Torquay United 4 Bishops Lydeard Ladies 0
Torquay’s Women produced a disciplined and professional performance to record their seventh straight league win, in an enjoyable Mother’s Day under warm and sunny skies at Plainmoor. With four different scorers, a second clean sheet in a row, a crowd of just under 250, and other results going in United’s favour, it made for a fine afternoon in South Devon.
Lee Mann made three changes to the side that had beaten AEK Boco a fortnight earlier, Rebecca McMullin, Alex Sheppard returning to back four for the unavailable Charlie Pettenger, and Lucy Palmer who started on the bench. Up front, fit-again Chloe Williams was preferred to Lexie Watts, the latter also on the bench, allowing Lucy Solloway the central striker’s role.
The switch up front paid dividends, with Williams on the right, and Emily Elliot on the left, supported by the roving Tee Kaptein peppering the Lydeard box from the opening stages. Solloway grazed the outside of Sarah Lindsay’s post, after nipping ahead of a defender to divert the ball goalwards at the near post from a Williams cross, and from a similar position got too thick a contact on a stopping header and it looped just over.
The early game was punctuated by an injury to Lydeard’s Kaitlyn Berry, who was helped off with a potentially nasty knee injury, following a fair but ferocious challenge from McMullin, after which United took a while to click back into gear.
McMullin’s slide in her own area did enough to put Lily Charles off her shot as Lydeard found extra space in the United area, and then almost gifted Holly Miller the ball, trying to play out from the back. That woke the hosts from their slumbers, and they responded immediately to take a 28th minute lead.
Kaptein chased a beautifully flighted ball from defence down the right flank, tucked it inside for Solloway, who weaved past two defenders inside the corner of the area, and survived having her ankles clipped to steer it onto her left foot and drive it low past Lindsay.
United regained full control without hitting top gear but needed to survive a further reminder of how frail their advantage was, before responding as they had earlier. Miller played Holly Meakins in but the advancing Jas Read in Unite’s goal made herself big, and Meakins stabbed the ball past the post.
Torquay’s response though was swift and decisive, Kaptein’s blocked effort was recycled via Trace Cross and McMullin to Elliott, who took a touch and turned to loop the ball over Lindsay into the top corner.
The opening of the second half was the flattest part of the game, with United happy in possession and Bishop’s Lydeard trying to play higher up and find themselves a lifeline into the contest.
Cue the introduction of Ellie Bishop for Chloe Williams and a further injection of pace and the goal of the game. Bishop usually finds herself 1 on 1 with goalkeepers or using her quick feet inside the area, but rarely a worldie. United’s third, Bishop’s eleventh of this campaign will definitely make the goal of the season reel! Picking up the scraps from Kaptein’s blocked effort, she teed herself up on the right corner of the penalty area and curled a sumptuous strike over the unmoved Lindsay into the top corner.
Cross fired over before Kate McKane’s sublime pass saw Bishop and Cross efforts saved and Kaptein fire across goal. At the other end, Read was finally called into action, diving to her right to deny Meakins and maintain the clean sheet.
The icing on United’s cake came three minutes from time as Solloway’s quick feet won a free kick on the edge of the D, and Kaptein, as she does so often, thumped the effort through a poor wall and into the bottom corner.
A great afternoon at Plainmoor, who close in on leaders Marine Academy Plymouth in the South West Regional Women’s Premier League. And coupled with Sherborne’s draw at AEK Boco, the maths on United’s title chances just eased a little.
And United can get closer to the title at home next Sunday, as they host Pucklechurch Sports Ladies, at Newton Abbot Rec in Marsh Lane, with a 2 pm kick off.
Torquay United: 1. Jas Read, 3. Rebecca McMullin, 14. Kaitlyn Harris, 17. Natascha Bevan, 6. Adele Brown, 7. Tracey Cross ©, 10, Anthea Kaptein, 9. Lucy Solloway, 11. Chloe Williams, 12. Emily Elliott Substitutes: 2. Lucy Palmer, 15. Kate McKane, 16. Lexie Watts, 19. Ellie Bishop, 31. Danni Wyatt.
Report: Ray Duffy
Photos: Dylan Knight