Steve Elswood’s team overcame the adversity of a red card and a number of injuries, to pick up a 1-1 draw away at Liskeard Athletic Ladies on Sunday to leave themselves a win away from promotion.
Torquay United’s Women produced their most stunning 45 minutes of the season, and possibly ever, to secure a one-all draw at Liskeard Athletic, in a dramatic afternoon in Cornwall. The point sets up a home finale in two weeks’ time, where United can lift the South West Premier title and secure promotion, with victory over Royal Wootton Bassett.
Having needed a last-gasp penalty to secure a home draw against Liskeard, United would have expected a tough afternoon in Cornwall. Already hamstrung by injuries and unavailability of personnel, the visitors were reduced to ten players inside fifteen minutes having taken a very early lead. Yet it wasn’t the red card that proved a turning point, but a serious injury to Sasha Mole in first half stoppage time, that change the complexion of this encounter.
Mole had returned to her right-back role after an injury lay-off, allowing Rebecca McMullin back to central midfield. Danni Wyatt started her 100th game for United, despite picking up a knock in training.
There was no sign of what lay ahead, when United purred into gear from the opening kick-off, and within 83 seconds, were ahead. Connie Pengelly was fed the ball midway inside the Liskeard half, and twisted inside, then outside before unleashing a 30-yard lob over the stranded Sara Rowe. It was a perfect start that almost got better two minutes later, Pengelly meeting Ocean Latto’s corner from the right with a firm header, just the wrong side of the back post.
Pengelly and Esme Kilburn-Thompson looked dangerous on every foray forward, the former having a cross half cleared in the twelfth minute, inviting the latter to unleash a volley from 18 yard that had both the sprawling Rowe and the right hand post beaten.
The game took its first twist with just under a quarter of an hour gone, Pengelly lashing out with her foot as Liskeard won a throw on halfway, referee Aimee Green eventually producing a straight red card for the United striker.
It sparked an immediate revival from the hosts, Chloe Williams getting behind United’s back line, but denied by the advancing Emma Ayres, Lucy Jones firing a second effort wide. United though still looked dangerous and three times a softer first touch by Wyatt could have allowed her to double the lead.
Scarlett Williams replaced the now-struggling Wyatt, and Jones again went close for Liskeard with a long-range effort, before an uncharacteristic error from Jana Richards in the final minute of normal time, allowed the hosts to equalise. United’s skipper misjudged a long ball and her missed header allowed Gabi Alphous into the vacant gap to slot past Ayres. Moments later Georgie Talbot lobbed over, as United hung on for really the first time in the match.
Then three minutes into first half stoppage time, a potentially card worthy challenge on Mole, which went unpenalized, left United’s number 9 screaming in pain, amid immediate concern from her teammates. It was clearly a serious injury and United’s management, coaching and physio team worked to keep Sasha warm and comfortable while protecting what we subsequently learned was a dislocated knee. After a lengthy delay, referee Green reluctantly allowed both teams back to the dressing rooms for the half time interval.
The stoppage was nearly 75 minutes whilst a first ambulance was diverted to a life-threatening emergency, and second eventually made it to the Liskeard pitch. It was a tense time, both sides discussing the continuation or not of the fixture with the referee, the hosts clearly in favour against the ten of Torquay, United with no real appetite to continue, as their teammate continued to lie stricken on the turf. Huge credit too to Scarlett Williams, who stayed by Sasha’s side for the entire interval.
After a brief warm up, the second half finally got under way, just over two hours after the match had originally started. McMullin dropped into Mole’s right-back role, and Laura Lewis, on the bench but having been ill all week, was introduced to the right side of midfield. But the second half was barely a couple of kicks old, when Rhi Bailey went down in a 50/50 challenge, and after lengthy treatment had to be carried from the field. Re-enter the injured Wyatt, as United tried to piece together ten able bodies.
The travelling United supporters would have understandably expected a rear-guard action under a Liskeard second half onslaught. It was anything but. What followed was a phenomenal display of teamwork and game management, highlighting once again, just how tight knit this squad really is.
Wyatt and Lewis, both clearly not fit, picked their runs forward and kept Liskeard’s back line busy. The tireless Kilburn-Thompson found a new role as a ball-winning central midfielder, alongside Tracey Cross. And, when they were a step out, Richards, McMullin, Latto and the ever-reliable Emma Hunt were imperious in defence, rarely allowing a shot, let alone anything to trouble Ayres in Torquay’s goal.
Williams did get in behind with twenty minutes left shooting tamely, but United came closer to a winner than the hosts. Wyatt set up Kilburn-Thompson, but she shot high and wide, and moments later she had another shot saved by Rowe. Cross also shot just wide from distance as United sensed an unlikely victory.
Amy Hemmingway’s tame header was Liskeard’s last effort of note, as United managed the clock across the 90-minute mark and through more than 14 minutes of added time. From the scenes at the final whistle, you’d have been forgiven for thinking United had won the league, cup and national lottery jackpot as well!
That league title will have to wait until the end of the month, but, if it is achieved, it will have been forged in a season of strength and unity, and galvanised by this gargantuan effort in their penultimate fixture. Truly heroines one and all!
Torquay United Women: Emma Ayres, Sasha Mole, Jana Richards ©, Emma Hunt, Ocean Latto, Tracey Cross, Danni Wyatt, Rebecca McMullin, Rhi Bailey, Connie Pengelly, Esme Kilburn Thompson. Subs: Scarlett Williams, Laura Lewis.