United 1
(Kaptein 89′)
Forest Green Rovers 1
(Jones 45′)
A late equaliser from Tee Kaptein saved the day at The Rec, as United secured a hard-earned point against promotion rivals Forest Green Rovers.
Unsurprisingly, the first 45 minutes was a closely-fought affair, and although Forest Green looked the more comfortable side in possession, it was The Gulls who created the best of the few openings that were created.
Beth Everson – on a Connie Pengelly cross – headed wide from a decent position, before Pengelly turned from provider to poacher, after latching onto a Roxy Thomas ball forward before rounding the Rovers’ goalkeeper Smith, only to see recovering defender McGrath come up with a superb clearance of the line to keep the scoreline blank.
Just when it looked like the players would head to the tunnels level-pegging, the visitors took the lead in controversial fashion.
With only seconds remaining in the first half remaining, a ball over the top saw United keeper Esme Bradley dart out to claim the ball ahead of Rovers skipper Hattie Jones. However, despite fervent claims from The Gulls that Bradley had claimed possession with both hands, Jones emerged from a brief tussle with the ball, before walking it into an empty net.
0-1 at the change of ends.
Staring a first league defeat of the season in the face, Ryan Perks’ Torquay side took full charge of the territorial stakes, but were unable to seriously trouble the away goalkeeper, thanks to a well-organised and hardworking FGR backline.
Half-chances came and went, but just when it seemed United had been condemned to defeat, a last-gasp leveller kept the destiny of the title in United’s hands.
A slightly over-hit corner was picked up by Kaptein, but with everyone expecting the ball to be recycled, the Gulls midfielder took aim and fired a superb shot into the net to restore parity, and keep Torquay’s unbeaten record intact.
How important that goal could prove to be remains to be seen.
UNITED: 1. Esme Bradley, 2. Lucy Palmer (c), 3. Roxy Thomas, 6. Matilda Franchi, 8. Kaitlyn Bell, 9. Beth Everson, 10. Connie Pengelly, 15. Georgie Knott, 16. Jess Geach, 20. Tee Kaptein, 29. Mollie Taylor.
SUBS: 12. Hillier-Nickels, 14. Jasmine Barker, 25. Hope Brinicombe, 26. Ella Pawley
