United’s women secure place in next round with comprehensive win
Torquay United produced a disciplined second half display to see off a stubborn and talented Plympton side, as United progressed to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup.
It wasn’t all plain sailing though, as the hosts twice fell behind in the first half, as Plympton showed why they are early division leaders, just one tier below Torquay.
United, with last week’s hat-trick heroine Lucy Solloway unavailable, started Lexie Watts in the central forward role, the one change in the starting eleven.
But before Torquay’s front line could even get going, and after having had one warning, Plympton went ahead with a swift and effective counterattack. Dion Igalawuye, who impressed all afternoon, sent in a pearler of a cross from the right, which was brilliantly controlled and lashed home by Izzy firth for her ninth goal of the season.
United were shellshocked but responded rapidly, Tracey Cross and Kate McKane zig-zagging passes from their own area to Plympton’s down the right channel, McKane with a neat low finish across Violet Bell in the Plympton goal.
It didn’t settle the hosts though who still looked nervy at the back, especially against Plympton’s quick counters. And it was a defensive howler that presented the visitors with their second lead. Emma Ayres in the United goal called to deal with a long ball over the top, but her clearance ricocheted off one of three retreating defenders and into the path of firth, who calmly found the empty net from the edge of the area.
Ayres denied Firth a very early treble as Torquay again set about restoring parity. McKane and Emily Elliot found space on either flank, but the final ball never quite had the quality to trouble Bell. But on 27 minutes, Elliot took matters into her own hands, surging into the box after a one-two with Natascha Bevan on the left, and was unceremoniously dragged to the ground as she ghosted past the defender. Tee Kaptein took the penalty responsibility blasting home with Bell virtually unmoved.
Finally Torquay started to create, and deal with Plympton’s counter threat. Watts, and McKane twice, squandered good opportunities while Adele Brown headed wide from a Cross corner. And United’s pressure was rewarded on the stroke of half time. Watts direct free kick from a central position struck the outside of the Plympton post, but McKane quickly recycled it to Kaptein who fired home to give Torquay a barely deserved half time lead.
With the next goal vital, the second half opening remained cat and mouse, United with spells of pressure but Plympton always looking dangerous when Igalawuye, Firth or Bella Brown-Tunnell got close to the Torquay box. Eventually though the flair of Elliot on the right set up United for a two-goal cushion, her quick feet on the by-line taking the ball but not her leg past a defender, and Kaptein again obliged cooly from the penalty spot for her hat-trick.
Ellie Bishop’s introduction on the left saw Elliot switch flanks, and she was finally rewarded with her fine control taking her past a defender to blast home United’s fifth from a tight angle in the area.
Important prize money for Torquay United, and equally importantly a place in the hat for Monday’s third qualifying round draw!
UNITED: 1. Emma Ayres, 11. Natascha Bevan, 14. Kaitlyn Harris, 4. Alex Sheppard, 13 Rachel Heron, 6. Adele Brown, 7. Tracey Cross ©, 10. Tee Kaptein, 3 Emily Elliot, 16 Lexie Watts, 15. Kate McKane Subs: 2. Lucy Palmer, 5. Sam Burnham, 8. Kayleigh Brown, 9. Ellie Bishop, 12. Chloe Williams, 19. Millie Scully, 24. Jasmine Read
Player Of The Match: Kate McKane