from 10 yards out. It was a typically classy finish from the Scotsman.
United continued to be the better team in the first half, playing patient possession football that had become our trademark with Russell and Fowler pulling the strings in midfield. Unfortunately they could not double the lead, with Hockley coming closest after clever work from Fowler.
After half time the home team improved, and it took an excellent save from experienced stopper Kevin Dearden to deny a Thomas volley. However, with ten minutes to play Nugent found space in the box and squeezed a shot past Dearden for the equaliser.
This Torquay team were no pushovers, and reacted positively to the goal – with centre back Taylor unlucky not to score with a header. Kuffour had come on as sub, and it was the skilful attacker who would score the winner. The youngster gathered the ball in the box and cleverly jinked past a defender before hitting an unstoppable shot past Freestone.
Kuffour had not trained all week but was able to make the impact required at just the right time with a brilliant goal. It was a splendid result for a United team in a season full of highlights!
Torquay United XI:
Dearden, Canoville, Woods, Taylor, McGlinchey, Hockley, Russell, Fowler, Hill, Gritton, Graham
GOALS: Graham (18), Kuffour (85)
SUBS: Kuffour (51), Bedeau (64), Hazell (88)
HEADLINES OF THE DAY
NEWS – Tickets for the new ‘Euromillions’ lottery go on sale with an average jackpot of £14 million predicted.
SOCIAL MEDIA – Facebook is launched in a dorm room at Harvard by Mark Zuckerberg.
SPORTS – Arsenal set a new club record of 24 league games unbeaten as they ease past Wolves 3-1 with Thierry Henry amongst the scorers.
*FROM THE TUFC OFFICIAL PROGRAMME ‘MATCH IN TIME’ FEATURE 15-16
TORQUAYTALK 