Torquay United’s Women progressed through to the semi-finals of the A&S Interiors Devon Women’s Premier Cup, as they came from behind to win at Feniton.
Having beaten their opponents 9-1 just over a year ago in the FA Cup, United’s women found the conditions and their opposition, offering a tougher challenge, and although United dominated, the failed to capitalise early on, against a disciplined, well-organised and hard-working Feniton side.
United chose to play up the slope in the first half and although they exploited the wings well, Ocean Latto and Jess Smith on the left, and Ella Stephens and Emily Eaton on the right, neither Danni Wyatt, nor Chloe Kind found themselves in too many first half scoring positions.
It was a full ten minutes before either keeper was troubled, as both sides got to grips with the pitch and a strong wind blowing across Acland Park. Ayres dealt comfortably with the home side’s first shot from distance, Kind responding with a similarly tame effort up the hill.
United worked themselves into rhythm, skipper Tracey Cross speculative from distance firing one wide and one at the keeper. Tee Kaptein, Smith and Latto then combined, Eaton driving a rebound over the bar, after Kind’s initial effort was blocked. And Wyatt was denied at the near post by the Feniton keeper after work from Smith and Lexi Watts.
When teams are on top, they need to capitalise with a goal. United failed to do so and were punished accordingly 11 minutes before the break. A Feniton free kick was half cleared and when the ball was recycled into the United box from the right, Kate Finch-O’Brien rose unmarked at the back post to power home a header.
It could have been worse five minutes later, as an errant Lucy Palmer pass found a Fenton midfielder in United’s final third, but her shot on the run was wide.
Sometimes you need a little luck in cup competitions, and it came Torquay’s way a minute before half time, Latto cutting in from the left and looking to find the killer pass, but seeing the ball deflect off a defender and sneak between keeper and near post – technically an own goal, though United’s No.3 will claim it!
From the body language of United’s coaching team as they emerged for the second half, stern words had been had in the dressing room, and, playing down the slope United responded, rarely allowing Feniton any respite.
Latto had a shot saved, Smith’s looping effort from the left just dipped over, and Wyatt fired wide from a good position. Moments later though the United striker made no mistake, Wyatt with a clinical finish after being gifted the ball from a Feniton goal kick.
Cross fired in a couple more on target, a tame effort followed my a more testing one after a purposeful United build up. Rachel Griffiths wind assisted corner was cleared from the line and Palmer mis-hit the rebound over, before United sealed their last-four place with four minutes left.
The hard-working Stephens cut in from the right, and though her first shot was saved, made no mistake with the close-range rebound to make it 3-1.
United finished strong, Eaton’s cross just evading Smith at the far post, Griffiths firing wide, Watts seeing a curling effort saved, and Kind driving the ball just wide in the final seconds.
United: Emma Ayres, Ella Stephens, Tee Kaptein, Lucy Palmer, Ocean Latto, Emily Eaton (Rebecca McMullin), Lexi Watts, Tracey Cross, Jess Smith, Danni Wyatt (Rachel Griffiths), Chloe Kind Sub Not Used: Scarlett Williams