United women relegated after courageous fightback

Torquay United Women suffered the heartbreak of relegation from the FA Women’s National League after a thrilling second-half fightback against a powerful Swindon outfit.

The Gulls endured a brutal first half and were trailing 5-1 at half-time but they dug incredibly deep to bring the scores back to 5-4. Elsewhere, news filtered through that Southampton Women had lost to Maidenhead, which meant United could survive with a victory, but Swindon held out for the three points.

Meg Jarvis gave the visitors a first-minute lead and only a top save from Emma Ayres kept the deficit down to one goal. Unfortunately, there was nothing she could do when Swindon were awarded a penalty and Annie Colston fired home from the spot.

Gipsy Viveash made it 3-0 inside 13 minutes and United looked doomed.

Goal-line clearances from Anthea Kaptein and Rachel Heron briefly kept the rampant visitors at bay but there was a sense of inevitability about number four, Jarvis finding Helena Diaz-Butcher for Swindon to add more pain.

United fought back with a goal from Katelyn McKane, converting a clever flick from Rachel Griffiths, but Swindon still had time to extend their lead to 5-1 at the break, Colston notching her second of the day.

Ayres produced a super save early in the second half and United began to rouse themselves for an incredible final half-hour.

Tracey Cross forced a super save from the visiting custodian before a foul on Ocean Latto earned United a penalty. Captain Cross held her nerve from the spot, 2-5 with 20 minutes remaining.

The Gulls grabbed another goal within a minute, McKane lashing a fabulous strike into the top corner from just outside the box. Emily Eaton took on the challenge next and when her strike from distance took a wicked deflection to crawl over the line, a remarkable reprieve was still possible.

United now knew Southampton had been beaten and they had ten minutes to score two goals. McKane forced a fine save from the Swindon stopper and then fired inches over. Cross also came close but the great escape just fell short.