In what would be a first look at Alan Sheehan’s side in front of the cameras, the two matches would be a good run-out for Swansea’s new coaching team.
In scorching temperatures as high as 35 degrees, Sheehan would be pleased with some promising glimpses of his five new summer arrivals at his disposal ahead of the new EFL Championship campaign, which starts at the Riverside Stadium against Middlesbrough in three weeks time.
A large majority of the Swans first-team squad would get a run out, but captain Ben Cabango and full back Josh Key, although present, would not see minutes.
The first 60 would see the Swans held 2-2, with Sheehan’s side taking the lead from an own goal after a neat build-up seeing Josh Tymon’s teasing cross inexplicably diverted into the net by a triallist in the Stevenage goal.
The Swans would double the lead after the break as new striker Bobby Wales would pounce on another excellent Tymon delivery to show off his predatory instincts in front of goal.
New signing Melker Widell would dictate play in the midfield, as fellow Swede Zeidane Inoussa would also show encouraging early signs, combining well with Tymon on the left-hand side as Sheehan’s side threatened to add to the scoreline with a fluid attacking performance.
However, there would be no more goals for the Swans, and as they looked set to see out the final proceedings, Stevenage would peg back a goal before the final whistle. Dan Sweeney’s looping header eluding Lawrence Vigouroux in the Swansea goal, creeping under the crossbar and into the net.
Stevenage would then find a leveller late on, another trialist managing to beat the offside trap as tiredness kicked in, before firing home into the far corner.
The second game would see the Swans come away with a 1-0 victory as more valuable minutes would be handed to the squad which included a first sight of new duo Ricardo Santos and Ethan Galbraith.
It would be a more familiar face that settled proceedings as forward Zan Vipotnik netted the only goal of the game, running onto a brilliant through-ball from deep inside the Swans half on the right-hand side before steadying himself to produce a clinical finish.
The Swans will now head back to the UK to the EV Charger Points Stadium to continue their preparations for the new season with a friendly against League Two Cheltenham Town on Wednesday night.
Swansea City XI for Game 1:
Vigouroux, S.Parker, Fulton, Burgess, Tymon; A.Parker (Cotterill), Cooper, Widell, Congreve, Wales, Inoussa
Swansea City XI for Game 2:
Fisher, Santos, McKenzie, Dabrowski, Cotterill, Franco, Galbraith, Bianchini, Cullen, Ronald, Vipotnik
[Lead image: Swansea City FC]
