Argyle secured their place in the second round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup with a 6-0 victory over Poole Town at Bolitho Park on Sunday.
Two own-goals and finishes from Charlotte Whitmore, Fern Orchard, Caitlin Smith and Imy Crawford propelled the Greens to a comfortable win over the visiting Dolphins.
Argyle started on the front foot immediately, creating clear-cut chances in front of goal and they found the opener before the 10th minute through Whitmore. The forward volleyed home from inside the area to give the Greens the lead against their tier-five opponents.
Poole, however, held on for the rest of the first half, stopping a barrage of attacks down both flanks. Continuous corners were won by Argyle, but the Pilgrims were unable to find the second goal they were chasing heavily.
Head Coach Ryan Perks turned to his bench during the break bringing on Taya Pomfret and Orchard, with Katie Dickson and Ella Stephens coming on just 10 minutes later, and soon enough Argyle finally found the goals they were searching for.
Reactive play on the right wing from Stephens saw her ball across the centre get turned into Poole’s goal by a recovering defender. Just seconds after the restart, Orchard extended the Greens’ advantage further, running behind the defence and slotting home past Bebe Smith.
After making the final substitution, with Jess Geach replacing Giota Papaioannou, the defender’s partner Smith scored her first goal in green, tapping home from a corner after the ball fell to her feet.
Argyle’s next closest chance in front of goal came in the 80th minute when Crawford had to watch her flick-headed effort fly narrowly over the bar and out for a goal kick. Just two minutes later, the midfielder scored the goal she was hunting for throughout the game, with her shot bouncing off the post and into the back of the net.
The Greens’ final goal came in additional time, when another cross into the box was turned home by what seemed to be Orchard but, in fact, was a defender in Poole’s six-yard box.
After the full-time whistle, Perks said: “We got the job done. I didn't think it was one of our best performances, but we spoke about having a bit of a reaction at half-time after what I thought was a bit of a lacklustre first half.
“We didn't move the ball quick enough and lacked forward movement ahead of the ball, but we got the reaction we wanted in the second half and scored five more goals. We probably should have had a few more if it wasn’t for Poole’s goalkeeper and a bit more composure in front of goal, but we got the job done.”
The second-round draw will be announced by 1pm on Monday, 4 November. Full details of the tie will follow soon.
Argyle: 56 Comfort Erhabor, 3 Roxy Thomas, 5 Giota Papaioannou (capt) (68, 25 Jess Geach), 7 Charlotte Whitmore, 8 Imy Crawford, 10 Georgia Wilson (45, 6 Taya Pomfret), 17 Lulu Jarvis (45, 20 Fern Orchard), 18 Katie Grigg (57, 2 Katie Dickson), 19 Erin O’Shea (57, 16 Ella Stephens), 24 Ava Kuyken, 26 Caitlin Smith. Substitutes: 1 Lily Felgate, 15 Georgie Knott.
Goals: Whitmore 7, own-goal 62, Orchard 63, Smith 69, Crawford 82, own-goal 90+3
Poole Town: 1 Bebe Smith, 5 Amy Maidment, 6 Lucy Coulter, 10 Emma King, 12 Lauren Vally, 22 Caitlin Dougal, 23 Maddison Kemp, 34 Leah Stanley, 36 Maisie Riley, 41 Anna Kanz. Substitutes: 11 Alice Fisher, 14 Sofia Stone-Gispert, 17 Vicky Wonham, 27 Lauren Rogers, 30 Macie Sparks, 33 Jade Tucknott.
