Steve Elswood’s side picked up another valuable point in their push for promotion, and remain unbeaten at home after a 2-2 draw with Liskeard Ladies.
Torquay United Women dropped their first home points of the season, as Anthea Kaptein’s last-gasp penalty salvaged a draw, when a defeat looked likely, in a real game of two halves.
Liskeard, on a good run of form, have proved stubborn opponents to some of the top sides in recent weeks, and their direct approach, either aerially or looking to set up their strikers with precise through-balls had to be well marshalled by the United back line in the first half. The one shot that did get through was a tame one from Chloe Williams, which Emma Ayres dealt with comfortably.
In a half United dominated, they showed their intensions from the off when Rhi Bailey’s ball inside the Liskeard left-back, allowed Esme Kilburn-Thompson a fierce drive, which could easily have ended up in the top corner. And Torquay’s determination in midfield led to the opening goal on 11 minutes. Tracey Cross was upended 25 yards out on a surging run, and Connie Pengelly thumped a missile of a free-kick through the hands of Sara Rowe in the Liskeard goal.
Pengelly may have doubled United’s advantage mid-way through the half but her shot from the edge of the area was straight at Rowe. And, while United were barely troubled at the back, they went close again just before the half hour, Cross heading narrowly wide, from an Ocean Latto corner on the right.
Another free kick with five minutes left in the half, gave Pengelly a further opportunity to fire at goal, but the effort from 35 yards, was comfortably dealt with.
Liskeard started the second half with three up front, and unusually, the tactical change was one Torquay struggled to deal with. Ayres came to the rescue of her skipper, Jana Richards, after an uncharacteristic slip presented Gabi Alphous with a chance; Ayres quickly off her line to gather.
Though Cross went close to extending United’s advantage with a foraging run forward and Pengelly fired a 40-yard free kick over the angle, Liskeard were growing in confidence, and drew level with 14 minutes to go.
It was no less than the visitors deserved, and a wonderful 25-yard strike from Charlotte Pettinger from virtually the same spot as Pengelly’s first half goal.
As the game entered it’s closing stages it was the visitors who were on the front foot. All three points seemed destined for Cornwall, when a United defensive header from a Hannah Prisk free kick on the right, fell to Emily Sweet, who stabbed home from eight yards, as the watch ticked into stoppage time.
The delight through the Liskeard team was palpable, but they reckoned without Torquay’s never-say-die attitude, which saw Daisy Self brought down in the Liskeard area by the advancing Rowe, after seizing onto Bailey’s perfect through-ball.
A few nervy moments elapsed for a sizeable Yellow Army at Devon FA Headquarters, before Kaptein drove the ball into the bottom corner, to share the spoils.
United drop to third in the South West Regional Women’s Premier Division, level on 29 points with Bristol Rovers, who leapfrog Torquay on goal difference, but United have a game in hand, and visit Rovers next Sunday. Forest Green Rovers lead the division on 32 points but have played 3 games more than Steve Elswood’s side. Forest Green are United’s next opponents at Devon FA Headquarters on February 26th
Torquay United Women : 1. Emma Ayres, 13. Laura Lewis (9. Sasha Mole), 5. Jana Richards, 6. Emma Hunt, 3. Ocean Latto, 12. Tracey Cross. 11. Anthea Kaptein, 14. Rhi Bailey (8. Daisy Self), 9. Nat Warman (7. Rebecca McMullin), 19 Connie Pengelly (10. Danni Wyatt), 20. Esme Kilburn-Thompson
TUWFC manager Steve Elswood reflected on the result and performance.
“We knew this would be one of the toughest games in the run in that we have left, as Liskeard have lots of experience and qualities along with recruiting really well in the last few weeks.. A lot of their players know ours and vice versa so it was a game of two halves for sure, and we felt we were in control for the first half and the early part of the second half.”
“However we started to drop our levels a little and showed some signs of anxiety in our play which is very uncharacteristic, and then with falling 2-1 behind it was a shock to the system although much deserved for Liskeard at the time, but one thing we have is battling qualities and a never give up attitude, and we reacted almost immediately with a lovely phase of play which brought us the penalty. Liskeard are a hugely in form team and at the end of the day a point was just about the right result from a really competitive fixture.”
“It could be an important point in the greater scheme of things and keeps us unbeaten at home this season, and unbeaten in 11 league games, and though the ladies are disappointed, that’s the standards we’ve set recently and qualities we will need to succeed and get the results needed in the next few weeks.”