Report | Argyle Women 1-0 Watford
Argyle are into the semi-finals of the FAWNL Cup following a hugely spirited 1-0 win over Watford at Home Park.
Despite coming under pressure for much of the game, Argyle scored through Lulu Jarvis on 30 minutes, and showed tremendous organisation and work-rate to see the game out and advance to the final four.
Watford, in the same division as Argyle, are sixth in that league, with 17 points from their ten games. The Greens showed respect to their higher-in-the-table visitors, and sat in a defensive shape as the Hornets dominated early possession.
Argyle looked organised, sharp and dogged as, while they accepted Watford would have most of the ball, the Greens made sure it was never easy. Indeed, save for a few long-range efforts that sailed wide, Watford seldom troubled the Argyle goal in the first half.
Perhaps the visitors' best chance came after Argyle had shown promise on the front foot. A Watford defender’s backpass came up a little short, and Charlotte Whitmore raced to get there first, just outside the area, ahead of goalkeeper Jacqui Goldsmid. Whitmore got a touch, and a spreadeagled Goldsmid blocked it – possibly with a hand – to Watford’s relief.
Seconds later, Watford attacked down their left, crossed, and Maia Lazaro’s angled effort at the far post flew over. It was the best position they had got into to that point, and it was a relief to see the ball sail into the stand.
Just before the half-hour mark, Argyle took the lead. The Greens had shown persistence, and slowly built down the right side, with Katie Dickson drifting infield and having a swing with her left foot. It was probably a combination of cross and shot, but it ended up veering towards the former as it took a deflection and arched into the air.
In the box, Jarvis read the flight of the ball best of all, met it with a well-timed header, and steered into the corner of the net.
The remainder of the half followed a similar pattern, but for all of Watford’s territorial superiority, they were entirely contained by the well-drilled Greens.
Watford started with purpose after the break, having a free-kick blocked and a couple more long-range potshots before a neat move on the left saw a cutback to Annie Rossiter, who dragged an effort wide.
Coral Haines then took aim from 20 yards, and the ball slammed the crossbar before bouncing out, hitting the oncoming Melis Mehmet, and trickling wide.
Moments later, a Watford corner looked set to go straight in before Caitlin Smith’s perfectly timed intervention diverted the ball’s path.
Whenever Argyle were able to break, they looked a threat, and after Jarvis sent an effort over from distance, the Greens put together a smart move down their right. Dickson’s fizzed ball into the feet of Whitmore allowed the forward to take the ball in and release Jarvis over to her left, but the ball was always getting away from her, and the chance was lost.
Naturally, Watford upped their intensity as the minutes wore on, the need to find an equaliser ever pressing. Bang on 75 minutes, Watford crossed low into the area again, finding substitute Ellie Head, who was denied by a superb save by Comfort Erhabor. As the ball fell loose, green-shirted players put bodies on the line, and kept the sheet clean once more.
Watford were, by now, encamped in Argyle territory, but the Greens continued to show indomitable spirit, repelling what came their way at all costs.
On the arrival of 90 minutes, the sight of a ‘+8’ graphic filling the screen may well have been a daunting one. Indeed, the game had entered the 101st minute before the referee’s final, and oh-so-welcome, whistle blew, and Argyle had done it.
The semi-final draw will take place on the weekend of 14/15 December, with the fixture set for Sunday, 26 January.
Argyle: 56 Comfort Erhabor, 2 Katie Dickson, 4 Amii Kearley (3 Roxy Thomas, 78), 5 Giota Papaioannou (capt) (6 Taya Pomfret, 85), 7 Charlotte Whitmore, 8 Imy Crawford, 10 Georgia Wilson, 16 Ella Stephens, 17 Lulu Jarvis, 20 Fern Orchard (19 Erin O’Shea, 67), 26 Caitlin Smith. Substitutes: 1 Lily Felgate (gk), 15 Georgie Knott, 25 Jess Geach.
Goal: Jarvis 29
Booked: Dickson 46, Whitmore 90, Stephens 90.
Watford: 13 Jacqueline Goldsmid, 4 Anna Filbey, 7 Gemma Davison, 9 Madison Perry (16 Clarabella Hall, 72), 10 Annie Rossiter, 14 Maia Lazaro (21 Flo Fyfe, 60), 15 Andria Georgiou, 17 Megan Chandler (capt), 19 Daisy Hind, 23 Coral Haines, 25 Melis Mehmet (12 Ellie Head, 72). Substitutes: 1 Maria O’Sullivan (gk), 5 Anne Meiwald.
Attendance: 597
