TUWFC 2
(Kilburn-Thompson 15′, Pengelly 45+5′)
Sherborne Town Ladies 1
(Jacks 49′)
United’s women ran out winners on Mother’s Day, as their promotion dreams were boosted in front of over 400 fans at Plainmoor.
Esme Kilburn-Thompson gave United a dream start at Plainmoor, and that lead was extended just before the break, as Connie Pengelly pounced to put TUWFC in charge. Elisha Jacks’ reply just after the restart left the result in the balance, but Steve Elswood’s side summoned up all their battling qualities during a tough second to emerge victorious, and take another step closer to achieving their title dreams.
United, savouring their moment on the big stage, were in the ascendancy from the first whistle.
After Pengelly sent one header off-target inside the opening stages, only a last-ditch defensive block inside the area prevented the same player opening the scorer just short of the quarter-hour.
The breakthrough wasn’t far away though.
Pengelly, whose strike-partnership with Kilburn-Thompson was already threatening to pay dividends, played a delightful ball into the path of her former Exeter teammate. Although forced a little wide, the latter player made little of it, by firing into the back of the net, despite visiting goalkeeper Emily Hall’s best efforts.
Far from sitting back on that lead, Torquay went in search of a swift second, however the final ball on a couple of occasions wasn’t quite precise enough for them to profit, and as the match headed towards the interval, Town began to work their way back into the contest.
Seven minutes before the break, Faith Small fired a warning shot, as she was inexplicably left unattended on the edge of the 18-yard box. A poor first chance gave the retreating Ocean Latto a reprieve though, and the left-back managed to make up enough ground to force Small to fire wide, and into the side-netting.
That seemed to wake United up, as they went within a whisker of doubling their lead in the 42nd minute.
Mia Preston, back in the starting line-up following her return from Bridgwater, appeared to set her sights on delivering her cross towards Kilburn-Thompson, however with the ball looping towards the net, Hall was forced to readjust and paw the ball onto the crossbar.
In stoppage-time though, Pengelly got in on the act to make it 2-0.
A late corner appeared to have been over hit by Natalie Warman, however with Rhi Bailey unwilling to call it quits, the midfielder delivered the ball back into the mixer, with The Gulls’ striker only to happy to bury the loose ball.
Two goals clear at the change of ends, but the second period was only a few minutes old when Sherborne reduced the arrears.
Having survived one early corner through a combination of blocks from Emma Ayres and Latto, the second-flag kick produced the goal Town craved.
The ball into the box caused visible discomfort, and with Ayres unable to claim, Elisha Jacks stepped in to bundle the ball home and halve the deficit.
For a period thereafter, the nerves began to show for those in yellow.
Kelly Snook should have levelled the scores just past the hour mark, however despite being well placed and with just Ayres to beat, the visiting striker fired wide of the target.
On 65 minutes, things looked a little more promising as Pengelly played the ball through to Preston, however the winger was leaning back as she struck goalward, with the ball sailing high over the crossbar.
Kilburn-Thompson had another chance to seal the deal with seven minutes remaining, however just when things were starting to calm down, United’s No.1 was called into action.
With the match deep into injury time, Ayres’ fine parry from an initial corner was good enough, but just seconds later, her tip-over from Sherborne player-manager Jemma Tewkesbury’s header was potentially a title-winning one – it was to be the last chance the visiting side had.
The equation now for United’s promotion-chasing side is clear: Four points from their two encounters will seal the title.
TUWFC: 1. Emma Ayres, 3. Ocean Latto, 5. Jana Richards (c), 6. Nat Warman (10. Danni Wyatt, 62′), 7. Rebecca McMullin, 12. Tracey Cross, 14. Rhi Bailey, 16. Emma Hunt, 20. Esme Kilburn-Thompson, 21. Mia Preston, 29. Connie Pengelly.
SUBS NOT USED: 4. Kiara Jade Robins, 9. Sasha Mole, 10. Danni Wyatt, 13. Laura Lewis, 17. Scarlett Williams.
SHERBORNE: 1. Emily Hall, 2. Emma Brazell, 3. Sarah Lewendon (6. Faith Small, 88′), 5. Shelby Overington, 6. Faith Small (7. Orla East, 63′), 7. Orla East (9. Olivia Watts, 28′ (18. Rachel Adkin, 79′)), 8. Elisha Jacks, 12. Rebecca Narramore, 13. Kelly Snook, 14. Charlotte Lilley, 15. Jamie Bland (17. Jemma Tewkesbury, 73′).
Attendance: 404