Steve Elswood’s team had their FA Vitality Women’s Cup dreams ended, as they slipped to a 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth Sports LFC on Sunday.
TUWFC had already got to the Second Round for the first time in their history following their win against Warminster, but knew they would be in for a tough challenge as they came up against a resilient Bournemouth Sports side in Dorset on Sunday afternoon.
In an open first half where both sides tried to create chances but were unable to put the finishing touches to their moves, it took an effort from just outside the United area that looped just under the crossbar for Bournemouth Sports to go into the break with the advantage.
The second half really came alive though as firstly just after the hour mark, Rebecca McMullin got the Yellows back on level terms when the ball reached her on the edge of the box, and the midfielder managed to arc the ball over the keeper and into the top corner. Back came the host team though, when after collecting the ball in the area the Bournemouth player was adjudged to have been fouled, and the resulting spot kick was put away to regain the lead for the home side.
Torquay responded again though for a second time as Ellie Bishop collected the pass in the midfield and accelerated towards the left edge of the penalty area, where she struck the ball across the Bournemouth keeper and into the far corner of the net to once again level the scores. However a ball across the penalty area came out to the edge of the area and once again a long range effort found the net to give the Dorset side the lead for the third time. Despite creating a few more chances United were unable to find the goal to draw level again and Bournemouth Sports progressed to the next round.
Manger Steve Elswood reflected after the game of his sadness at going out, but also of how proud he was to have reached this stage of the competition:
“ Obviously i’m very proud of the teams achievements, but we came up just short of making the famous 3rd Round and I feel the sadness right now. I’ve got some downhearted players in the changing room, however we have to be proud but also learn from this that you cant play 45 minutes of a match and expect to win a game of football. It has to be for the 90 mins and we gave ourselves just too much to do in the tie come the end.”
“This will make us stronger as a team and give us that focus to ensure we can achieve our main aim of promotion this season in the league, and overall am so proud of this group and what we’ve achieved historically in the FA Cup and have loved every minute of it.”