United closed the gap at the top of the South West Regional Women’s Premier League with a come-from-behind win at Frampton Rangers Ladies on Sunday, with a couple of contenders for the women’s goal of the season.
Missing some key players through absence, United lost Alex Sheppard to illness and skipper Tracey Cross to a domestic issue before kick-off, meaning Lee Mann ended up fielding a short bench at Gloucester F.A. headquarters in Almondsbury. Such is the versatility of the United squad though, that Bex McMullin switched to full-back once again and Adele Brown deputising at centre-back barely had any effect.
In pretty much perfect conditions in warm sunshine and on a decent synthetic pitch – Torquay would have expected to ease their way to three points, and in fairness they were in control after the first fifteen minutes, having been stunned by conceding in the opening minute!
United had cleared the ball to touch on their right from Frampton’s opening kick-off, and when Molly Bourne received the throw-in back off a United defender, she looped in a cross that deceived Jas Read in the Torquay goal and dropped into the far corner with barely 30 seconds on the watch!
The visitors were clearly shellshocked and took time to settle, misjudging passes and allowing Frampton onto the front foot. Eventually, having lost Kayleigh Brown to an early injury, United’s midfield clawed control with substitute Lexie Watts, Tee Kaptein, and the impressive Charlie Pettinger starting to run the game.
And it was Kaptein, with the bit between her teeth once again that smashed Torquay level on 13 minutes. Picking up the ball in the right channel, she cut in and thumped and unstoppable drive from about thirty yards past Zoe Herrick in the Frampton net.
It galvanised United’s resolve and their passing became crisper, and chances more frequent, predominantly through Lucy Solloway working tirelessly on the left side of a front three, alongside Danni Wyatt and Emily Elliott.
But it was another goal from midfield that forged United ahead and ultimately to the three points, just before the midway point of the first half. This time it was Watts, finding space on the left side of the Frampton half – her shot not with the same power as Kaptein’s, and slightly nearer to goal, but wickedly dipping, affording Herrick no chance.
Solloway and Wyatt both had chances to increase the lead before the interval but both got the ball stuck in between their feet when trying to shoot. After the break though, it was United fully in command, yet still unable to find the clinical finishing that would have put the game beyond Frampton’s reach.
Pettinger drove the ball over from outside the area, Herrick parried twice from Kaptein shots inside the box, Watts clipped the crossbar with another 20-yard effort, Ellie Bishop, on for Wyatt went close twice but couldn’t hit the target, and Solloway blasted United’s best chance too high, when you’d have backed her to grab United’s third.
So United using one of their five games in hand on leaders, Marine Academy Plymouth Ladies well, now 11 points off the top with four in hand, and finally with some home games to come – three in a row in fact, culminating in their Mother’s Day fixture at Plainmoor.
Torquay United: 24 Jas Read, 3 Bex McMullin, 6. Adele Brown, 14. Kaitlyn Harris, 17. Natascha Bevan, 5. Kayleigh Brown (16. Lexie Watts), 8. Charlie Pettenger, 10. Anthea Kaptein, 9. Lucy Solloway, 15. Danni Wyatt (19. Ellie Bishop), 12. Emily Elliott Substitute Not Used; 11. Chloe Williams
Player Of The Match: Charlie Pettenger
After the match, United POTM, Charlie Pettenger, and Coach, Ben Cooper gave their reaction to the victory. You can see the interview on our YouTube channel HERE.
Matchday Gallery (All Photos courtesy of Daisy Mai Driver)
