Argyle are out of the Women’s FA Cup, following a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat to Millwall Lionesses.
The game finished 1-1, with debutant Mille Pullen scoring on an impressive Argyle bow, but Millwall equalised in the final minute of stoppage time, through an Ella Rutherford penalty.
That penalty led to 20 more. Eventually, Millwall won the shoot-out 7-6, with the momentum swinging to and fro, Argyle keeper Olivia Giles saving three penalties, but the visitors finally prevailing.
At the outset of the game, Argyle lined up with Giles in goal, with a defence of Cadi Rodgers and Aliyat Lambe flanked by Khloe Reed and Ellie M Bishop. In midfield, Kennedy Garside and Ellie J Bishop played as the deepest two, with Brooklyn Brothers just ahead. Pullen played on one wing, Shana Dolbel on the other, with Laura Curnock up front.
Pullen made a fantastic start, bursting past her marker on the right flank and sending in a teasing cross that Dolbel nearly got on to. The partial clearance fell to Garside, who had a shot blocked.
Argyle’s plans took a hit on 13 minutes, when Curnock picked up an unfortunate injury. She earned Argyle a corner, striking the ball in an attempt at a shot, but the impact of a defender’s block resonated and, despite trying to continue for a minute, she had to limp off, replaced by Phoebe Bettey.
In a competitive and fairly even first half, Ella Rutherford had Millwall’s best opportunity, striking from the edge of the box and drawing an outstanding save from Giles in the Pilgrims’ goal.
For the Greens, Pullen, now playing up front since Curnock was forced off, had a breakaway down the left side, but could not get her curling shot on target.
Argyle had a few shots from range, several on target, but none that resulted in anything other than an easy gather for Abby Baravik in the visitors’ goal.
Head Coach Matt Green brought on Sienna Gilbert for Brothers at half-time, and Argyle started to take over, as far as possession and territory was concerned. The issue was simply creating the one big chance needed.
More efforts continued to come from distance for Baravik to gather. Just after the hour mark, Argyle had a two-minute period where they were camped around the Millwall area, but a combination of good defending and unfortunate ricochets meant Argyle could not fashion what they needed.
With just over 15 minutes to go, Millwall had two big chances, but two interventions from Rodgers – one to clear off the line, the other to deflect narrowly wide – maintained the deadlock.
Pullen, catching the eye on her debut, had a good effort from 20 yards saved, and then came a controversial moment. Pullen went round the goalkeeper and appeared to have been brought down. Instead, no penalty was given, and Pullen was harshly booked.
Argyle were incensed, but justice was done a minute later, when Pullen got into a similar situation, this time did get round the goalkeeper, and fired into an empty net.
Argyle looked set to be advancing, but with literally seconds left to play, Millwall were awarded a penalty. Rutherford drove home a low spot-kick, and it sent to the game to a shoot-out.
Dolbel, who had given away the penalty, showed fantastic character to take the first penalty and lash it home. It started a grippingly tense shoot-out, with the first four scored, the next four saved or missed. Eventually, at 6-6, and every outfield player having taken a spot-kick, Jorja Beckwith scored the deciding effort for Millwall.
Speaking after the game, Green said: “I am devastated to be honest. I’m devastated for the girls; I’m devastated for the staff. It’s a game that we should have come away with the win. I said before the game that football matches aren’t won on league rankings, they’re won on the pitch, and I think we deserved to win that game today.
”The joy of football is that games come around thick and fast and there is no better way to bounce back from the disappointment of today than to go and put in a performance against Exeter at St James Park this week – and that’s what we will be ready to do.”
Argyle: 1 Olivia Giles, 2 Cadi Rodgers, 4 Aliyat Lambe, 5 Ellie M Bishop (capt), 7 Mille Pullen, 9 Laura Curnock (23 Phoebe Bettey, 12), 14 Shana Dolbel, 17 Kennedy Garside, 19 Brooklyn Brothers (16 Sienna Gilbert, half-time), 24 Ellie J Bishop (15 Kiesha Walker, 74), 25 Khloe Reed. Substitutes: 29 Aimee Walters (gk), 30 Lily Coaker.
Goals: Pullen 79
Booked: Garside 56, Lambe 73, Pullen 78
Millwall: 13 Abby Barvik, 3 Emma Squirrell (capt), 5 Sophie Chapman, 9 Kayda Townsend (17 Chiedza Madamombe, half-time), 10 Ciara Watling, 11 Tiana Edwards (23 Kanita Throp, 63), 14 Lily Price (8 Maisie Joyce, 87), 19 Ella Rutherford, 22 Grace Seely, 30 Jorja Beckwith, 31 Isabel Beckwith. Substitutes: 1 Jess Cox (gk), 6 Jordan Butler, 21 Toni-Anne Bussey, 27 Georgia Harding.
Goals: Rutherford 90+4
Booked: Watling 22, J Beckwith 32