Perks optimistic despite Ipswich loss
Argyle Women fought valiantly on Sunday at Home Park but could not overcome the unbeaten Ipswich Town in FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division action.
The Tractor Girls left the Theatre of Greens as 5-1 victors, with Charlotte Whitmore scoring the only goal of the game for Argyle just before the half-time whistle.
Head Coach Ryan Perks felt the scoreline flattered the Greens’ opponents, and that individual errors prevented Argyle from pushing on in the second half after coming in level with the high-fliers.
“I feel like I'm going to sound like a broken record,” Perks told Argyle TV. “I thought we were superb in the first 45 minutes. Yes, we allowed Ipswich to have the ball but that was the game plan. We went 1-0 down from a goalkeeping error, a big mistake, and it looked like we were going to come in behind. The girls showed a lot of character and resilience, worked hard for each other, and got the goal they deserved.
“We spoke at half-time about how Ipswich are a strong side. They're a full-time outfit. They work on different patterns. We've just got to be patient, disciplined, sit in that block and when we get opportunities to break out, just make sure we secure the ball.
“We defend the first ball for the second goal well and then there’s an absolute worldie of a volley on the edge of the box to be fair. We probably could have pressed maybe slightly to get out and try and block the shot, but she's put it in the top corner and it’s a great finish.
“We then gifted them another goal. We've spoken to the goalkeepers about drawing on the press and then destroying it and we don't do it. We try to bounce inside our box, and we give it to the striker, and she taps it in. It's another absolute howler of a goal and not good enough.
“Then our back is against the wall. We still dug deep, tried to hit them on the break, had a few opportunities and then conceded another two poor goals.
“It’s just frustrating that I keep having to say the same things, that we give away soft goals and we've got to get better. We are conceding them and we're doing it every week, so is that down to lack of belief, lack of confidence, maybe? Is it down to age? Possibly, but we've just got to get better at it and stop giving away silly goals because we've competed with an excellent side today.
“Ipswich will be there or thereabouts to win this league and again, a bit like Wednesday night, I think the scoreline flattens the opposition. People who were at the game have appreciated that, I think, and the girls have been cheered off and clapped off because they've worked hard today. People on the outside will look at it and say we’ve been battered, but if you were at the game, I think you’d have a different opinion.”
With a sense of normality back for Argyle in the upcoming week, preparation for an important run of games against sides in a similar position to the Greens is on the agenda. First up is a second-round cup tie against Billericay Town at Home Park, but Perks is under no illusion that the game will be a walkover for his side.
He said: “It's another tough game. Billericay are a good side. Yes, it’s the League Cup and they beat us 2-1 away, but they've got to travel down to Plymouth, and we'll come in with a game plan.
“Were we better without the ball today? Yes, 100%. We'll need to do that again next week, and we'll get the opportunities to score goals. We've just got to be clinical in front of goal.
“No games are easy in this league, and we've still got the belief in us, as staff and players. They are a young squad; we need people to get behind the team. We’ve got an important five or six weeks coming up with the FA Cup and two important home games in the league against Gwalia and Cheltenham. We've just got to draw the positives out, cut out the mistakes and we'll be fine.”
