Torquay United extended their South West Regional Women’s Premier League title chase into the season’s final two matches, with an outstanding team performance at the league leaders. The result means that if United can win at Sherborne Town next Sunday, and at home to Pucklechurch Sports a week later, they will be crowned champions.
It wasn’t a pretty game by any means, and if there were any neutrals in the sizeable crowd at Manadon Sports Hub, they might have been forgiven for thinking both sides were toothless up front. However, like the previous meeting at Exwick, defences dominated, both teams ensuring they were hard to beat, and United recorded their fifth clean sheet in a row.
Lee Mann again had to make changes, without all four recognised wingers. Chloe Williams and Emily Elliott (both knee injuries) and Kate McKane and Ellie Bishop (unavailable) meant Adele Brown in the central striking role, and Natascha Bevan again filling in on the right wing.
United controlled the contest from the opening kick-off, barely letting M.A.P. out of their own half for the first twenty minutes, but they squandered opportunities with poor deliveries from a brace of early corners. They were also wasteful from a couple of free kicks in dangerous areas, most notably, Anthea Kaptein trying to beat home keeper, Charlie Nicholson, with a soft effort to her near post.
At the back, if M.A.P. did find a route forward, Lucy Palmer, Alex Sheppard, Kaitlyn Harris, and Rebecca McMullin were impenetrable, with Kaptein or Charlie Pettinger quickly moving any danger away from the back line. It kept the usually dangerous M.A.P forwards, Carmon Morrison, Sam Drewery, and Kelsey Blight quiet, and allowed Torquay to work the spaces calmly and efficiently.
Even though United spent the bulk of the first half in their hosts’ territory, they too were rarely afforded a clear effort at goal. Lucy Solloway was kept quiet, playing on the left of the front three, until a crunching tackle left her unable to continue, and she was replaced by Jasmine Barker.
Barker was introduced in a decent cameo at home to Forest Green last week, and the youngster revelled in her extended role at Manadon. Her pace is not near Solloways, but her physicality, tough tackling, and willingness to not give up lost causes on several occasions, often kept United camped in the final third.
The second half saw Marine Academy with a few more sighters at goal, but all from distance and bread and butter for Jasmine Read in Torquay’s goal, while Brown was unceremoniously felled en-route to goal, and Kaptein hit a 30-yard free kick on target but straight at Nicholson.
United lost Alex Sheppard to injury, but another youngster, Lily Hilton, stepped up admirably as though she’d been part of the back four all season. Barker, meanwhile, having perfectly timed a tackle in her own area on her defensive duties, came closest to breaking the deadlock. Chasing one of those lost causes in the right channel, she stuck the ball with venom across goal, the underside of Nicholson’s crossbar denying Torquay all three points.
United then, remain five points behind M.A.P. still, but the Plymouth side have finished their campaign, so victories in those last two outings for Torquay will given them the title, and a return to the National League. The rollercoaster continues!
Torquay United: 24. Jasmine Read, 2. Lucy Palmer, 3. Rebecca McMullin, 4. Alex Sheppard, 14. Kaitlyn Harris, 7. Tracey Cross ©, 8. Charlie Pettinger, 10. Anthea Kaptein, 6. Adele Brown, 9. Lucy Solloway, 17. Natascha Bevan Substitutes: 1. Emma Ayres, 5. Lily Hilton, 13. Jasmine Barker, 23. Sasha Mole, 31. Danni Wyatt
Player of the Match: To Be Confirmed
After the game, United Coach Jobie Triffitt, and defender Rebecca McMullin gave their verdict on the outstanding performance, and you can hear their interview on our YouTube channel, HERE.