Buckland bowled over by youthful Gulls

A very young Torquay United side produced an excellent display to defeat Western League Buckland Athletic on penalties in the St Luke’s Devon Cup.

Boasting just four senior players in Ollie Tomlinson, Roddy Collins, Wills Jenkins Davies and Jadyn Crosbie, United used that experienced spine to control the first period and deservedly led through a powerful finish from Andrew Ellis.

Buckland responded well early in the second period and drew level with a sweet low strike from Charlie Shearer but United grabbed the lead again, and Ellis bagged his brace with a searing free-kick that burst through the home wall.

The Gulls made changes in personnel and ended the game with ten U18 players on the pitch but were hit by a last-gasp leveller from Ryan Richards forcing the shoot-out.

In a typically tense spot-kick showdown, United goalkeeper Luke Adams made one great save and when Buckland fired wide in sudden death, youngster Corey Luscombe held his nerve to book a place in the next round.