ARGYLE Ladies held out for a point in an exciting 3-3 draw at Oxford City on Saturday.

Rhys Sullivan was forced to make changes this week due to the unavailability of leading goalscorer Laura Gough and defender Gemma Farley.

Michaela Phillips was again between the posts, Titch Carpenter, Charlie Carter, Chynna Evans and Kate Hine made up the back four. In midfield was Jamie Schofield, Aoife Aherne, Leah Brooks, Becky Rose and Sophie Drake. Laura Perrett was the Lone striker.

Argyle kicked into the sun in the first half and the earliest exchanges were evenly contested. Michaela Philips was forced to save low down to her right to prevent the home side taking the lead and a couple of minutes later a smart Argyle move ended with Sophie Drake cutting in from the left and getting a shot away only to see it strike the crossbar with the home keeper beaten.

Argyle took the lead in the 16th minute when a Laura Perrett shot curled into the top corner of the net. In the next Argyle attack Perrett saw another effort drift just wide of the post.

The home side drew level on 25 minutes when the defence failed to clear and the loose ball was prodded into the net.

Five minutes later Argyle were stunned when Oxford took the lead from a corner. The defenders were beaten to the ball as the forward headed home.

To their credit the Pilgrims came back onto the attack and Laura Perrett had a header saved, and Becky Rose hit the bar with a shot from the edge of the box. Their efforts were rewarded when a penalty was given for handball against a defender .
Laura Perrett stayed calm to stroke the ball firmly to the right of the keeper and into the corner of the goal. A minute later and she forced the home keeper to save another goal bound effort.

Just before the break Argyle won a corner on the right. Leah Brooks, who again impressed in midfield, sent over a pinpoint cross for Chynna Evans to rise and head in to give the Pilgrims a 3 - 2 half time lead.

On the hour mark Aoife Aherne, who had picked up a slight strain, was replaced by Kat Marment and a few minutes later Perrett made way for Danii Moody. Argyle were pressing hard for another goal, but were stunned on 72 minutes when an Oxford player unleashed an unstoppable drive from 25 yards that bulged the back of the net to tie the match at 3 - 3.

Both teams went all out for the winner with Argyle getting the better of the exchanges without creating a cast iron chance. Shots from Becky Rose, Leah Brooks , Kat Marment and Sophie Drake were all saved, along with a header from Kate Hine. In injury time keeper Phillips had to pluck the ball from under her bar to prevent a late winner.

This was a match that the Pilgrims really should have won, but a lack of closing down players and some slack marking at times, meant that it was a case of two points dropped rather than a point gained.

Manager Rhys Sullivan has much to ponder before next weeks tough game at home to Forest Green Rovers.

With thanks to Colin Fenn