United’s Under-18s began their 2023/24 campaign in perfect fashion Saturday, coming from behind to register a 2-1 home win over Swindon Supermarine.
It was the visitors who enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges at South Devon College though, with a goal from Dylan Griffin giving Swindon a half-time advantage.
The keenly-fought encounter was – like all of last weekend’s fixtures – played in very hot conditions, and it was to their credit that an improved showing from the Young Gulls saw a superb team effort restoring parity, with Andrew Ellis applying the finishing touch.
In contrast, the winning goal owed a lot to individual brilliance, with a mazy run from Kai Swann seeing the Torquay starlet beat four players, before being brought down on the edge of the box. That foul failed to perturb Swann though, who duly picked himself up and curled a wonderful effort over the defensive wall and into the net to seal three points for his side.
The next challenge awaiting the U18s is a trip to Hamworthy on Saturday, before United make the short trip to Bovey Tracey in the FA Youth Cup the following midweek.