Report | Watford Women 5 Argyle 1

Watford 5
Davison 2, Fyfe 12, 34, Chandler 51, Head 74

Argyle 1
Whitmore 48

Argyle Women’s winning streak came to an end after a frustrating defeat at Watford on Sunday.

The hosts scored very early and got themselves to a 3-0 lead by half-time. Charlotte Whitmore gave the Greens some hope early in the second half, but two more Watford goals secured the Golden Girls’ victory.

Watford took an early lead through forward Gemma Davison, who scored her first goal of the season just two minutes into the first half. The Pilgrims almost responded through Whitmore after a well-placed pass from Lily Greenslade. Whitmore rounded the keeper and got the shot away, but the chance was smothered.

Watford’s Flo Fyfe scored a brace to give Watford some daylight, the first from a Davison cross after some high pressure, and the second from a Poppy Wilson counterattack that tripled The Hornets’ lead going into the second half.

The second half would see Argyle deny Watford their clean sheet minutes after the first whistle. An excellent ball behind the Watford defence would allow Whitmore to strike from distance. The shot was struck well and lobbed the keeper, giving The Pilgrims the foothold in the match that they needed.

The Hornets would respond shortly after with their fourth goal of the match. A well-placed cross from a corner found the head of Megan Chandler who at the back post beat Jasmine Read with a header that nestled into the back of the net.

The Golden Girls would find their fifth and final goal in the 76th minute through Ellie Head. A darting run into the box by substitute Adekite Fatuga-Dada gave room for a cross to the onrushing Head who headed home her first of the season.

Keeper Read would continue to face pressure from oncoming shots after Watford’s fifth, but did well to keep the score line as it was, palming a multitude of shots away from danger before the full time whilst was blown.

This result now sees Argyle drop to ninth in the league, and The Pilgrims will be eager to bounce back with a win this weekend against Marine Academy Plymouth Ladies in the ClickHub Devon Women’s Premier Cup.

Argyle: 1 Jasmine Read, 3 Rosie Train, 5 Panagiota Papaioannou, 8 Kayley Lane, 2 Sophie Perrin, 18 Imy Crawford (11 Amber Pollock), 20 Beth Ireland, 10 Zoe Cunningham (capt), 13 Katie Dickson (17 Tiana Campbell), 7 Charlotte Whitmore (9 Kaitlyn Morgan-Hemmens), 27 Lily Greenslade (6 Lucy Hack).