Argyle Ladies 2 Forest Green Ladies 3

ARGYLE Ladies were unable to reproduce the level of performance of the previous week that enabled them to end Keynsham's 100% record, going down to Forest Green Rovers at Weston Mill.

Against a good, solid Rovers side who stand in third place in the league, the Pilgrims came off second best in most areas of the pitch.
 
Manager Kevin Rose gave a full home debut to newcomer Sian Fagg in the centre of defence alongside captain Katie Middleton. Bow Jackson and Rachel Javan filled the full back positions. 

On the right of midfield was Ellie Dorey, centre midfield slots were occupied by Becca Rose and Jodie Chubb with Chloe Bassett on the left.

Up front was Emily Mousley with Steph Beck playing just behind. Nicky Lipscome was in goal to complete the Argyle line-up.
   
In a stuttering start, the Pilgrims found it difficult to settle into any kind of rhythm and it was no great surprise when the visitors took a ninth minute lead with a well directed header from a left wing cross.

With Forest Green playing the more controlled football and looking dangerous when they attacked, the home defence did well to keep the deficit to one goal.

Their hopes were raised on 34 minutes, however, when a splendid 35 yard diagonal pass out of defence from KMiddleton found Dorey cutting in from the right wing.

Dorey controlled the ball nicely as she ran into the box, and under pressure from a defender, struck a nice lob over the advancing keeper to find the corner of the unguarded goal.

Argyle might have taken the lead when Mousley struck a shot across the keeper, but saw her effort go just wide of the far post. All in all, Argyle were happy to make the half time break all square at 1-1.
 
In the second half, the game became much more even, and some improvement from Argyle had them increase their amount of possession and at times put the Rovers defence under pressure.

In the 70th minute, Argyle fell behind again when a high, looping cross from the right eluded all defenders and was headed in from close range at the back post.

The Pilgrims enjoyed a brief resurgence and once again levelled proceedings when substitute Anna Gower advanced into the visitors half and played an accurate pass forward for Knapman to collect just outside the box and fire home just inside the keepers right hand post.

The visitors were not to be denied, though, and scored the winner, another headed goal, with five minutes left on the clock.