Report | Argyle Women 13 Ilminster Town 0
Argyle Women’s return to Home Park saw a flurry of goals for the Greens as they won 13-0 against Ilminster Town.
The Somerset side, three divisions below Argyle, saw their Women’s FA Cup run end at the hands of a strong Pilgrims side, who notched eight goals in the first half, and five more after the break, in front of more than 2,000 supporters at the Theatre of Greens.
Ellie Sara led the way with five goals, with two apiece for Becky Dandridge and Charlotte Whitmore, and one each for Mia Endacott, Tamsin Medd-Gill, Katie Dickson and Jemma Rose.
Manager Ryan Perks made one change to Argyle's starting line-up, with Mia Endacott coming in for Taya Pomfret, and it was Argyle who set the early pace, with Sara and Rose having early sighters on goal.
Ilminster had one foray forward down their right, looking to get forward Ellie Orritt running in behind, but quick thinking from Pilgrims goalkeeper Jasmine Read, sprinting out of her area to clear, put paid to that advance.
The first goal came shortly before the 10-minute mark. Becky Dandridge’s industry in the right channel got her into a good position, then excellent ball control gave her the space to pick out Endacott’s well-timed run at the far post for a facile finish.
Dandridge was the provider again just a few minutes later, although this time more indirectly. She was fouled, having controlled a low corner, in the area, resulting in a penalty from which Sara coolly slotted home.
Sara’s second came just after the 20-minute point in the game, with the Argyle number 9 this time latching on to a well-judged through-ball from Imy Crawford. Sara’s finish was firm and precise, high into the net.
Her hat-trick was completed ten minutes later, this time from a poacher’s finish inside the six-yard box, following a spilled cross from the right.
The Sara Show continued. Within four minutes, she added a fourth, with Dandridge again pivotal, jinking into the area then unselfishly laying to Sara to stroke home from eight yards. Sara’s fifth – Argyle’s sixth - came from a Rose flick-on, with Sara breaking beyond the defence and poking home.
Left-back Medd-Gill got in on the action with a low strike that was deflected into the bottom corner of the net, with Whitmore adding the eighth moments before the break.
At the interval, Perks withdrew Sara, captain Papagiota Papaioanniou and Medd-Gill, sending on Erin O’Shea, Pomfret and Rosie McDonnell.
The first goal of the second period was scored by Dickson, who had seen two previous efforts really well-saved by Ilminster goalkeeper Lindsay Rogers, but finally got on the scoresheet with a calm finish.
Fittingly, Argyle’s number 10, Dandridge, made the scoreline match her jersey. No-one deserved a goal more, for her efforts in providing others, and it came via a neat header.
Whitmore’s second made it 11-0, with just under 20 minutes to go. She came out the better of a challenge with the goalkeeper, but still had lots to do with the ball at her feet, but her back to goal. The finish, a flicked lob over her own shoulder and beyond a scrambling defender, was exquisite.
Dandridge, with another precise, low drive, brought up the dozen, with Rose heading home a corner to make it 13.
The second-round tie will come very quickly, taking place next Sunday, 16 November, at Coach Road in Newton Abbot, where Argyle will take on AFC Stoneham.
Argyle: 1 Jasmine Read, 2 Katie Dickson, 4 Jemma Rose, 5 Panagiota Papaioannou (capt) (18 Taya Pomfret half-time), 6 Lucy Hack, 7 Charlotte Whitmore, 8 Imy Crawford, 9 Ellie Sara (19 Erin O'Shea half-time), 10 Rebecca Dandridge, 14 Tamsin Medd-Gill (3 Rosie McDonnell half-time), 29 Mia Endacott. Substitutes:13 Grace Smith, 15 Georgie Knott, 20 Fern Orchard, 23 Katelyn Bell.
Booked: Papaioannou.
Ilminster Town: 1 Lindsay Rogers, 3 Sarah Smith, 5 Holly Griffiths, 6 Kelsie Miller (11 Abi Meyer half-time), 7 Maisie Parker (capt), 8 Jodi Cornwall, 10 Ellie Orritt, 12 Hannah Billing, 17 Dee Cracknell (2 Sammie Knight half-time), 19 Amy Salter, 23 Dana Andrews (16 Shannon Crouch 85). Substitutes: 9 Harriet Kelly, 14 Lauren Paul, 21 Matilda Wallbridge, 22 Josie Stebbings.
Attendance: 2,060.
