Argyle Women secured a spot in the quarter finals of the FAWNL Cup on Sunday in dramatic fashion, coming from behind to beat Oxford United 3-2 at Home Park.
After falling two goals behind in the first half, with Nicole Barrett and Emma Thompson finding the net, goals from Layla Proctor, Ellie Noble, and a Phoebie Poole penalty after the break handed Argyle victory in rainy conditions.
The Greens will learn their opponents in the final eight on Monday evening, and will face one of AFC Bournemouth, Lewes or Swindon Town, as the competition stays regionalised for one more round.
After Remembrance Day observations took place, the game kicked off with the Green Army cheering from the Beacon Electrical Mayflower Grandstand Upper, due to horrendous weather conditions, but it did not deter their support.
Oxford taking the lead did come as a surprise to many, but it was deserved. Barrett picked up the ball from a loose pass and found the back of the net with an effort, which was saved by Hermione Cull, but ricocheted off a retreating Arabella Suttie and into the net, sending all away staff and players attending into elation.
Soon enough, this happiness was seen again, as the visitors doubled their lead. Oxford’s number 10 Thompson calmly flicked home from close range, past a diving Cull, from a pass by Barrett. Oxford looked the more comfortable and confident team.
Argyle hunted for the important goal to get them back into the tie, but the remaining action in the first half was headlined by Shelly Provan being shown a yellow card for delaying the restart on a throw-in, and a close-range save from Cull to stop a Mia Barker effort, though the offside flag was later raised.
A suspected stern team talk from Head Coach Marie Hourihan and two changes - Poole and Caitlin Smith replacing Ella Stephens and Olivia Francis - reignited Argyle. Quickly, their second-half intentions were on display for all to see.
Corner after corner, shot after shot, Argyle were applying immense pressure on the visitors. Just before 10 minutes were played in the second half, Hourihan’s side found the goal to get back into the tie, thanks to Proctor’s header from a corner.
The Greens continued to hunt, this time for the equaliser, but it looked like it might not arrive. Either through missed chances or strong defensive work and goalkeeping from Oxford, the scoreline remained 2-1 for nearly half an hour.
Bethany-May Wookey, in the visitors’ goal, was forced into a punch or save on multiple occasions and did enough to stop curling efforts and crosses from Charlotte Whitmore and Tianna Teisar from causing real issues.
In the 81st minute, the Greens were awarded a free kick in shooting range. Katie Wilson had missed the target from a dead-ball attempt earlier in the game, and with the angle favouring a right-footer, Noble stepped up from 25 yards out - and it was special.
The shot curled over the wall, off the crossbar, and down into the back of the net. The shot, amazing; the celebrations, amazing.
Argyle, though, wanted a winner, and that is exactly what followed soon after.
A minute after the restart, Teisar drove forward and was brought down in the area, with referee Gareth Dunn awarding a penalty. Up stepped Poole and, with great aplomb, she fired into the corner of the net. Argyle were in the lead.
Knee slide after knee slide after knee slide followed, with every player in green involved in the celebrations. After 10 minutes of additional time and a disallowed Argyle goal for offside, the full-time whistle was blown, and progression into the last eight was secured.
Argyle: 1 Hermione Cull (gk), 6 Layla Proctor, 7 Charlotte Whitmore, 11 Roisin Kivel (capt), 14 Katie Wilson, 15 Tamara Wilcock (17 Paris Dalton, 90), 16 Ella Stephens (18 Caitlin Smith, half-time), 19 Ellie Noble, 23 Olivia Francis (9 Phoebie Poole, half-time), 24 Tianna Teisar, 26 Arabella Suttie. Substitutes: 21 Eilish Brogan (gk), 5 Giota Papaioannou, 29 Chloe Ingrouille, 30 Shana Dolbel.
Goals: Proctor 54, Noble 82, Poole 85.
Yellow card: Proctor 90+7.
Oxford: 1 Bethany-May Wookey, 2 Nicola Gibson, 3 Shelly Provan (11 Ruby Sealey, 67), 4 Kate Wiseman, 6 Riva Casley (capt), 7 Nicole Barrett, 10 Emma Thompson, 12 Shaunna Jenkins, 18 Grace Palmer, 21 Maisy Barker, 30 Holly Manders. Substitutes: 13 Maddison Millington-Stanbury, 5 Naomi Bedeau, 8 Jenna Legg, 14 Adele Lindbaek, 15 Ellie-Mae Richardson, 20 Lucy Trinder.
Goals: Barrett 15, Thompson 23.
Yellow cards: Provan 39, Barrett 60, Gibson 87, Casley 90+9.
Referee: Gareth Dunn.
