Gloucester City Ladies 1 Argyle Ladies 6

SARAH Stacey scored five times as the Argyle Ladies thrashed their Gloucester City counterparts 6-1 at Bridge Road.

Manager Kev Rose was forced into making changes as regular players, goalkeeper Michaela Phillips and midfielder Jodie Chubb, both on coaching courses, and Emily Mousley and Natalie Volpini, both injured, were unavailable. 

A late withdrawal by Sian Fagg meant the squad travelled to Gloucester with 13 players.

Captain Katie Middleton took over the 'keeper's duties, and there were starts for Alex Hugh at right back, and Sarah Stacey up front.

Argyle were on the front foot from the off and took the lead in the 11th minute; Nicky Lake providing the pass for Sarah Stacey  to run onto and expertly dink the ball over the advancing keeper.

Just three minutes later, Argyle doubled their lead when Stacey was played in by Becca Rose to shoot through the 'keeper's legs.


 
Argyle were well on top with the home side offering very little threat. So it was no surprise when the Greens went further ahead, Alex Hugh sending over a fine diagonal ball into the box for Ellie Dorey to get the vital touch.

The Pilgrims had further chances to score again ebfore the break by Nicky Lake saw her solo effort saved, whilst Stacey was unlucky to hit the post.

Argyle were slow to pick it up at the start of the second half and were caught out as Gloucester ran through without challenge to score with a fine shot.

Argyle struggled to get going again and Middleton had cause to go to ground and smother the ball to prevent a second home goal.



On the hour, Kev Rose made a double substitution, with Eden May and Megan Kowalski replacing Mollie Taylor and Ellie Dory.

That seemed to liven up the side as Becca Rose put  Stacey through to beat the keeper one on one in the 63rd minute to complete her first senior hat-trick.

Sarah notched her fourth in the 80th minute and her fifth and Argyles sixth just before the final whistle to complete a satisfactory afternoon's work.

No surprise for Player of the match, it goes of course to five goal Sarah Stacey, who showed strength of purpose and bags of energy to cap a great display.