TUWFC’s season-long battle for FA Women’s National League survival ended in final day heartbreak on Sunday, as Swindon withstood a remarkable United fightback to take all three points.
The contest appeared done and dusted at the break, with Swindon racing into a 5-1 interval lead thanks to goals from Meg Jarvis, Annie Colston (2), Gipsy Viveash and Helena Diaz-Butcher, with Katelyn McKane’s solitary strike looking little more than scant consolation at that stage.
However, a dramatic second half response, combined with the news that relegation rivals Southampton had suffered an injury-time defeat, saw Torquay net three times in two minutes via Tracey Cross (penalty), McKane again and Eaton, to bring them to within two goals of safety. Despite laying siege to the visiting goal for the final ten minutes though, they couldn’t quite turn the game around, with relegation eventually confirmed at the final whistle.
Things couldn’t have got off to a worse possible start, with Jarvis giving the visitors the lead inside 60 seconds, after profiting from an Ellie Strippel right-wing cross.
United initially responded well, with Rachel Griffiths getting on the end of Ella Stephens’ low ball from the right, however, she was only able to send her near-post effort over the crossbar with four minutes on the clock.
Further warning of Town’s intent came in the 8th minute, as Colston forced United goalkeeper Emma Ayres into an excellent tip over the crossbar, after the Town forward found herself allowed too much space inside the box.
Having already claimed one assist, Strippel was the architect of Town’s second just a minute later.
It was her delivery from the flank that bounced up and hit Stephens on the arm, with the referee duly pointing to the spot.
Colston stepped up and confidently stroked the ball home to double Town’s advantage, but Wiltshire side weren’t done there.
With only 13 minutes played, Swindon made it three, as Viveash nipped in behind a static Torquay backline before sending her drive past goalkeeper Ayres, and into the back of the net.
Only goalline clearances from Anthea Kaptein and Rachel Heron prevented further damage, however eight minutes before the break it was four.
With most of Town’s threat coming down their right flank, this time it was Jarvis who turned provider for Diaz-Butcher, who fired home her low shot to make it 0-4.
To their credit, Torquay had kept battling, and they finally got on the scoresheet almost immediately via a well-worked move.
An inviting delivery from Kaptein created the opportunity, before Griffiths’ flick laid the ball perfectly into the path of McKane, who coolly slotted home to reduce the arrears.
It was only a temporary reprieve though.
In the final minute of the half, Colston carved open United’s right hand-side before bearing down on goal and firing home to make the interval score 5-1.
It’s worth noting that Ayres had also made two further saves either side of that goal, to further illustrate the attacking prowess being displayed by United’s opponents.
The early stages of the second period offered little encouragement of a sporting miracle either.
Colston, who was a thorn in Torquay’s side all afternoon, drew a fine save from Ayres in the 56th minute, before going even closer from the resulting corner – this time the post intervened.
Just short of the hour mark, Cross managed to evade her marker to get in a header, and although it was straight into ‘keeper McGrogan’s hands, it did offer some brief respite.
Swindon roared back and threatened to extend their lead further, with Colston lobbing just wide moments later, before Ayres was called into more heroics, this time to deny Graham and then Colston once more.
Still training 1-5 and with news filtering through that Southampton were leading, rather than losing at home to Maidenhead, the match threatened to be turning into a dead rubber.
But then, something astonishing happened.
Still driving forward – perhaps in hope rather than expectation at that point – United were rewarded when Ocean Latto went down inside the box under a dubious challenge. Penalty.
Up stepped skipper Cross to reduce the arrears – 2-5 in the 71st minute.
Then just 60 seconds later, McKane took a chance from 20 yards, and having bought her proverbial ticket, it paid off handsomely in the form of a stunning strike that fizzed into the top corner… 3.5.
Whilst everyone was still applauding that moment of brilliance, Eaton decided to try more of the same. This time a stroke of luck took charge, with a deflection seeing the goalkeeper wrong-footed, and the ball bobbling over the line to make it 4-5.
Added to that, Maidenhead drew level, and then went ahead in stoppage time at Southampton.
It was pandemonium central at Sandy Lane.
Everything now was on riding on United’s match, which due to the adverse weather conditions, had kicked off ten minutes later than events in Hampshire, and therefore only added to the final day ‘Super Sunday’ feeling to proceedings.
A seven-goal swing had been reduced to just two in the space of just twenty minutes, with Torquay now having ten minutes to score two goals to save themselves.
They had chances to do it too.
McKane – on a hat-trick – was well placed to complete that feat with two minutes remaining, however the shot lacked conviction, and allowed McGrogan to make a comfortable save.
Another chance fell to the same player seconds later, although this time it was from a tight angle, with McKane only able to send this strike over the crossbar.
Knowing it had worked twice before, Cross let fly with a 20-yarder of her own, but this one sadly looped wide.
That was, unfortunately, the last chance of salvation that would come their way.
When the final whistle sounded, the disappointment shown on the TUWFC players’ faces should not reflect solely relegation, however disappointing that may be.
In face of the numerous setbacks they have faced in their first season at tier-four level, and having been written off on a number of occasions – even at half time in the final game, to take their fight until the dying stages of 2023/24 is in itself an admirable achievement, and one which bodes well for next term, as United will look to bounce straight back again.
You certainly wouldn’t bet against them doing just that.
TUWFC: 1. Emma Ayres, 2. Rebecca McMullin, 3. Ocean Latto, 7. Tracey Cross, 10. Anthea Kaptein, 15. Rachel Griffiths (16. Lexi Watts,, HT), 18. Lucy Palmer, 19. Ella Stephens, 20. Rachel Heron, 21. Katelyn McKane, 23. Emily Eaton
SUBS NOT USED: 4. Millie Scully, 14. Georgia Chapman, 17. Scarlett Williams, 31. Danni Wyatt.