Argyle secured progression into the last 16 of the FA Women’s National League Cup with a 3-0 win away to Watford on Sunday afternoon.
Olivia Francis’ brace and Tianna Teisar's goal propelled the Greens to a comfortable and professional victory against the Golden Girls at the Orbital Fasteners Stadium.
Argyle will find out their opponents for the second round of the competition on Monday, 20 October, with the draw taking place in the evening.
Confident play was on show from Marie Hourihan’s side from the get-go, with multiple chances coming in front of goal for the Greens’ frontline. Watford, however, were able to block efforts from Tianna Teisar and Phoebie Poole and clear away, ending the attacking threat.
After the first 20 minutes of play, the game slowed down in terms of chances, but both sides continued to hunt for the opening goal of the game. Argyle managed to do so with one of the final kicks of the half.
Ellie Noble drove towards goal and picked out Francis at the back post to tap home, after being brought down in the area. Play restarted for around 30 seconds, with the rain pouring down, but then the whistle was blown for half-time, with the Greens leading.
Just three minutes after the restart, one became two thanks to Teisar. Roisin Kivel’s cross was headed towards goal by Layla Proctor, with the midfielder’s effort ricocheting off the crossbar and down to the feet of Argyle’s Welsh international to tap home.
Once the celebrations were over and Watford kicked off for the third time in the tie, Argyle pushed on and found another, just three minutes later. The ball found its way to Francis on the right side of the 18-yard box, who put the tie to bed with a tidy finish across goal.
Watford had their first key chance of the game just before the hour mark, when a corner curled towards goal and required a goal-line header from Noble to clear the ball away from danger.
The Greens hunted for a fourth, but efforts from Poole and Teisar couldn’t test Rebekah Dowsett in the Watford goal. Hourihan turned to her bench, bringing on Tamara Wilcock, making her debut in green since arriving at Home Park in the summer.
Wilcock’s debut almost ended perfectly, with a powerful effort flying just wide of the far post and out of play for a goal kick, before the full-time whistle was blown.
Argyle: 1 Hermione Cull, 6 Layla Proctor, 9 Phoebie Poole, 11 Roisin Kivel (capt), 16 Ella Stephens, 17 Paris Dalton (15 Tamara Wilcock, 80), 18 Caitlin Smith, 19 Ellie Noble (8 Imy Crawford, 88), 23 Olivia Francis, 24 Tianna Teisar (7 Charlotte Whitmore, 73), 26 Arabella Suttit. Substitutes: 21 Eilish Brogan (gk), 2 Katie Dickson, 5 Giota Papaioannou, 14 Katie Wilson.
Goals: Francis 45, 52, Teisar 49.
Watford: 1 Rebekah Dowsett, 2 Niamh Peacock, 4 Anna Kilbey, 9 Madison Perry, 11 Isabella Fisher (22 Maya Kendall, 61), 14 Eva Gray (21 Florence Fyfe, 54), 15 Andria Georgiou, 16 Marcie O’Meara (5 Anne Meiwald, 53), 17 Megan Chandler (capt), 18 Poppy Wilson, 23 Coral Haines (7 Lachante Paul, 79). Substitutes: 20 Lucy Lyon, 24 Soraya Walsh.
Yellow Cards: Chandler 73.
Referee: Peter Kwak.
