United’s Women will be looking to write another ‘Great Escape’ into Torquay United folklore on Sunday, and the Yellow Army can play a huge part in helping them pull off the Club’s latest survival act.
On the face of it, things are pretty simple at least.
With inspirational midfielder Tracey Cross now in charge in a player/manager capacity, TUWFC currently occupy the final relegation spot in 11th, whilst relegation rivals Southampton, in 10th, are the one team left they can catch. Only one goal separates the two sides’ goal-difference tallies, and although that is currently in favour of the Hampshire-based side, a win for United coupled with defeat for Southampton would not only see both sides draw level on points, but would see the goal difference swing TUWFC’s way.
That’s the good news.
Whilst 8th-placed Maidenhead – who have nearly doubled Southampton’s points tally across 2023/24 – may well stand a decent chance of doing United a favour when they travel to Hampshire, Torquay’s own task is a formidable one.
Their opponents this weekend, Swindon Town Women, have established themselves as one of the leading sides in the division, and although they weren’t consistent enough to truly challenge the dual juggernaut of top two Exeter City and AFC Bournemouth, when they have turned on the style, they have done so with eye-watering results.
A 4-0 win for the Wiltshire side in the reverse fixture may not have told the full story, however Town were undoubtedly the better side on the day. That scoreline appears relatively tight in light of some of Swindon’s other wins however, with Melksham (0-9) and Portishead (8-1) amongst those put to the sword, whilst the home (28-0) and away (15-0) victories over valiant, but ultimately rock-bottom Selsey, barely register as contests on the face of it.
There is still some cause for optimism and hope, however.
Swindon’s title aspirations disappeared some time ago, and having claimed the Wiltshire County Cup following a 4-0 win over Purton on the hallowed turf of the County Ground they share with the men’s side, they head into Sunday’s game with little to play for in a competitive sense, and will be consigned to a 4th place finish – no more, no less.
Town are also not immune to tasting defeat against teams in the lower reaches of the division, with Maidenhead recently coming back from 0-2 down to emerge as 3-2 winners, whilst Moneyfields and Southampton have also ran out winners against them this term.
Back to Torquay.
This is not a side that is isn’t well-capable of scrapping their way to secure a result against considerable odds when required.
Two years ago, Steve Elswood’s team headed for the Devon Premier Cup Final at Coach Road with no recognised goalkeeper within their ranks, leaving midfielder Sasha Mole to don the gloves. After ferociously defending Mole’s goal in the face of local rivals, and huge favourites, Exeter City’s onslaught, it appeared their brave efforts were all in vain when City struck in the dying stages.
But United weren’t done.
After grabbing a last-gasp equaliser with virtually the final kick of the game, a script seemingly written in the stars would eventually dictate that stand-in ‘keeper Mole would go on to make the decisive save in the resulting penalty shoot-out, to take the Cup to Torquay for the first time in its history.
More history was made the following year, as Elswood’s side followed up cup success with promotion to the FA Women’s National League for the very first time, but their mettle would certainly be tested along the way.
Never was their spirit and resolve tested more than at Liskeard just over twelve months agon, in their crucial penultimate game of the season.
Knowing that a point would put United’s destiny in their own hands, but that anything less would open the door for title rivals Bristol Rovers, Torquay started well by going a goal up, before they were reduced to ten players barely fifteen minutes in, as goalscorer Connie Pengelly turned from hero to villain in the space of quarter-of-an-hour.
Things got almost unbelievably worse for TUWFC thereafter, as their already-injury and illness-hit side suffered a number of setbacks within the 75 minutes that followed.
Amid players being deemed unfit to continue before being forced back onto the field of play, a late first-half equaliser from the hosts was compounded by Devon Cup hero Mole suffering a horrendous injury shortly after.
With the result now in the balance, Torquay’s barely-patched up team of ten – sometimes practically nine – players showed astonishing bravery, determination and most of all, belief, to not only secure the result that they craved for their stricken teammate, but also pave the way for promotion success soon after.
TUWFC Needs YOU!
Which brings us to the final, and most powerful weapon United still possess in their armoury – you, the Yellow Army.
Ahead of their final 90 minutes of the season, and with the target of FA Women’s National League survival still within their grasp, Chairman Steve Elswood has put out a rallying call on behalf of his troops.
“It’s a game we have to win, it could be our last National League game,” said Elswood decisively.
“The girls will go out there and give their best, no doubt. We’ll have to see how the Southampton result goes, but we know the enormity of the task ahead against Swindon, that’s a really big challenge. There’s no doubt about that.
“You never know in football, you might get the breaks, but overall the performance will have to be better than it was against Portishead, for us to stand any chance of maintaining our status in the league.
“We will have to see how it goes, but we’re certainly ready for it.”
Elswood saved his final words for United’s loyal fanbase – who, of course, have only just recovered from willing Aaron Downes’ side to National League South survival with a game to spare, after an arduous 2023/24 of their own.
“We need as much support as we can, and the more supporters we can get there, the more belief it will give our girls.”
Venue & Ticketing Arrangements
The venue for Sunday’s decisive fixture will already be familiar to many older Gulls fans, with Dawlish United’s Sandy Lane ground previously home to now-defunct and much-missed Western League side Dawlish Town, who regularly hosted Torquay’s first-team in pre-season friendlies until their unfortunate demise in July 2011.
With entrance prices pegged at just £5 for adults and £2 for Under-18s, it’s an excellent opportunity to get the whole family down to Dawlish and cheer on the team in Yellow & Blue for one final time this season, before a well-earned summer break.
Your support, as ever, can make all the difference!
FA WOMEN’S NATIONAL LEAGUE | TUWFC V SWINDON TOWN
DAWLISH UNITED FC, SANDY LANE, DAWLISH, EX7 0AF
SUNDAY 5TH MAY 2024 | 2PM KO
ADULTS £5 | UNDER-18S £2