(Photo: Daisy Mai Driver)
United recorded a routine victory in their first of three successive home games, as they eased to a comfortable result over Ilminster Town at South Devon College. The hosts were rarely out of their comfort zone, save for a few minutes after conceding a second-half penalty, which spoiled their clean sheet.
The returning Tracey Cross and Lucy Palmer replaced the injured Kayleigh Brown and unavailable Rebecca McMullin, with Palmer playing gallantly through a bout of food poisoning for 70-plus minutes.
Having conceded in the opening exchanges at Frampton Rangers a week ago, United were the beneficiaries of early luck in this one. Lucy Solloway’s cross from the left caused a miscommunication between defender and keeper, Lannece Hole’s back header missed by Tiff Westacott, crept over the line with barely four minutes gone.
It eased United into the game, and they found numerous opportunities to get forward, without over-pressuring the Ilminster goal. Emily Elliot and Lucy Solloway found pockets of space on either flank assisted by full backs, Palmer and Tash Bevan overlapping when needed. In the centre, Charlie Pettinger and Lexie Watts worked the creativity, and Cross and Tee Kaptein controlling matters in the centre of the park.
At the back, Adele Brown, again deputising at centre back did an immense job of keeping the prolific scoring Aimee Kingdon at bay.
United doubled their lead on 22 minutes from a corner on the left. A second own goal looked a certainty, as Watts delivery flicked off a defensive head, Kaitlyn Harris emphatically ensured the ball crossed the line.
Solloway made it three on the half hour. After her two attempted crosses from the left edge of the area were blocked, she cut into the top of the area and lashed a fierce diagonal drive past Westacott.
Torquay’s orders at the break would have been to kill the game off quickly, and they seemed to have done that less than a minute after the restart. Cross had a pair of shots blocked on the edge of the six-yard box by Ilminster’s stubborn defence but drove her third effort home for 4-0.
It should have killed the game, but Ilminster’s endeavours won them a 53rd-minute penalty, the ball flicking up off Pettinger’s thigh and onto her arm. Referee Brad Totney pointed to the spot, and Colette Martin sent Jas Read the wrong way.
The goal unsettled United for a few minutes, as Ilminster, playing higher up the pitch in the second 45, and with the increasing breeze at their backs, tested Torquay’s resolve. Read saved at the feet of both Martin and Kingdon as the visitors threatened to reduce arrears further.
At the other end, Westacott saved at the feet of Solloway, then United’s number 9 strayed offside when played in by Kaptein on a three-on-one breakaway, and Kaptein chose to cut inside when she might have drilled an effort inside the near post.
Eventually United did use Ilminster’s high line to their advantage, Ellie Bishop played in and racing between two defenders to slot under Westacott to complete the scoring. Kate McKane could have added a sixth just before the end, curling a lovely effort beyond Ilminster’s keeper but watching the curl take it outside the post.
Job done once again, as Torquay keep up the pressure on league leaders, Marine Academy Plymouth. And it’s back to South Devon College next Sunday for the visit of AEK Boco Ladies.
Torquay United: 1. Jasmine Read, 2. Lucy Palmer, 6. Adele Brown, 14. Kaitlyn Harris, 17. Natascha Bevan, 7. Tracey Cross, 8. Charlie Pettinger, 10. Anthea Kaptein, 9. Lucy Solloway, 12, Emily Elliot, 16. Lexie Watts Substitutes: 5. Sasha Mole, 11. Chloe Williams, 15. Kate McKane, 19. Ellie Bishop, 31. Danni Wyatt
Player Of The Match: tbc
After the game, United goalkeeper, Jas Read and winger, Emily Elliot gave their reactions to the game. You can see that on our YouTube channel HERE.