Torquay United exited the Bayside St. Luke’s Challenge Cup on Tuesday evening, after Ivybridge eventually ran out winners on penalties.
United, whose line-up included a mixture of senior pros & youth team prospects, were backed by a healthy showing of the Yellow Army at Erme Park, as they took an Ivybridge side that are unbeaten in their first ten games in the South West Peninsula League this season.
Captain for the evening Ryan Hanson led by example by putting his side 1-0 up at the halfway point, however two second-half strikes for the hosts looked to have turned the match on its head.
Southampton loanee Luke Pearce’s first goal for United in the dying stages threw his side a lifeline with the final whistle blowing with the scores locked at 2-2.
Penalties – not for the first time in recent years – sadly went against Torquay however, leaving Ivybridge to celebrate their progress into the next round.
United: 1. Rhys Lovett, 2. Liam Poole, 3. Dan Martin, 4. Jack Kennell, 5. Finley Craske, 6. Calum Thomas, 7. Ryan Hanson (c), 8. Ethan O’Sullivan, 9. Luke Pearce, 10. Mason Elliot, 11. Kai Swann.
SUBS: 12. Riley Crawford, 13. Will Howard, 14. Charlie Wills, 16. Andrew Ellis