Bridgwater United U18s 1
Torquay United U18s 2
Torquay United’s Under-18s made it a league & cup double on Saturday morning, as they came from a goal behind to beat Bridgwater at Fairfax Park.
Having launched a couple of promising attacks themselves in the early stages, United fell behind after seven minutes.
Winning a corner with their first real attack of the game, the ball was whipped in with pace to the near post, and the Bridgwater man emerged from a sea of bodies to nod the ball past goalkeeper Matt Wonnacott.
After taking a few minutes to settle themselves, the Young Gulls provided further evidence of the spirit that has served them so well this season, by promptly turning the game on its head.
With a quarter of an hour on the clock, Theo Cadby used his power to bulldoze through his opponent, before squaring the ball to Sammy Stayt centrally, who responded with a marvellous half-volley which the home ‘keeper had to dive full-length to keep out.
It was to prove only a temporary reprieve however, as from the resulting corner, Edmonds’ delivery found Cadby rising unchallenged at the back stick to nod a powerful header home and level the scores.
Barely five minutes later, the tide had been turned in impressive fashion.
A high ball into the area was flicked on superbly by Jayden Gilbert, however with his back to goal and the angle against him, Ben Aldous’ options looked sparse. However, seizing upon the opportunity to produce the spectacular, his remarkable over-the-shoulder flick looped over the stranded glovesman, before nestling into the far corner of the net.
Just short of the half-hour, Torquay went close to extending that advantage.
Cadby’s powerful run into the left of the box preceded a thunderous diagonal effort which Bridgwater’s No.1 did well to keep out, before the ball was worked back to Stayt, who took aim before rifling in a shot from 20 yards out that again required urgent attention from the goalkeeper.
Despite bossing proceedings up until the interval, the scoreline remained unchanged.
After the restart, Todd’s charges came out of the traps the quickest, as they went in search of a third goal.
They nearly got just that on 51 minutes as, but for a fine tip over the ‘bar from the Bridgwater stopper, Callum Thomas’ close range header would have extended his side’s lead.
In the 66th minute, it was Lewis Brooks’ chance to try his luck, however despite some wonderful interplay between Cadby and Stayt, the substitute could only fire over.
United continued to pose a threat at regular intervals for the remainder of the match, whilst their game management was such that the hosts could create little in the way of clear-cut openings at the other end.
Despite pumping a number of balls into a packed penalty area during the closing stages, Torquay held on to make it a South West Counties league & cup double, with a Devon Youth Cup final still to come.
Congratulations lads!
United U18s: 1. Matt Wonnacott, 17. Ben Aldous, 3. Joe Edmonds, 4. Alfie Collings, 5. Callum Thomas, 21. Harvey Field, 14. George Collins, 16. Jack Winsor, 18. Sammy Stayt, 19. Jayden Gilbert (11. Lewis Brooks, 59′), 9. Theo Cadby.
SUBS NOT USED: 13. Lloyd Marshall, 2. James Rowe, 26. Dan Grant.