Gulls slip up in pursuit of Women’s Premier League

A second successive defeat for Torquay United Women has left the Gulls fourth in the South West Regional Women’s Premier League.

It was always going to be a tough task at home to leaders Marine Academy Plymouth and both sides demonstrated why they are at the top end of the division in a highly competitive encounter.

There was nothing between them in the early stages, with Lucy Solloway providing United’s major threat from out wide. Marine Academy responded with a strong spell of pressure, forcing United custodian Jas Read into a fine stop, tipping over a powerful strike from Beth Overton.

Back came the Gulls, Adele Brown firing narrowly over the bar before the lively Tee Kaptein brought out the best from MAP goalkeeper Leigh Black, who had to dive full-length to turn the ball wide.

The decisive moment eventually arrived in the early stages of the second period, as Overton pounced on some hesitancy in the Torquay defence to surge forward and fizz a fine finish beyond the despairing dive of Read.

United immediately set about the search for a leveller, Tracey Cross seeing her instinctive strike blocked by Black, who had raced out of her penalty area. The Gull, justifiably, claimed it was a handball from the MAP ‘keeper but their protests were waved away by the referee.

Black was having a super game in the MAP goal, next thwarting another Cross effort before snaffling a strike from Solloway at the second attempt.

All the United pressure inevitably left some holes at the back, and the game was almost up when Clara Martin struck the inside of the post for MAP, while the Gulls turned to the bench for some fresh impetus.

Read produced another top save, as the game became increasingly stretched. Ellie Bishop had a shot deflected inches wide for United and both Kaptein and Cross rattled the woodwork.

Bishop then came even closer, testing the strength of the crossbar with a stinging drive after cutting in from the right flank. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be for United, who must recover quickly for the challenges ahead.