Argyle Ladies Reports

An emphatic second half spell of eight goals in just 32 minutes saw Argyle to this huge win, much to the delight of manager Dave Leonard. 

The game was goalless until just before the hour mark, but persistence and superior fitness told for the visitors. "I think it was something I said at half time!" said Leonard. "The match was like a training session - attack against defence - but it was a devastating second half performance. They (Maidenhead) defended like Trojans as we dominated from the first whistle to the last.

"What impressed me was that they could have sat back on their laurels but they pushed on relentlessly to score more goals."

 

Playing at York Road, reputed to be the oldest football ground in the world used continuously by the same club, Argyle dominated the game from the off and should have taken a 15th minute lead when Kayleigh Brown saw her thumping shot crash back off the crossbar after getting on the end of an Ezme Wells cross. Chances came thick and fast as the home side defended with their lives with Argyle having a Natasha Knapman 34th minute goal ruled out for offside. The players went off at half time wondering how they managed to squander enough chances to win a couple of games.

 

Whatever Leonard said at half time seemed to have worked as they came out for the second half with all guns blazing. Their task was made easier when Maidenhead were reduced to ten players through an injury. 

The home side continued to defend well until the 58th minute when after Knapman's fierce shot was spilled by goalkeeper Eleanor Parker, and the alert Amber Pollock reacted the quickest to prod the ball home. 

With minutes it was three, as a Becky Atkins back heel and a Katie Middleton penalty put the Greens out of sight. 

 

Ezme Wells' free kick to the near post was headed into the net by a Maidenhead defender to make it 4-0, and Knapman got on the scoresheet with a sharp drive from the edge of the area. 

 

Wells scored the goal of the game with an unstoppable shot from fully 25 yards to make it 6-0, and Knapman's second made it seven in the 89th minute. Wells fired in another unstoppable drive in time added on to complete the rout.

A five-goal haul from Gabi Alphous against her old club was the highlight of a commanding win to earn a second round tie against Tavistock on Sunday. 

New signing Sarah Prior grabbed two goals, as did Katelyn McKane, with the rout being rounded off with goals from Kelsie Miller, Alex Hugh, Abbie Scurr and Amarnie Crabtree.