Argyle Women’s final away league game of 2025 comes this weekend, with a long journey to Essex to face Hashtag United.
In the opening game of the season, Marie Hourihan’s side beat the Tags 3-0 at Home Park. After their slow start, Sunday’s hosts have found some winning form and will pose a hard challenge for the Pilgrims on the weekend.
“They're in a good vein of form at the moment,” Hourihan told Argyle TV. “Hashtag lost their game last weekend but, watching that game specifically, off the back of three wins in a row, they’re in a good place. They're scoring goals and, especially at home, they're a difficult side to play against, so we're anticipating a very tough game.
“We’re back to league action now. Last weekend, with our international trio being away, we didn't have a game, so there's been an opportunity to really refine a few things in training and make sure we’re fully prepared for this weekend, refreshed and ready to go.
“With tier three, the league's relentless. We've pretty much been on the go consistently every weekend since pre-season, so the opportunity to give players, but also staff, a bit of time away to refresh is good, knowing that we are coming back in now into a tough run of fixtures before the Christmas break.
“I think on both counts ahead of the game, even looking at ourselves, we're two very different teams. They've got some real quality on the top line, are scoring a lot of goals and have got good rhythm to their play. They're a dangerous team and a good side, so we need to be prepared for that, but similarly, for ourselves, we've come a long way since August.
“I feel now we're in a place where we've got a bit more consistency and rhythm, and better relationships on the pitch as well. It'll be a good footballing game, they're an exciting side. It’ll be a really good spectacle.”
Hourihan knows that her team is capable of winning any game of football, due to the squad she has at her disposal, but also because of the work in training coming to fruition on a Sunday afternoon.
The return of Olivia Francis, Phoebie Poole and Tianna Teisar to the squad, after their international training camp with Wales, helps Argyle’s preparation ahead of the journey to Essex. Hourihan is delighted with the returnees, but she also explained that nothing has been won this season yet, and confident play and holding standards must be maintained to pick up an important three points.
She said: “We’ve got to earn the right. We are sitting at the beginning of December now - nothing's been won. We haven't achieved anything in terms of positioning and trophies. This league is relentless, and you have to keep up. We're sitting and chasing at the moment, so we know that we've got to maintain our standards to keep ourselves in a position.
“For me, nothing's a given. We have to earn the right and go to Hashtag and step up to the plate.
“With Phoebie, Olivia and Tianna being away, I think it's great for the football club. It puts Argyle in a really good light in showing the calibre of player that's playing in the first team now. It's fantastic for those three, and was well deserved.
“I think the performance levels across the board from all three have been excellent, and as I said, I hope they use that as a springboard. Coming back in with the group this week, they’ve been really energised and enthused, and ready to attack the next phase of games before we get into Christmas.”
