In a game where Gary Speed was remembered as tributes poured in outside the ground, Sheffield United eventually got the win they wanted, but Torquay gave them a real scare in the first half.
After the minute's applause and other tributes, the game kicked off with a bit of an understandable sombre atmosphere. And the home fans went totally silent soon after - Torquay got an early free kick, and a flick on set up Rene Howe to slot the ball low into the bottom right corner for a surprise early lead.
Sheffield United were not at the races early on and a series of stray passes and aimless long balls had the crowd grumbling. They did manage to threaten from set pieces though, first a cross was headed wide from just outside the 6 yard area by Harry Maguire when it looked easier to score, and a super free kick by Ched Evans was brilliantly tipped over by the keeper as it headed towards the top corner.
Torquay were defending as well as you'd expect from a team who've conceded 2 goals in the previous 6 games, and Sheffield United were finding it hard to find any way through in normal play. Torquay were also counter attacking with menace and several times were one good final ball away from another goal, in particular when Howe went past the keeper, but as he was wide right the gap was too narrow to shoot, and he was unable to find one of his team mates with a pass.
Ched Evans had another effort, this time a header, again well saved, and the half time whistle went with Torquay possibly deserving their lead at that point.
Sheffield United seemed to concentrate more on pushing forward in the second half, and they were becoming more of a threat as the half went on as Torquay ended up retreating and struggling to create any attacking opportunities of their own as a result. Chances includes the Torquay keeper having to make a double save, Ched Evans hitting the post and another Ched Evans chance blocked by Mansell who threw himself in the way of the effort.
The threat was increasing, but the nature of the equaliser was harsh for what had been a strong Torquay defensive performance. In the 68th minute Matt Lowton hit a fairly aimless cross into the box, but Mark Ellis in trying to clear it away instead deflected the ball past the keeper, and it was 1-1.
Torquay barely had time to react when just a minute later Ched Evans ran at them at speed and smashed an unstoppable low effort into the bottom right corner of the net. It was a classy finish, and welshman Evans - who'd been encouraged to join Sheffield United by Gary Speed - showed a tribute to Speed on a t-shirt underneath his Sheffield one. Thankfully for once a referee showed a bit of common sense, as the ref took into account the circumstances and didn't book him.
Ched Evans had been a threat throughout, and at the age of 22, turning 23 later this month, he's looking to be really developing into a class act lately having initially struggled to find form after first joining Sheffield United. He scored again in the 78th minute, this time gifted the ball by a poor pass that went straight to him, an easy low finish into the corner made it 6 goals for him in the past 4 games, and the score was 3-1.
He could've had a hat-trick too as yet another effort fell his way, this time well saved. Late on Torquay pushed forward, and their fans had something to fall happier about as they got a late consolation goal, Danny Stevens got a through ball on the left side of the penalty area and smashed it into the bottom left corner. 3-2 it finished.
Back to the league for Torquay, but they gave a good account of themselves against a team from a division above them, especially as these two were seperated by 3 divisions just 3 seasons ago. Meanwhile Sheffield United have been drawn at home again, this time to either Salisbury City or Grimsby Town, both non league clubs, and they'll be hoping to make further progress in this competition.
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