Argyle were beaten 3-1 by Real Bedford at home Park, despite taking a deserved lead into half-time thanks to a stunning Shana Dolbel lob.
The Pilgrims produced an encouraging first-half display and were rewarded when Dolbel spotted goalkeeper Erica Meale off her line, producing an outrageous effort from distance.
Argyle continued to compete well after the break, but Real Bedford turned the game around with three second-half goals courtesy of Anele Komani, Kelci Bowers and Ellie Head.
Matt Green made two changes from the side that beat Torquay United 1-0 last weekend, with Kennedy Garside and Kiesha Walker replacing Brooklyn Brothers and Chloe Ingrouille.
Liv Giles started in goal behind a back five of Khloe Reed, Ellie M Bishop, Cadi Rodgers, Ali Lambe and Walker. Garside, Sienna Gilbert and Farrah Ambrose played in the midfield three, while Laura Curnock partnered Dolbel up top.
Real Bedford had the first chance of the game, earning a free kick inside the opening minute, but Giles dealt with it well.
Shortly afterwards, Garside forced Meale into an early save after a good combination down the right between Curnock and Gilbert ended with the ball inside the box.
Nicola Puddick probably should have put the visitors ahead when she missed a good opportunity at the back post.
Puddick continued to cause the Argyle defence issues, as her powerful right-footed shot was saved by Giles to keep it 0-0.
Throughout the afternoon, Dolbel won countless free kicks for Argyle and created plenty of chances. Blue Bartlett-Antwi was fortunate to escape a yellow card when she fouled the forward just before the 30-minute mark.
The Pilgrims were down to 10 players for a few minutes while captain Bishop received treatment on the side of the pitch. That said, it was hard to notice they were a player down, as Lambe nearly gave Argyle the lead before being flagged offside.
Dolbel then produced a moment of individual brilliance to make it 1-0. After sustained pressure from Argyle’s midfield, Dolbel picked the ball up just inside the Real Bedford half and produced a remarkable lob that hit the crossbar before finding the back of the net.
After taking a deserved lead, the Greens continued to attack their opposition in search of more.
Just before half-time, Dolbel was once again on the end of a good chance created by Reed, but her strike was unable to find the target.
Real Bedford side came out for the second half with a sense of urgency, after Bowers and Komani replaced Gaylor and Bartlett-Antwi during the break. Despite this, for the first 10 minutes, it was all Argyle.
The Greens continued to create chances and threaten Meale’s goal and, just eight minutes after coming on, Bowers saw yellow for another foul on Dolbel.
Komani equalised following a mix-up at the back when Lambe’s headed pass back to Giles dropped short and fell into the path of the substitute, who finished well.
The visitors then took the lead from a corner, with Bowers rising highest and heading the ball into the back of the net.
Argyle’s best chance to equalise came in the 78th minute. Dolbel’s deflected free kick fell to Lambe, who turned and shot, but her effort was saved by Meale’s body.
From that point the Pilgrims continued to push to make it 2-2, but unfortunately for Argyle it was Real Bedford who scored the next goal. Head produced a composed finish into the bottom-left corner to extend the visitors’ lead.
Despite continuing to fight up until the final whistle, Argyle were unable to get themselves back in the game.
Head Coach Green was pleased with what he saw from his side in the opening 45 minutes against a Real Bedford team he expects to challenge strongly this season.
He said: “I think the first half was really good. There were some great moments in there and I think we deservedly went in 1-0 up at half-time.
”We had a great goal from Shana – she saw where the keeper was and executed the strike really well. That’s another moment in her football journey and development, and she will grow from that.”
Green was disappointed with the way his side conceded after the break but believes there are plenty of positives to build on as the season progresses.
“We have got to put a full 90 minutes together,” he said. “We are under no illusions about the challenge that we have got in the league this year, but this group of players are trying [their best] every single week.
”They train hard every single week, and they show the supporters that come and watch them that they are giving everything for the shirt. I am always proud of the performances they put in.
“Now we have just got to go back and look at a few details – those key moments in the game – especially in that second half and we will work from there.”
Green remains confident that an improvement in results will follow the performances as the Pilgrims continue to develop week on week.
He said: “People saw that we had to sit in and defend against Oxford and Portsmouth, but last week against Torquay we showed that attacking side that we have got. We also showed that in the second half today and we created some really good moments.
“Like I say, it will come. It is all part of the process that we’re going through. We are all here for the long haul and that win will come – it’s just a matter of time.”
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Argyle: 1 Liv Giles, 4 Ali Lambe, 5 Ellie.M Bishop (capt), 9 Laura Curnock, 11 Cadi Rodgers, 14 Shana Dolbel, 15 Kiesha Walker (21 Chloe Ingrouille, 86), 16 Sienna Gilbert (20 Ciara Magee, 66), 17 Kennedy Garside (24 Ellie.J Bishop, 79), 18 Farrah Ambrose (19 Brooklyn Brothers, 79), 25 Khloe Reed (23 Phoebe Bettey, 86). Substitutes: 22 Saskia Worrall (GK).
Goals: Dolbel 30
Booked: Curnock 46, Gilbert 62, E.M Bishop 70
Real Bedford: 1 Erica Meale, 2 Hannah Warren (capt), 3 Nicola Puddick (20 Daisy Hind, 84), 5 Blue Bartlett-Antwi (8 Kelci Bowers, HT), 6 Sophie McLean, 7 Lily Whitelock (19 Sophie Byrom, 40), 9 Ellie Head, 10 Melis Mehmet, 15 Dre Georgiou, 23 Zynia Delglyn (21 Molly Weaver, 63), 33 Amber Gaylor (4 Anele Komani, HT). Substitutes: 14 Mylee Baker, 16 Bea Cunnison.
Goals: Komani 56, Bowers 62, Head 82
Booked: Georgiou 32, Bowers 53, Head 77
Referee: Daniel Forrester