Beth Everson in action against Sherborne Town © Al Macphee/MiraclePR
Torquay United WFC demonstrated their attacking prowess in an entertaining 4-2 home win over Liskeard last Tuesday night in a pre-season friendly.
Right from the off, Torquay were on the offensive with Ellie Bishop and Danni Wyatt firing wide in the opening minutes. Liskeard’s first threat came 12 minutes in, Gulls goalkeeper Konnie Kleczkowski tipping a shot around the post for a corner which was dealt with well by the Torquay defence. Then, four minutes later, Chloe Williams beat the home defence for pace but Kleczkowski saved her shot.
Torquay opened the scoring 25 minutes in. Captain Daisy Self, who had come close herself moments earlier, drove the ball across the ball from the right for Beth Everson to prod home her first goal for the club. Torquay had chances to extend their lead before the break but were kept on their toes by Liskeard who had plenty of pace in the attack.
Torquay started the second half determined to add a second goal and didn’t have long to wait. After forcing the visiting goalkeeper into two saves within a minute of the restart, Torquay found the back of the net again. Everson played a fine cross in from the left which Wyatt guided home with precision.
For a few minutes, it looked as if the Gulls might run away with the game but their high pressing left them open to Liskeard’s counter-attack. On 54 minutes, as Kleczkowski raced out to clear, Wiliams executed a superb long-range strike which nestled in the corner of the net. Again Torquay pressed and again Liskeard countered with deadly efficiency, Williams with another great strike into the corner of the goal.
Having lost their lead by conceding twice in four minutes, a less resilient team might have crumbled. But Torquay kept playing football with positive intent and were rewarded when Everson tucked home her second of the night with just over 20 minutes remaining, following a goal mouth scramble.
Both sides had chances to determine the result in the closing stages with plenty of end-to-end action. When Kleczkowski got down low to collect a stoppage time shot, it looked as if that might be that. But three minutes later, Bishop gambled on a Gulls attack and slotted home a fourth to great applause from the home supporters.
It may have only been a friendly game but Torquay’s forward line will surely be a threat to anyone they come up against in the league this season. After a couple of seasons in the doldrums, there are signs that a fair wind is starting to lift the Gulls’ wings.