Argyle Women’s pre-season campaign concluded on Sunday with a 5-0 win over Torquay United at Manadon Sports Hub. 

Charlotte Whitmore and new signing Georgia Wilson bagged a brace each, with captain Panagiota Papaioannou scoring the Greens’ other goal. 

The game started off as a back-and-forth affair, with chances for both sides early on, however it was Whitmore and Argyle who broke the deadlock. The forward picked up the ball in the Torquay half and drove towards the goal before firing a low-driven shot into the bottom corner of the Gulls’ net. 

The visitors had a run of their own, creating multiple chances and shots on goal in quick succession, but Lily Felgate did enough on all occasions, saving shots and clearing the ball away from the goalmouth. 

Torquay’s best chance came in the 42nd minute when a shot around the keeper required an important goal-line clearance from Papaioannou to hold Argyle’s lead. 

Just minutes later, the celebrations continued, as Wilson lofted the ball over the goalkeeper to score her first of the game. A chipped through-ball from fellow recent signee Lulu Jarvis was placed to precision, and the midfielder met and slotted home. 

One minute after the second-half restart, Wilson grabbed her second, tapping home a cross from Ellie Sara, and extending the Pilgrims' advantage to three. The period of Argyle domination continued with Papaioannou volleying home from a deep corner to add a fourth.  

The fixture continued in Argyle’s favour and, in the dying minutes, Whitmore’s precise finish into the far top corner of Torquay’s goal sealed her second of the game and Argyle’s fifth. 

Despite the large scoreline, Argyle Women’s Head Coach Ryan Perks hoped for a stronger performance in the squad’s final pre-season fixture, as they prepare to begin their season at Cheltenham Town on Sunday.  

“I think we lowered our levels a little bit from the game at Manchester United,” Perks told Argyle TV. “It sounds weird when you get a 5-0 win that you're a bit disappointed with it, but we had words at the half around how we wanted them to play, and they came out in the second half and played a lot better.  

“We were a bit more clinical in front of goal but could have probably scored a couple more. Lily had to make a few saves in the first half to keep our clean sheet; it was nice to see her back in the squad.  

“[There were] some positives, but we also had a couple of players come off with a few little niggles, which isn't ideal the week before the season. We'll try and look after them this week for Cheltenham this weekend.”