Argyle Ladies 1 Swindon Ladies 0

ARGYLE leap-frogged Swindon Town in the South West Combination table with a 1-0 victory over the Robins on a cold afternoon at Ferndale Road

Swindon provided stiff opposition when the teams first met back in September when Argyle edged a thrilling encounter 2 - 1.

Emily Mousley and Natalie Volpini returned to the squad having both recovered from injury whilst teenager Megan Kowalski was handed her first start after a promising cameo role at Gloucester in the last game.

Captain Katie Middleton, normally a midfielder was teamed  with  Sarah Stacey up front in a 4-4-2 formation.

Argyle were on the attack from the off, pushing the visitors back as they probed for that vital opening.

Swindon defended stoutly and competed well in midfield, but lacked any real penetration in the final third, and any threat was quickly snuffed out by Argyle's steadfast back-line of Nicky Lake, Bow Jackson, Mollie Taylor and Rachel Javan.

Though well on top, Argyle were not quite 'clicking' up front  to create that vital chance. T

hey almost took the lead following a corner; the ensuing scramble twice saw the ball cleared off the line before the visitors managed to clear. 

A few minutes later, Stacey had a great chance to put the home side into the lead, but her cross shot went just the wrong side of the post.

She made amends shortly after when put through into the box by outpacing her defender, rounding the advancing keeper and slotting the ball neatly into the net.

Swindon came more into it in the second half but were unable to create anything meaningful, and Argyle's keeper had one of her quietest games with little to do throughout.  

Neither side could find a goal in the second half but Argyle cameg closest when a Middleton free kick force the Swindon 'keeper into a brilliant one handed save high to her right.

Both teams had put in maximum effort on a difficult day and a poor surface, and were glad to hear the final whistle.

The three points meant Argyle leapfrogged Swindon into fourth place and now have games in hand on the top three.