After two blank weekends, Torquay United will hope a road-trip can get them back in action – as they head to Ilminster Town Ladies, in the South West Regional Women’s Premier League.
While points in the bag, rather than games in hand, maybe the most important, United will be pleased that the other teams challenging for top spot, haven’t opened a chasm, points-wise, over the past fortnight. In fact, all the other top four sides dropped points last weekend, making Torquay’s games in hand, key to middle stage of the campaign.
They travel to Somerset knowing a win will potentially take them second, with three games in hand over Marine Academy Plymouth Ladies and trailing the league leaders by a maximum four points.
In their way, an Ilminster side that have played the most games of any team (11), almost twice as many as United. Those games have netted just thirteen points and show a trend of heavy defeats to the top sides, and equally impressive victories over the lower sides in the table. They’ve been involved in some high-scoring encounters – notably a 7-3 win at AEK Boco Ladies, 7-2 over AFC St Austell Ladies, and 5-2 over Bishops Lydeard Ladies.
Ilminster also held Royal Wooton Bassett Town Ladies to a 2-2 FA Cup draw, with Bassett eventually winning on penalties.
Since that win over Boco though, it’s been three defeats in a row, including last weekend’s 3-1 reverse at Poole Town Ladies. Ilminster Town are the division’s third highest scorers, behind United and M.A.P. but also have the joint worst defence. Aimee Kingon is their top scorer with eleven so far, while Ellie Orritt has 7 and Jodi Cornwall four.
United should travel with a pretty full squad, with the extra couple of weeks without a game, allowing those carry knocks and minor injuries some healing time.
Sunday’s match kicks off at 2 pm at The Archie Gooch Pavillion, Brittens Field in Ilminster (TA19 9FE) and if you can travel, the ladies truly value your support. But, if you can’t make it, then live commentary is on-air from 1.45 pm at https://tufcwomen.mixlr.com