FAC1R: Torquay United v Bridgwater Utd 2pm 31/10/24

Big match today. Hope Tee Kaptein is available as we are much stronger with her in the side. Being played at Newton Abbot Spurs, Marsh Road Newton Abbot TQ12 2AP. (Just off The Avenue).

Another frustrating Torquay United afternoon as the women go out to a second-half penalty, which was the only goal of the game. They can hang their heads high though as they dominated the first half and maybe should have scored a few, that would have changed the result.

In just the first half I lost count of the number of corners we had but it was almost certainly in double figures and the fact that they kept a clean sheet was down to their Impressive keeper who played a blinder. I understand she was suspended in her previous game but typically this does not run over into the FA cup competition. She saved two very good efforts from Ellie Bishop coming in from the left-hand side and shooting at the far corner, one high and one low and somehow in both cases just managed to tip the ball around the post. She also saved a good free kick from Tee Kaptein that was just dipping below the bar. Prior to this I actually thought we had been awarded a penalty for a foul on Lucy Solloway as she fell down in the area although she was initially pulled back outside the box. Bishop had another good attempt on the edge of the area when the ball came out to her from a corner with her shot just going narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

It was always likely that the second half would not be as dominant and it was a much more even and somewhat scrappier affair as players tired and substitutions came on. Bridgewater were more of a threat in this half and on one of their breaks we were a little too exuberance in getting the ball clear on the edge of the box and typically it was just inside as opposed to outside. To add further salt into the wound, former player Connie Pengelly stepped up and blasted a virtually unstoppable shot into the net. We had very few chances to equalize, but with a few minutes remaining the chance came when Lucy Solloway was unexpectedly able to get free in the area albeit under pressure from two defenders and scuffed her shot with their keeper gratefully able to fall down on the ball.

On a positive note, I have only seen the standard of the women’s team improve in the five years that I have been watching them and they now seem to be better than the 2022/23 team that last won promotion and if we continue to play like we did in the first half then I cannot see any team in our division being able to cope with that level. I also thought our goalie Jasmine Read had a good game as she had to deal with pressure in the second half and is someone that has improved as the season has progressed.