Report | Hashtag United 2-0 Argyle Women
Argyle suffered a 2-0 defeat to Hashtag United on Sunday afternoon in FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division action at Parkside Stadium.
Hashtag went top of the table thanks to goals from Sammy Rowland and substitute Honor Norton.
The Greens started the game on the front foot, with Charlotte Whitmore breaking behind the hosts' defensive line and finding herself one-on-one with Frankie Angel in the Hashtag goal. However, the linesman raised his flag for offside, ending the attacking threat.
Soon enough, the pressure started to pile on Argyle as Hashtag maintained possession and hit the Greens with continuous attacking waves. However, Argyle managed to defend valiantly, until a corner was given away.
Hashtag quickly showed again how much of a threat from set-pieces they are, with a corner being swung to the back post and getting flicked home by Rowland with ease.
Counter-attacking football was Argyle’s friend on Sunday, but Ryan Perks’ side were missing the needed quality on the final pass on many occasions.
The hosts continued to be a threat from set-pieces and attacking phases, but Argyle managed to hold on and trailed by only a goal after the first 45 minutes of action.
After the break, the Greens looked the better side. Strong and quick defensive work, alongside tidy passing play, presented Argyle an opportunity to run at the Hashtag defence on the counter.
It appeared that an equaliser could be on the cards until Hashtag doubled their advantage out of nowhere. Substitute Norton picked up the ball and finished into the back of the net before rearing off in celebration.
Substitute Roxy Thomas came close for Argyle when she met Whitmore’s cross to the back post but could not locate the ball, after getting the initial touch, before Angel pounced onto it.
Argyle still sit outside the relegation zone in 10th place and will look to get back to winning ways against Watford at Langsford Park, the home of Tavistock, on Sunday, 19 January.
“I think it's disappointing,” Perks told Argyle TV. “We've come here and had a real good go. I think the girls were excellent in spells today. We've caused Hashtag a few problems and limited them to a few chances.
“They listened to the game plan again and executed it for most of the game. Good teams punish you for little errors and that’s what happened today. We had two good chances to score, so there's lots to take. We've got another tough one against Watford next weekend. They're going to want revenge for the FAWNL Cup quarter-final, but a spirited display and performance today gives us confidence moving into the next few games.”
Argyle: 56 Comfort Erhabor, 2 Katie Dickson (20 Fern Orchard, 82), 4 Amii Kearley (25 Jess Geach, 90), 5 Giota Papaioannou (capt), 7 Charlotte Whitmore, 8 Imy Crawford (15 Georgie Knott, 87), 10 Georgia Wilson (3 Roxy Thomas, 81), 16 Ella Stephens, 17 Lulu Jarvis (19 Erin O’Shea, 87), 24 Ava Kuyken, 26 Caitlin Smith. Substitutes: 1 Lily Felgate
Hashtag United: 1 Frankie Angel, 3 Haley West, 4 Sophie Baigent, 5 Grace Gillard (capt), 6 Courtney Lumley, 8 Macey Nicholls (22 Georgia Griffin, 57), 9 Holly Turner, 11 Sammy Rowland (16 Honor Norton, 68), 18 Mahika Apnija, 20 Frankie Finlayson (22 Wictoria Fronc, 45), 99 Freda Ayisi (12 Florence Donnelly, 74).
Goals: Rowland 12, Norton 74
