Argyle negotiated safe passage into the second round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup with a 7-0 win over Maidstone United.
Captain Giota Papaioannou started the goalscoring, with Ellie Noble, Ella Stephens and Charlotte Whitmore all getting a pair apiece, as the Greens booked a spot in round two.
Maidstone, from the seventh tier of women’s football, were taking part in the first round of the FA Cup this century, but came into the game unbeaten at their level and surely hoping to enjoy the occasion.
Argyle immediately put them under pressure, having two shots on target in the opening minute of the game, but it took 18 minutes before the Pilgrims broke the deadlock.
The chances had flowed in the early part of the game, but a combination of good goalkeeping by Cara Davies and profligacy from Argyle had meant the game was deadlocked but, from a set piece, Argyle broke it.
Papaioannou got on the end of a Roisin Kivel free-kick from the right, and cleverly steered a header in the corner of the net.
Within three minutes, Argyle had their second, Noble getting to a ball before defenders and goalkeeper near the edge of the box, and sending in a high effort that dropped and bounced in at the right time.
Stephens made it 3-0 on 27 minutes, mopping up after several team-mates had had a try. Stephens had run down the right and cut back to Phoebie Poole, whose shot was blocked. Whitmore was prevented on her follow-up, and Noble had a shot stopped on the line, but eventually it fell to Stephens who made no mistake.
There were 34 seconds between the restart and Argyle getting a fourth. Stephens was involved again, beating a player then sliding a ball to Whitmore, who got beyond the defence and finished with an empathic left-footed effort.
It was 4-0 at the break, and Argyle had the ball in the net on at least two more occasions, from Poole and Tamara Wilcock, but an offside flag and a foul being called put paid to those claims, respectively.
For Wilcock, this was a first start for the Pilgrims, following an injury that kept her out of the opening months of the season. She played for over two-thirds of the game, was involved in a lot of the good that Argyle did, and would have been very pleased with her progress.
The goals kept coming after the break, with Stephens at the heart once more. It was the Argyle winger who was fouled on the right-hand side to lead to a free-kick, and with everyone in the box poised and anticipating another Kivel delivery, but she instead rolled short to a waiting Stephens, who pirouetted and prodded home.
Whitmore’s second came just before the hour. An intelligent ball into the area from deep by Caitlin Smith put a Maidstone defender under pressure, and Whitmore took advantage, pinching the ball and driving home.
The final goal came from Noble, who finished smartly at the near post to get on the end of a superb cross by Katie Dickson.
In the second half, 16-year-olds Shana Dolbel and Chloe Ingrouille came on as substitutes, and both looked lively, as they made their Home Park bows, on what will be a proud afternoon for them and their families.
Argyle will find out their second-round opponents on Monday evening, when the draw takes place, live on the TNT Sports YouTube page.
Argyle: 1 Hermione Cull (21 Eilish Brogan, 62), 5 Giota Papaioannou (capt), 7 Charlotte Whitmore, 9 Phoebie Poole (2 Katie Dickson, 62), 11 Roisin Kivel, 14 Katie Wilson, 15 Tamara Wilcock (30 Shana Dolbel, 72), 16 Ella Stephens (29 Chloe Ingrouille, 79), 17 Paris Dalton, 18 Caitlin Smith, 19 Ellie Noble (6 Layla Proctor, 72). Substitutes (not used): 23 Olivia Francis, 26 Arabella Suttie.
Goals: Papaioannou 18, Noble 22, 66, Stephens 27, 49, Whitmore 28, 57.
Yellow cards: Proctor 76.
Maidstone United: 1 Cara Davies, 3 Freya Boorman (2 Jaz Etheridge, half-time), 4 Millie Waud, 5 Tilly Rowsell, 6 Annie White ©, 7 Chiedza Madamombe (16 Erin Fox, half-time), 8 Kylie Manktelow, 9 Ellie Hinkley (12 Tori Campbell, 59), 16 Neve Platt, 21 Georgia Pearch (11 Kelsi Wilkinson, 70), 23 Georgia Culpitt (14 Maddie Dale, 59). Substitute (not used): 13 Grace O’Neill.
Yellow Cards: Culpritt 49.
Referee: Mark Dobrijevic.
