United’s women made it through to the League Cup final following a pulsating 6-5 win at Gloucester.
It was only a few weeks ago that United battled to a 3-2 victory at Gloucester, so manager Ryan Perks wouldn’t have needed reminding his troops too much of the test they would face, and so it proved at the TigerTurf stadium.
It what was a very open to start to proceedings, both teams were committed to finding an opener, but it was The Gulls who struck on 17 minutes.
A ball over the top had nearly provided the breakthrough moments earlier, but on this occasion, Beth Everson was able to time her run to perfection, before slotting a low diagonal shot past the Gloucester keeper Katie Thatcher and into the far corner of the net.
Everson nearly struck again just before the break, but this time her close-range effort following a low left-wing cross cannoned off the crossbar and away from goal, rather than into it.
A goal up at the break.
The second half, was in comparison though, complete chaos.
There was no sign of that when Connie Pengelly chipped home from 30 yards two minutes after the restart to make it 2-0 to Torquay, but then the floodgates well and truly opened – at both ends.
On 53 minutes, Grun ignored pleas for offside by dashing through on goal and firing past Esme Bradley to half her side’s deficit, only to see Everson restore the two-goal advantage with a carbon-copy of her first strike three minutes later.
Back came City, and by the 62nd minute it was all-square, after Neall grabbed a brace – first, a calm finish after Mollie Taylor missed her header, before slotting home via the penalty spot to restore parity.
Grun nearly gave Gloucester the lead twice after, striking the woodwork before rounding Bradley before sending the ball into the side netting with twenty to play.
Perks’ side went back in front in the 74th minute.
Roxy Thomas’ excellent corner gave Taylor the chance to volley home at the back post to make it 4-3 to Torquay, and when Tee Kaptein darted down the right flank before stabbing the ball home from a tight angle with just four minutes left, it looked like it was game over.
Not at all – there were still three more goals to come.
With defending almost appearing to become optional in the dying stages as both teams committed to attack, a close-range header following a corner gave City hope once more, before a 92nd minute Everson hat-trick completer did finally bring about the game’s eventual winning goal, although not prior to Karbownik wrapping up the scoring for the hosts with a marvellous strike to bring the entertainment to an end at 5-6.
What a way to progress into the final!
UNITED: 1. Esme Bradley, 3. Roxy Thomas, 5. Amii Kearley, 6. Matilda Franchi, 8. Kaitlyn Bell, 9. Beth Everson, 10. Connie Pengelly, 15. Georgie Knott, 16. Jess Geach, 20. Tee Kaptein, 29. Mollie Taylor (c).
SUBS: 2. Lucy Palmer, 12. Hillier-Nickels, 14. Jasmine Barker, 25. Hope Brinicombe, 26. Ella Pawley
