Steve Elswood’s team kept up their title charge with a hard fought 2-0 victory away at Warminster Town Ladies on Sunday.
Torquay United’s Women produced another professional display on the road, to secure three more vital points at Warminster Town, as they chase down the South West Premier League crown.
Once again though, it was a stubborn and spirited display from Warminster, that kept United at bay for almost seventy minutes, though they rarely troubled Emma Ayres in the United goal.
Still beset by injuries, Steve Elswood was at least able to name an unchanged 11, with the side that saw off Forest Green Rovers a week ago, entrusted with the same responsibility in Wiltshire. But the potential banana-skin, which could have taken United’s destiny out of their own hands, seemed to be on their minds, as the visitors’ failed to settle in the opening ten minutes.
Although Ayres didn’t have to make a save in those early exchanges, Warminster showed their capabilities, Shannon Redhouse twice finding space on the right to cross into the United box, and Millie Spratt going close with a free kick from the right, which United allowed across the face of goal.
For Warminster’s endeavours though, it was United who grew into the game, and created chance after chance, though like Ayres, Abi Footner wasn’t really asked to make a proper save, but safely gathered anything United sent her way.
Laura Lewis tried to sneak one in at the near post from an almost impossible angle on the by-line, Connie Pengelly fired wide from 20 yards and then had a shot blocked after a Jana Richards free kick fell to her. Pengelly and Esme Kilburn-Thompson combined to set up Rhi Bailey but she fired over the bar, and then Bailey knocked down an Ocean Latto free kick, but Tracey Cross was off target, spooning the ball over the top.
United’s best chance of the first half came twelve minutes before the break, Bex Fry booked for a foul on Bailey, and Pengelly dipping her 20+ yard free kick onto the roof of the Warminster net. It spurred United on to hit the target in the latter stages of the half, Cross and Kilburn-Thompson had efforts blocked, Pengelly struck a 30-yard free kick and an 18-yard effort from open play straight at Footner, and Anthea Kaptein also found the arms off the Warminster keeper, after cutting in from the right.
Whether Elswood told his team to step it up, or to relax, at the interval, United did both after the break. And after surviving a couple of early Warminster shots which were well blocked, and a booking for Pengelly, they upped their game. Pengelly shot just wide from the left hand side, Cross met a deep free kick from Jana Richards but couldn’t get direction on her header, but you felt a United goal must come.
On 67 minutes, Cross fed Pengelly into the area, and her turn laid the ball up for Kilburn-Thompson to thump home from 8 yards, finally a reward for another afternoon of tireless running.
Moments later Bailey shot wide from another Richards free kick, before a Rebecca McMullin corner caused chaos in the Warminster area, and a defensive clearance ricocheted off a United body and just wide. United were home and dry though with twelve minutes left, Kaptein’s surging run, releasing a pass to Cross inside the area and she cut the ball back onto her right boot, to give Footner no chance.
United pressed for a third, Danni Wyatt on for Lewis forcing a Footner save, before Kaptein crashed a 35-yard effort a whisker wide of the Warminster post, with the last effort of meaning.
With Bristol Rovers 6-1 winners on the road for the second week running, United’s women are again denied top spot on goal difference, now 6 goals behind Rovers. Still having a game in hand though, the goal factor only comes into play, should United lose control of their own destiny. Rovers will face a tough examination hosting Warminster next week, while United will hope to help their goal tally against bottom side, Royal Wootton Bassett Town, who were thrashed 9-0 at Forest Green Rovers.
That game takes place at South Devon College next Sunday (12th March), kick-off at 2pm. And don’t forget the following Sunday, you can bring the family to see United’s Women in action at Plainmoor, as they take on Sherborne Town in the final home league match of 2022/23. Again the kick-off is a 2pm.
Torquay United Women: Emma Ayres, Rebecca McMullin, Jana Richards ©, Emma Hunt, Ocean Latto, Laura Lewis (Danni Wyatt), Rhi Bailey, Anthea Kaptein, Tracey Cross, Esme Kilburn-Thompson, Connie Pengelly Subs Not Used: Scarlett Williams, Sasha Mole
Steve Elswood gave his thoughts & reflection on a tough game afterwards:
“Overall a pleasing end result and performance on a very difficult surface which really made us think throughout the 90 minutes. Both sides struggled at times with passing phases, however its games and challenges like this that we love to overcome and that’s what hopefully gets us the achievement we all want this season.”
“We were a bit slow to start but as we grew into the half and the demands of the pitch, we started to dominant possession and started to create chances, one thing about this group is their resilience and how we can can create and never accept defeat.”
“The second half was very pleasing as we looked the stronger of the teams and credit where it’s due to Warminster, they made it very hard indeed for us and think in the end our combination of strength and fitness got us over the line, and we started to create several chances in the second half taking two and the three points which was the main objective.”
“Its now 14 league games unbeaten, the title and promotion is perhaps in our hands now and we know that, but we will keep to our beliefs with three games left that have got us this far, and with the game at Plainmoor on the 19th to come, its a really exciting end to the season in which we’ll push and fight to the very end for the title if needs be.”