United’s women suffered their first home defeat of the season, as Maidenhead came back from two goals down to emerge as winners at Plainmoor on Sunday.
Maidenhead seemed to settle the quicker, but it wasn’t too long before United took charge, and they made a missed a host of opportunities to take the lead.
Beth Everson and Sarah Stacey both went within a whisker from close range, before The Gulls eventually took the lead via the latter just after the half-hour.
A delightful ball over the top from Brooke Ellis was timed to perfection, and with Stacey drawing Magpies keeper Cherry Preisner out of goal, the former Exeter striker side-footed the ball past her confidently to make it 1-0 to Torquay.
She nearly doubled her tally moments later following a driving run and cross from strike partner Everson, but on this occasion the shot went wide of the post.
Only three minutes of the second period had elapsed before she put memories of that miss to bed.
An inviting low cross to the near post was met by a cool finish eight yards out from Stacey, as Ryan Perks’ side took control of proceedings.
However, with the game approaching the hour mark, Maidenhead were allowed a pathway back into the game, as Mae Goulden latched onto a moment of indecision in the centre of United’s defence to prod the ball past Hannah Bishop to reduce the arrears.
It was tough on The Gulls’ keeper, who had made a couple of brace saves leading up to the goal.
Chances came and went at both ends as the game opened up, making it a marvellous spectacle for the neutral – not that there were many present in a particularly passionate Plainmoor crowd.
Torquay’s dangerous duo once again took centre stage as the Yellows hunted a third goal, as Stacey hit a post and Everson saw a shot hacked off the line.
However, just when you sensed Torquay were about to extend their lead, two late goals saw the scoreline turned on its head.
In the 87th minute, Maidenhead striker Izzy Stockton fired a low drive past Bishop to level things up, before things got even worse in injury time.
This time, a delivery to the back post saw a Laura Mitchell volley sent back into the Torquay goalmouth, a cruel deflection saw the ball swirl out of Bishop’s direction, and inside the far post.
Tough to take, but plenty to build on.
UNITED WOMEN: Hannah Bishop, Mollie Taylor, Jas Barker, Jess Geach, Ella-Mae Miller (Katelyn Bell, 77′), Katie Dickson (Amii Kearley, 67′), Beth Ireland, Matilda Franchi (Carmen Morison, 81′), Brooke Ellis, Beth Everson, Sarah Stacey.
SUBS NOT USED: Ellie Mitchell, Skye MacDonald-Brown, Dani Tyson, Hope Brinicombe.
Attendance: 156
Photo Credit: Craig Stevens
