Devon cup glory for Torquay women
The 2021/22 season has been a very successful one indeed for Torquay United Women FC. The club finished in their highest league position for a number of years, qualified for the first round proper in the Women’s FA Cup and won their first Devon County Senior Cup against local rivals Exeter City Women.
Not only were Torquay up against high league opposition and the current holders of the Devon County Senior Cup trophy, they also went into the final with no recognised goalkeeper following the suspension of Konnie Kleczkowski, who was sent off in the gulls penultimate game of the season.
Step forward Sasha Mole…
Mole who normally plays as a central midfielder offered her services as a goalkeeper and produced a player of the match performance, scoring and saving penalties in the shoot out to give interim manager Steve Elswood’s side the title.
Played in front of 500 plus supporters at Devon County HQ United came from a goal down to equalise in stoppage time and take the game into a penalty shoot out.
City had the best of the game hitting the post and bar during the 90 minutes and must have thought that they had won the final with 5 minutes remaining when Connie Pengelly struck from 12 yards passed Mole.
However Elswood’s side had shown all game that they where up for the fight and deep into injury time a miss timed challenge inside the box on gulls winger Beth Everson brought about a lifeline for United. From 12 yards the experienced midfielder Leah Brooks fired the ball passed Abbie Bond to send the game to penalties.
Mole took the first for Torquay and scored and then went back in goal to save from Beck. Danni Wyatt, Anthea Kaptein and Brookes all scored before gulls skipper Emma Hunt had her’s saved by Bond, before Mollie Taylor levelled things up.
United’s Esme Kilburn-Thompson and City’s Pengelly both converted their respective spot kicks to take the shoot out to sudden death. Tracey Cross fired passed Bond to leave all the pressure on Jess Standland.
Mole, who had only trained as a keeper for a few sessions guessed right and saved Standland’s penalty to send United’s players and supporters into wild celebrations and gave the club it’s first Devon County Senior Cup in their short history.
After the game Elswood said “They are just the most amazing bunch of women, I’m in shock to be fair!”.
The win will give everyone connected to the Women’s team the belief that promotion into the National League might not be far off, the question will be can Elswood keep the core of the squad together with plenty of suiters looking at this talented side.
(Images by Miraclepr)
