Plymouth Argyle Women v Hashtag United Women

Argyle return to FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division action on Sunday, hosting Hashtag United at Home Park.

The Greens are looking to continue a spell of winning form, after ending as victors against Bridgwater United, in the FA Women’s National League Cup, before being Milton Keynes Dons ion league action last weekend.

Head Coach Ryan Perks was delighted to pick up three points away from home and hopes the back-to-back victories will play into a confidence boost at the Theatre of Greens.

“We went there intending to come home with three points, and we got the job done,” Perks told Argyle TV. “I think we dominated the game, scored some excellent goals and overall, the aim was three points. To back that up after the win in the cup against Bridgwater as well, it was quite a successful week.

“We've had two wins out of the three games, in a tough period, so, hopefully, that breeds a bit of confidence going into this weekend.

“Hashtag are a strong side. They finished second in the league last year. We know what to expect. They're quite physical and have some talented players, but we proved it against them last season. At the back end of the year, we got a point at home and probably should have nicked all three.

“We'll do our homework like we do every week. We've just got to go in and not be scared, be brave to get on the ball, and play our style and football. I think we can come away with another positive result.”

Over 750 of the Green Army turned out to Home Park for the opening home match of the season, and the support over the 90 minutes did not go unnoticed. Perks believed the crowd’s cheering and attendance helped the performance on the pitch, and wants the same to occur against Hashtag.

He said: “For all those who were here, I think the girls showed what we're about [on the pitch]. We had a bit of fight and grit in the game and some thunderous tackles were going in. You could hear the crowd getting behind and lifting us, and that gives you that drive when you're going forward.

“You can hear the excitement in the crowd. Hopefully, we get another big crowd in to get behind the girls and give us that extra 10% to push us on and drive us forward. Looking back at the Oxford game, we were very good in moments. It was just key moments in the game where we made individual errors, rather than a team playing some expansive and excellent football tearing us apart.

"We’ve just got to tighten it up with the errors, but I think performances will turn into results.”

Season tickets for Argyle’s home campaign are still available. They can be purchased via ArgyleTickets.com.

Tickets for Sunday’s match against Hashtag United are also on sale. Single match tickets are available via ArgyleTickets.com and cost £10 for adults, £5 for over-65s and £3 for under-18s.

You can also purchase via phone by calling 01752 907700 or visiting the Home Park Ticket Office from 10am to 4pm on Monday to Friday, or 10am to 2pm on Saturdays.

Argyle 0

Hashtag United 5
Baigent 20, Turner 28, 48, Balfour 78, Nicholls 87.

Argyle lost 5-0 to a confident Hashtag United side at Home Park, although the scoreline is a little harsh on the Greens, who were made to pay from a series of set-pieces.

Sophie Baigent and Holly Turner both headed in corners in the first period, with Turner adding another headed goal shortly after the break.

To this point, the difference between the sides was pretty much only the goals, with Hashtag’s clinical finishing giving them the numerical advantage. As Argyle tired, though, and defeat was inevitable, United made them pay with two goals from substitutes. The fourth goals was a pearler from Kallie Balfour, the last a facile finish for Macey Nicholls.

Head Coach Ryan Perks elected to stick with the same starting line-up that began the 5-1 win at Milton Keynes Dons the previous week, meaning that the Greens once again played with a back four of Ella Stephens, Taya Pomfret, Giota Papaioannou and Katie Dickson in front of goalkeeper Lily Felgate.

In midfield, Georgie Knott and Imy Crawford sat the deepest, with Lulu Jarvis, Ava Kuyken and Georgia Wilson playing in support of centre-forward Charlotte Whitmore.

Argyle had two chances in the opening three minutes, both coming from a similar line of attack, from crafted balls forward over the top.

The first saw Whitmore race clear of the defence, forcing a good save from Hashtag goalkeeper Frankie Angel, before Wilson made a similar break, but had her shot smothered.

This was clearly the Greens’ best line of attack, and on multiple occasions, usually from the aforementioned duo, caused problems for the Tags heading towards their own goal.

To the 20-minute mark, the visitors had probably shaded the territory and possession, with their only real chance coming from a header by Baigent, which she nodded wide when in space.

Then came an extraordinary sequence of events as Argyle goalkeeper Lily Felgate palmed on a cross, where Turner was waiting, but blasted a shot against the post from within two yards of the goal. Even the rebound looked a certain goal, but Sammy Rowland shanked wide with the net gaping.

A couple of minutes later, though, Hashtag did take the lead, and it was from another corner that found Baigent. She timed her run nicely, and powerfully headed into the net.

United’s second goal, six minutes later, was almost a carbon copy. Another corner was swung in from the left, to a similar position near the far post, only this time it was Turner heading home.

The first goal had settled Hashtag, and the second had amplified this, as they were now playing with visibly more confidence in their game. They had a chance to add a third when Freda Ayisi flicked over from just inside the six-yard area, and saw the game to half-time with only the occasional alarm when Argyle looked to break.

Another set-piece – this time a left-wing free-kick – resulted in United’s third, with Turner again steering home a smart header.

Argyle reacted to this by taking off full-back Dickson in favour of Ellie Sara, to join Whitmore up front. Sara was quickly involved in a neat move down the right-hand side, involving several Argyle players, and concluding with a Kuyken shot over the bar.

Hashtag did get a fourth – and what a goal it was. This time Argyle looked to have dealt with a corner adequately, only for it to fall to Balfour, who lashed in an unstoppable effort which is unlikely to better at any level of Home Park fixture this season. They then completed the scoreline with a late tap-in by substitute Macey Nicholls.

Argyle Women’s next fixture is back at Home Park, on Sunday, 15 September, as the Greens meet London Bees in the FA Women’s National League Cup.

Argyle: 1 Lily Felgate, 2 Katie Dickson, 5 Giota Papaioannou (capt) (4 Amii Kearley, 80), 6 Taya Pomfret, 7 Charlotte Whitmore, 8 Imy Crawford (14 Kelsey Blight, 77), 10 Georgia Wilson, 15 Georgie Knott (20 Fern Orchard, 71), 16 Ella Stephens, 17 Lulu Jarvis (19 Erin O'Shea, 80), 24 Ava Kuyken. Substitutes: 13 Grace Smith, 18 Katie Grigg.

Booked: Pomfret 47, Stephens 86.

Hashtag United: 1 Frankie Angel, 4 Sophie Baigent, 5 Grace Gillard, 6 Courtney Lumley, 7 Georgia Griffin, 9 Holly Turner, 11 Sammy Rowland (15 Louise Davis, 81), 16 Gemma Baker (20 Frankie Finlayson, 81), 18 Malika Apindia (14 Kallie Balfour, 69), 19 Kayleigh Stead (22 Wiktoria Fronc, 69), 99 Freda Ayisi (8 Macey Nicholls, 58).

Booked:

Attendance: 585.

PLY Argyle Women