Anthea Kaptein\u2019s fifth penalty of the season, her eleventh goal in total, earned United a vital three points as defences dominated in this South West Regional Women\u2019s Premier League encounter at South Devon College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
United started the same eleven that had beaten Ilminster Town Ladies the week before, with Lana Northcott, fit-again Lily Hilton, and Alex Sheppard returning to the bench. However, they failed to settle for the first twenty minutes, sending passes astray and looking nervy playing out from the back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Boco, without controlling the game, profited from Torquay\u2019s lack of precision. Megan Bloomer twice looped harmless efforts towards the United goal, and Lucy Atkinson found little joy, even when gifted possession in the final third as United\u2019s back line sought to close down her options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eventually, Torquay grew into the game, finding space on either flank, Emily Elliott a nuisance on Boco\u2019s right, Lucy Solloway, as full of running as ever, with United\u2019s best chance in the opening thirty minutes though the inside left channel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lexie Watts, playing at the centre of the front three, had little service in the opening stages, but her chipped effort came back off the bar and led to the penalty. United, finally stringing cohesive passes together had a shot blocked to Watts on the edge of the area, and as Solloway tried to recycle the rebound off the woodwork, she was clipped from behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Referee, Robin Connolly, immediately signalled the penalty, and Kaptein drove it low into the corner, sending Natasha Hibert the wrong way in the Boco goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It helped United finish the half on the front foot, and they should have been aided by Boco defender, Anais Taylor, being sin-binned for dissent, three minutes before the interval. But her absence, punctuated by halftime and a couple of early second-half injuries, meant United never really took any opportunity to grasp the player advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Torquay\u2019s defence worked resolutely, Sheppard on in the second half allowing Charlie Pettinger to move into a defensive midfield role, where she excels, able to help the back four and find avenues for United to build their attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The late introduction of Ellie Bishop saw Hibert twice make saves at the United striker\u2019s feet to deny United a second, but the Boco stopper saved her best for a Lucy Solloway header. Born from a cross on the left, Torquay\u2019s number nine seemed certain to have secured the points, but Hibert leapt to her left with an outstanding save.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The win keeps the pressure on the leaders, who also won again, and the maths remains the same. If United can win their matches, they\u2019ll be champions! Six more \u201ccup finals\u201d to come, the next of which is at Plainmoor, as part of the Mother\u2019s Day celebrations. Tickets for that game, for Mother\u2019s Day lunches in the Cove Restaurant, are on sale on the club website at torquayunited.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Torquay United: 1 Jasmine Read, 2. Lucy Palmer, 14. Kaitlyn Harris, 8. Charlie Pettinger, 17, Natascha Bevan, 6. Adele Brown, 7. Tracey Cross \u00a9, 10, Anthea Kaptein, 9. Lucy Solloway, 16. Lexie Watts, 12. Emily Elliott. Substitutes: 3. Lana Northcott, 4. Alex Sheppard, 11. Chloe Williams, 13. Lily Hilton, 19. Ellie Bishop<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Player Of The Match: tbc<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was the turn of the coaches for their reaction this week, and you can hear the thoughts of Jobie and Sam on our YouTube channel HERE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/clubnets.co.uk\/TULFC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_0522-crop-2-1024x530.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/clubnets.co.uk\/TULFC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_0524-2-683x1024.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/clubnets.co.uk\/TULFC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_0531-2-1-1024x683.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/clubnets.co.uk\/TULFC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_0533-2-683x1024.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/clubnets.co.uk\/TULFC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_0608-2-683x1024.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/clubnets.co.uk\/TULFC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_0610-2-683x1024.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/clubnets.co.uk\/TULFC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_0616-2-683x1024.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/clubnets.co.uk\/TULFC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_0633-2-683x1024.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/clubnets.co.uk\/TULFC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_0651-2-683x1024.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"