TUFC 2
Elburton Villa 1
Theo Cadby’s last-gasp winner saw United’s Under-18 side make FA Youth Cup progress against Elburton Villa on Friday evening.
After falling behind early on, Torquay showed remarkable character to turn the tie on its head, thanks to a stunning second-half leveller from Charlie Holbrook, before Cadby’s late intervention sealed The Gulls’ place in the next round.
Head of Youth Chris Todd’s starting line-up included three names that have enjoyed notable exposure in recent weeks, with first-year professional Owen Price captaining the side, alongside Cadby and Scott Piper, who both appeared in United’s live-streamed pre-season friendlies.
It was the visitors who began the stronger, with a defensive lapse gifting Elburton an early advantage.
A loose back-header from the retreating Torquay backline never looked to have quite enough on it, allowing Villa’s pacy No.9 to nip in and chip the ball past the advancing Rhys Williams to give his side the lead.
To their credit, Todd’s side quickly regained their composure, and dictated play over the course of the next twenty minutes, with livewire frontman Cadby proving to be a constant threat to the opposition defence.
When a lovely jinking run from Piper across the edge of the visiting penalty area was ended illegally in the 33rd minute, it seemed scant reward when the same player fired the resultant free-kick over the bar.
It was the beginning of spell of sustained pressure for the young Gulls, that so nearly brought them the equaliser their efforts deserved.
In the 34th minute, a long ball forward found Cadby racing clear, with his low shot from the angle shaving the far post.
Moments later, it was Holbrook who tried his luck from a similar position, with the outcome the same.
Elburton remained dangerous on the break though, with ‘keeper Williams having to dive full-length on 38 minutes to keep out a low drive from the edge of the box.
A wind-assisted Torquay corner down the other end barely 60 seconds later nearly caught out the visiting glovesman, with only the crossbar saving his blushes.
With United continuing to enjoy the bulk of possession, it appeared to leave them a little vulnerable to the counter-attack.
On the stroke of half-time, a long ball forward nearly produced the ultimate punishment, as Williams just spread himself enough to force the Villa striker to dink his effort wide of the upright.
With the deficit just a single goal at the turnaround, there was plenty of reason to remain optimistic, and even more so as the second period got underway, with United again very much on the front-foot.
Piper’s mazy runs remained a feature in most of Torquay’s best moves, and in the 56th minute, one such run finally drew his side level.
After being upended – not for the first time – 30 yards from goal, Holbrook stepped up to smash home a stunning free-kick to restore parity.
Todd’s side were now bossing things, with wave upon wave of attacks only lacking the final touch.
Sammy Stayt came close in the 69th minute following a darting run at the centre of the Villa defence, however his low effort was comfortably held by the goalkeeper.
As if to remind United that just one momentary lapse could signal an end to their cup ambitions, hesitancy in the Torquay defence nearly resulted in a goal, with the Elburton forward sending a flick narrowly wide with under twenty minutes left.
In what had turned out to be a highly entertaining encounter, both sides sensed that one further addition to the scoreline would likely settle the tie.
During the final stages, the action repeatedly moved from end-to-end, although the best openings continued to fall the way of the hosts. Chances don’t come much better than the one that fell The Gulls’ way with nine minutes remaining.
After a ball over-the-top caught the Villa defence flat-footed, the ever-willing Holbrook ran in behind, took the ball round the goalkeeper, however with the goal at his mercy, United’s forward could only steer his strike onto the ‘bar.
Still they poured forward.
When Cadby’s back-header skimmed the far post in the final minute, the game looked destined to require another method to decide it, however as the match headed into injury-time, Torquay snatched a winner in dramatic style.
After a game of few corners, Stayt’s flag-kick delivery was placed to perfection, allowing Cadby to leap in front of the stranded goalkeeper, and head in from point-blank range.
In the ensuing celebrations, Cadby’s understandable jubilation got the better of him, with a second bookable offence signalling a slightly earlier departure than expected, before a Villa counterpart duly followed suit.
By then though, his contribution – and his teammates’ – had helped United to the final qualifying round, where they will meet Tuffley Rovers.
Well done, lads!
United: 27. Rhys Williams, 2. Harvey Taylor, 3. Owen Price (c) (14. Alfie Collings, 90′), 4. James Rowe, 5. Alex Cherry, 6. Ollie Hardiman, 7. Sammy Stayt, 8. Jack Windsor (15. James Deselincourt, 90′), 9. Theo Cadby, 10. Charlie Holbrook, 11. Scott Piper. SUBS NOT USED: 1. James Weeks, 12. Joseph Edmonds, 16. Tom Burt, 17. Callum Black.
Yellow Card / Red Card (second bookable offence): Cadby (17′, 90′)