For the third year in a row Royal Wootton Bassett Town exited the Adobe Women's FA Cup in the third qualifying round - one step short of a first ever appearance in the first round proper.

And for the second time in three years Bassett fell to defeat at the hands of Torquay United.

However, unlike in 2022-23 when Torquay cruised to a 5-2 victory, this time the Gulls had to work extremely hard for their 3-1 win as Bassett put up a dogged fight throughout a contest in which it was unclear to the neutral observer that this was a tie pitting tier five and six opponents against one another.

Torquay came into the game on the back of four straight wins in which they had scored 28 goals.

But Bassett frustrated Torquay in the opening period, limiting their hosts largely to half chances, and the game appeared set to go into the break goalless.

However, cruelly for Bassett, two minutes into first half stoppage time the deadlock was broken as Lucy Solloway found the net following a corner.

Despite continuing to apply pressure to their visitors, it took Torquay until midway through the second half to get their second.

And it came from another corner - and in somewhat fortuitous circumstances. Darcy Cox's attempted clearance fell only as far as Kate McKane, whose shot was sneaked in despite Millie Powell getting a good hand to the ball.

A counter attack provided Torquay's third to make it game, set and match. The hosts cleared after Holly Baker advanced forward in search of an opening for Bassett. McKane did well to keep the all in and she delivered a cross that Powell was able to punch away. However, Torquay's Chloe Williams was first to the loose ball and fired home.

Bassett were able to muster an immediate response as Kat Bach steered into the net at the far post after Honor Fraser swung a cross into the box.

That would prove only to be a consolation goal though as Torquay - only after having encountered significant resistance from Bassett - the progressed.

Bassett's wait for a debut first round proper appearance therefore has to wait another year.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 13th October 2024 at 21:17