Torquay United Women's Team

link - game off as the women also fall foul of a waterlogged pitch

link - squad news out - looks very strong.

A hard fought 2-1 win to Torquay today keeps up their 100% home record and pressure on the league leaders, now just 3 points off top spot with games still in hand. While Bishops Lydeard had few clear chances it was still close as epitomised by the last kick of the game which only just sailed over the Torquay bar and a tad lower would have seen the points shared.

It is great having strikers of the quality of Kilburn-Thompson and Pengelly but a front two as opposed to the usual front three means a reduced midfield and Bishops Lydeard worked hard to ensure there was a lot less service to our strikers. Having said that Torquay did have 4 or 5 good chances in the first half. The first goal came early on after a cross from the right saw Bishops Lydeard appealing for offside and making the mistake of stopping and while the two strikers may have been off, Daisy Self was adjudged to be on and got to the ball first to slot home from just outside the 6 yard box.

Kilburn-Thompson looked sharp today (great to see her back in the side) and could have scored a couple in the first half, the best being a lovely chip over the keeper which unfortunately hit the inside of the post and came back out, another attempt from close range was blocked. We also had pressure and chances from corners wIth Bishops Lydeard’s best chance in the first half coming from a free kick that was hit over the wall to the far corner only to find Emma Hunt who had been strategically placed there to head clear.

Bailey was brought on just before half-time to bolster the midfield at the expense of Kilburn Thompson and going into the second half the game turned into a battle with Bishop Lydeard trying to get on the front foot but Torquay generally defended well. Pengelly showed her experience and has more tricks than a barrel load of monkeys. However she gained the side a much-needed cushion after a slight mistake from their defender was seized upon by her to race clear and calmly round their keeper to slot home.

However just three minutes later a rash challenge from Richards right on the edge of the area after Torquay had not cleared the ball earlier gave the referee no option other than to point at the spot and the resulting penalty was calmly slotted away by the Bishops Lydiard striker. This made for an awkward last 10 minutes with Kilburn Thompson coming back on for Pengelly (yes, they can do that!) to provide more pace giving an outlet up front and generally doing this well with the closest Bishop Lydeard coming to an equaliser being that last kick.

So a good important win and something that promotion winning teams need to do when too many players are not quite on their A game.

Player of the match, left back Ocean Latto gave her thoughts on Sunday’s win. Lot more to come from this player as she continues to mature and gain experience.




Meanwhile, looking at matches over the next month, big one coming up away against Bristol Rovers - link

weltchmedia.com link - Danni’s sponsors Weltch media put out a press statement with an interview on her new dual role.

link - In the meantime the women have a long trip to Wootton Bassett tomorrow. A team bottom of the league, but the match last week against Bishops Lydeard shows we can’t take this for granted. However, I am hoping in order of preference that
a) we win
b) we score early and get a good win to improve our goal difference.
C) it is on TUFC radio.

COYY

TUWFC match report - are only third, but still one point off the top with games in hand as Bristol Rovers won their delayed game yesterday, hence the discrepancy.

link - newly appointed assistant manager of Danny. Wyatt has a work cut out as she is now also #her game too ambassador for Torquay United.