Argyle Women’s winning run came to an end with defeat to Cheltenham Town, in a game played at Saltash United’s Kimberley Stadium.
A goal in each half, from Una Lue and Emily Owen, both of whom scored when the Robinesses inflicted defeat on Argyle in the first league game of the season, was enough for the visitors.
Ryan Perks made one change to the Pilgrims’ side, bringing in Imy Crawford to the midfield, with Ella Stephens moving to the right flank, and Lily Jarvis moving to the bench.
Cheltenham’s first threat was from a well-delivered corner that was equally well cleared by the head of Taya Pomfret. Not long afterwards, Argyle won two corners of their own, and came close to opening the corner when Amii Kearley flicked on and Pomfret was centimetres from turning home.
As the midway point of the half approached, Crawford and Ellie Sara took efforts from distance which went wide and found the goalkeeper’s hands respectively, but it was the visitors who went ahead straight afterwards.
Cheltenham won the ball in midfield and broke with purpose. Ella Pemberton slid a ball into the inside-left channel, and Lue steered a shot across Lily Felgate and into the corner of the net.
In the second half, a pattern began to form. Argyle, needing an equaliser, were pushing players forward, but Cheltenham looked constantly dangerous on the counter-attack.
Lue went close in the opening moments of the half, and Pemberton, following good work from the impressive Henna Butcher, could not control a ball that fell to her in a good position.
Felgate made a series of good saves, firstly from Lue and then even more sharply from Butcher when clean through, before Cheltenham scored their second, in rather controversial circumstances.
Cheltenham earned a corner on the left, but Kearley was clearly struggling, needing treatment, as the kick was taken. With Kearley still on the field but unable to stop the cross, Owen turned home, leaving Cheltenham ecstatic and Argyle apoplectic.
Pomfret was cautioned, leading to a sin-bin, with Perks sent off. Later, with frustrations still bubbling, Charlotte Whitmore and Ella Stephens were both harshly cautioned and sent to the sin bin, too.
Ultimately, Cheltenham deserved their win for their enterprises, but Argyle will feel aggrieved at the circumstances in which a decisive second goal was scored.
The Greens are back in action on Sunday, 24 November, against Exeter City, at Home Park, in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup. Kick-off is at 1pm.
Argyle: 1 Lily Felgate, 2 Katie Dickson (17 Lulu Jarvis, 83), 4 Amii Kearley (3 Roxy Thomas, 72), 6 Taya Pomfret, 7 Charlotte Whitmore, 8 Imy Crawford (capt), 9 Ellie Sara (20 Fern Orchard, 55), 10 Georgia Wilson, 16 Ella Stephens, 24 Ava Kuyken, 26 Caitlin Smith. Substitutes: 56 Comfort Erhabor (gk), 5 Giota Papaioannou, 15 Georgie Knott, 19 Erin O’Shea.
Cheltenham: 1 Mia Smith, 2 Anais Trinci (10 Libby Bell, 62), 3 Abbey Hateley (4 Lilly Wellesley-Davies, 89), 4 Holly Finch, 6 Maisy Collis, 8 Meg Attenborough (17 Doris Greenwood, 76), 12 Henna Butcher (18 Caitlin Hale, 90), 13 Ffion Llewellyn, 15 Emily Owen (capt), 16 Ella Pemberton, 21 Una Lue (20 Kaitlyn Morgan-Hemmens, 82). Substitutes: 30 Carys Pugh-Jones (gk).
