United’s Under-18s eased into the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Youth Cup, as they secured a 6-1 win over neighbours Bovey Tracey at Mill Marsh Park.
Kevin Wills – in his first match in charge since returning the Club he served so well as a player – couldn’t have wished for a better start.
There was only five minutes on the clock when Andrew Ellis tried his luck from outside the 18-yard box, with the home goalkeeper’s parry only aiding the ball into the back of the net.
One quickly became two, with centre-back Liam Poole next to profit, firing home on the turn following a half-cleared corner.
Things became increasingly competitive thereafter though, with Gulls ‘keeper Will Howard rushing out of goal to make a fine save at the expense of Bovey’s No.7 midway through the first period.
A shot across the face of the Torquay goal six minutes before the break nearly reduced the arrears in the 39th minute, before the Young Gulls struck again.
With Riley Crawford forcing the Tracey glovesman to sprint to the edge of the penalty area in a bid to thwart an aerial attack, the ball was merely reworked to Jacob Wellington 25 yards from goal, who coolly lobbed the ball into the unguarded net to make it 3-0 just before the break.
To their credit, the hosts roused themselves following the change of ends, and promptly pulled a goal back five minutes in, as Bovey’s No. 10 turned smartly inside the box, before slotting the ball past Howard.
Howard made another brave save seconds later to prevent more damage, as a potentially one-sided encounter suddenly became a closely fought one.
Chances came and went at both ends, until in the closing stages, Torquay pulled clear.
First, Charlie Wills headed home a right-wing delivery on 84 minutes, thereby restoring the three-goal margin.
Things got even better as the clock ticked down, with Kai Swann capping a night of much promise by slotting home a fifth for his side shortly after, before substitute Toby Hard rounded off the scoring with three to play.
All in all, a job very well done!
United: 1. Will Howard, 2. Charlie Wills, 5. Liam Poole, 7. Jack Kennell, 8. Mason Elliot, 9. Riley Crawford (16. Will Brennan 64′), 10. Gene Price (3. Corey Price, 85′), 11. Kai Swann (4. Toby Hard, 64′), 12. Ethan O’Sullivan (14. Harvey Coggings, 79′), 17. Andrew Ellis, 18. Jacob Wellington (15. Ashton Ballard, 85′).
Yellow Card: O’Sullivan 35′