Torquay United Women continued their preparations for their return to the FA Women’s National League on Sunday with a narrow friendly defeat against Welsh top-tier hosts Swansea City.
City, who finished 3rd in the Adran Premier last term, were left frustrated during a closely-fought first half, with neither side able to create much in the way of clear-cut chances.
A raft of changes for the hosts saw them begin to take charge at the beginning of the second half, and the Swans were eventually rewarded eleven minutes after the restart, after new signing Lily Deacon announced her arrival off the bench by notching the only goal of the game from close range.
The Gulls included two new additions of their own for the trip to South Wales – Ella-Mae Miller and Hannah Bishop – responded well to that setback, and went close to finding an equaliser on numerous occasions, with the impressive Beth Everson twice just unable to apply the finishing touch to some promising attacking moves from Torquay.
The final test ahead of the season opener at Wycombe on August 16th will also come from the Principality next Sunday, as Ryan Perks’ team face Cardiff City in their final pre-season encounter.
