Torquay United’s Under-18s wrapped up a marvellous 2021/22 campaign, by beating Tavistock 6-0 in the Wotton Printers Devon U18 Youth Cup Final at Coach Road.
Chris Todd’s side began the game in perfect fashion, with Jack Winsor opening the scoring on six minutes, after rifling in a right-footed a shot from 22yards.
Seven minutes later, the lead was doubled, as Joe Edmonds’ left wing cross was buried home at the back post, as Lewis Brooks sent his low drive into the net.
Things got even better on 26 minutes, with Edmonds again the provider – this time from a set-piece – as his corner was delivered perfectly onto the head of the rising James Rowe, who duly planted the ball into the net to give the Young Gulls a 3-0 interval advantage.
Despite the healthy lead, there was no let up in the action during the second period, with Rowe adding to his tally by turning home Winsor’s low cross from the left nine minutes after the change of ends.
Tavistock continued to work hard to minimise the damage, and it wasn’t until ten minutes from time that the fifth goal came, as Brooks threaded a neat ball into the box for Jayden Gilbert to lift the advancing goalkeeper to make it five.
Edmonds, who has provided the ammunition for so many of his teammates this season, rounded off Torquay’s season in perfect style with a minute remaining, as his left-footed strike from 25 yards found the back of the net, aided by a slight deflection.
Head of Youth Todd was understandably delighted at seeing his side claim the third trophy of what has been a glittering campaign.
“The success they’ve had for a period has been incredible. They performed again, and they always do. I was so pleased that they got the win, because they could have easily took their foot off the gas. They turned up, did things right, and they deserved that, definitely.
“I said ‘I want you to go out there and perform like you have all season, and impress people’, because that’s what they do, they entertain people. They’ve shown lots of quality, and it was really good for them. There’s so much talent there.
“To do something like they’ve done this year is incredible.”
