Argyle Women bowed out of the FA Women’s National League Plate on Sunday with a narrow 2-0 defeat to Arsenal PGA.
Victoria Chitham put the Gunners ahead at the end of a closely-contested first half, before Abigail Conway doubled their advantage with seven minutes of normal time to play.
Head Coach Matt Green made three changes from the side that lost to Exeter City in midweek – two of which were enforced. New signings Libby Gimson and Millie Pullen were cup-tied so in came Ellie J Bishop and Kiesha Walker, while Kennedy Garside was replaced by Brooklyn Brothers.
Liv Giles continued in goal behind a back four of Bishop, Ali Lambe, Cadi Rodgers and Ellie M Bishop while Sienna Gilbert and Chloe Ingrouille featured as the deeper two in a three-player midfield, spearheaded by Brothers. Khloe Reed and Walker played in more attacking roles than usual, on the wings, with Shana Dolbel featuring up top.
There was very little separating the two sides throughout the game, especially in the early exchanges.
Arsenal recorded the first chance of the game in the ninth minute, when Giles was called into action. Cairo-Evea Antoine dribbled past Ellie J Bishop down the left flank, and cut in to hit a right-footed shot towards goal, but the Argyle keeper quickly got down to make an important save and keep the score level.
Gilbert was heavily involved in midfield and looked dangerous, winning several fouls for the Pilgrims as Arsenal looked to limit her influence on the game. Ellie Beels was booked for a foul on the Pilgrims’ midfielder, shortly before Gilbert tried a shot from distance after spotting Gunners keeper Daisy Sherrin off her line.
But it was Arsenal who opened the scoring on the brink of half-time, when Chitham found the back of the net from close range after a cross was fired across the box and into the back post.
Argyle’s best opportunity came 10 minutes after the break with Gilbert involved once again. The midfielder worked hard to retain possession on the left side before floating a ball into Dolbel who glanced a header wide.
From that point onwards Arsenal began to mount the pressure on the Greens’ back line, but Rodgers made several crucial blocks and tackles to limit the deficit to one goal.
Abigail Conway then doubled the Gunners’ lead in the 83rd minute, finding the back of the net with a header from Isabella Cowley’s corner.
Argyle continued to work hard for the rest of play, but were unable to find a way back, meaning Arsenal progress to the next stage of the FAWNL Plate.
Speaking after the game, Green said: “I was relatively pleased with our performance today as they are a very good side technically.
”I think the goals were a little bit disappointing though. That’s back-to-back games now where we’ve conceded from set pieces, which is an area that we were really solid in at the start of the season, so we will have to revisit that and work out why it’s happening.”
Focus will now turn to next weekend’s fixture at Home Park against Hashtag United, as Argyle return to league action, with Green confident his side will be ready for the challenge.
He said: “We will have Libby [Gimson] and Millie [Pullen] back next weekend and hopefully a few of the injured players so that will be a big help. The girls who came in today also did really well though, so we will look to have a good training week and prepare well for Hashtag.”
Tickets for that match are available to buy here.
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Argyle: 1 Liv Giles, 2 Cadi Rodgers, 4 Ali Lambe, 5 Ellie M Bishop (capt) (17 Kennedy Garside, 61), 14 Shana Dolbel, 15 Kiesha Walker, 16 Sienna Gilbert, 19 Brooklyn Brothers (30 Lily Coaker, 83), 21 Chloe Ingrouille, 24 Ellie J Bishop, 25 Khloe Reed (23 Phoebe Bettey, 88). Substitutes: 29 Aimee Walters (GK).
Booked: Lambe 41, Ellie M Bishop 41
Arsenal PGA: 63 Daisy Sherrin, 46 Lois Hazell (3 Kianna Best, 77), 47 Ellie Beels (68 Annabelle Tang, 63), 50 Abigail Conway, 54 Poppy Salmon, 56 Abigail Chipperfield, 57 Freya Woods (52 Lily Farrington, 77), 61 Cairo-Evea Antoine, 64 Amelia Marriott, 66 Victoria Chitham, 70 Isabella Cowley (capt). Substitutes: 58 Chimera Ude (GK), 62 Jessica Bryan (GK), 48 Phoebe De Bohan, 67 Bryony Brodie.
Goals: Chitham 43, Conway 83
Booked: Beels 29