Ladies Travel to Gills

ARGYLE Ladies head for Gillingham determined to get their National League Southern Division campaign up and running this weekend.

A disappointing defeat at Crawley Wasps in the league and being knocked out of the League Cup by Exeter City last week has certainly focussed the mind, but Argyle will be without Welsh international Helen Bleazard.

The Pilgrims do welcome back Mollie Taylor, Zoe Cunningham and Natasha Knapman to the squad, along with Holly Cole and keeping her place in the squad is teenager Beth Everson.

Argyle are travelling to Kent overnight and manager Dave Leonard said: “We have got to give them every preparation. It’s also respecting the opposition and we must be professional. We have to give them the best possible chance. Don't forget some of our players have to come up from Cornwall and it is only fair to them all to give them the best possible preparation, so we are travelling up this afternoon (Saturday).

“A lot was said last week and a lot of water has passed under the bridge as to what was said and we have drawn a line under it, we now move on to Gillingham. We trained well this week and the players are certainly up for it.

“It will be a good test for us because they [Gillingham] came away from a team [Cardiff City] that finished second last season with a 1-0 win, so it's not going to be easy.”

Argyle beat Gillingham 4-1 away last season and only a late goal denied them beating them at home. Having been knocked out of the League Cup, Argyle have been given a bye in the Preliminary Round of the Plate competition.

Argyle squad: Becky Kyle, Faye Ivall, Leah Burridge, Ebony Dover, Mollie Taylor, Katie Middleton, Amber Pollock, Zoe Cunningham, Kayley Lane, Becky Dandridge, Jessie Jones, Natasha Knapman, Holly Cole, Beth Everson.

Argyle’s Development squad are without a game and don't start their South West League Western Division campaign until September 8, when they visit Alphington. Argyle manager Rob Bonney received bad news this week, when it was revealed that last season’s double-award winner young Kiara Robbins is likely to be out of action for at least a month with a recurrence of quad and ankle injuries.