Alphington Beaten

...a comfortable 7-0 victory over Alphington in their quest to retain the Devon Cup. The reward is a visit, on January  22, to Buckland Athletic, who dumped Exeter City out of the competition 1-0. 

Argyle took an early lead when Dani Salt ghosted in unmarked to head in an Ebony Dover free kick. Flying winger Pollock then made a great run down the touchline before firing home, and it was Pollock who made it 3-0 at half time with a carbon copy of her first goal to once again produce a clinical finish. 

Victory was virtually sealed minutes into the second half when Middleton found herself unmarked to fire in. Two minutes, later the speedy Tori Marks made it 5-0. Striker Natasha Knapman then got in on the act when she raced on to a great ball from Kayleigh Brown to head past the goalkeeper. The lively Knapman was then fouled and Middleton stepped up to convert the spot kick. 

Manager Dave Leonard said: “I know all the talk before the match was about who Argyle lost up here a couple of seasons ago, so we knew we had to get a result. We are the holders so we are not going to give it up easy.”

The semi-final make-up is Buckland Athletic versus Plymouth Argyle and last season’s beaten finalists Marine Academy Plymouth up against Plympton who beat Activate 3-1.

Argyle’s second string comfortably saw off Lakeside Athletic to win the three points to remain top of the league. As expected, Argyle went on the attack with Claire Ostle and Katelyn McKane both going close. 

Ostle and Mollie Taylor both had good efforts saved before Ostle set up Katrina Plues to open the scoring. More chances came and went before Gabi Alphous headed wide but the same player quickly made amends when she raced on to a Mollie Taylor through ball to make it 2-0 from the edge of the penalty area. 

Taylor and then Ostle had shots saved before Alphous saw another effort go close. Alphous then showed tenacity by winning a challenge before racing clear for the third goal. Lakeside made sporadic breaks which were quickly snuffed out. 

Mollie Taylor and Summer Taylor had shots saved before Summer Taylor raced on to a through ball to fire in the next goal. Alphous and the unfortunate Ostle went close before Katherine Endacott made it 5-0 at half time when the Lakeside goalkeeper let the ball go through her hands. 

Victory was virtually sealed early in the second half when Summer Taylor scored her second goal. After going close captain Alex Hugh headed in a well placed McKane corner. Alphous pounced to score the next after Summer Taylor’s shot had been saved. 

Alphous twice went close with Summer Taylor having her low shot pushed on to a post by goalkeeper Georgia Froggatt. Lakeside efforts were finally rewarded when Samantha Kotlinska raced on to a through ball to let fly. Goalkeeper Jess Fox made a valiant effort to save the shot but the ball looped into the far corner of the net. 

Alphous made it 9-1 with McKane scoring direct from a corner leaving Alphous to complete her five-goal haul by netting the final goal.