Argyle Women lost 5-1 to Exeter City at St James Park on Wednesday night.
Nia Lewis and Ellie Sara gave the hosts a two-goal lead inside 10 minutes, with Charlotte Whitmore adding a third before half-time.
Whitmore was sent off after being shown a second yellow card just before the hour mark, before Giota Papaioannou and substitute Georgia Vaccaro found the back of the net with headed shots. Ali Lambe then added a consolation goal for the Pilgrims in the 73rd minute.
Argyle Head Coach Matt Green made three changes to the starting team with new signing Libby Gimson coming in for Ellie J Bishop while Sienna Gilbert and Chloe Ingrouille replaced Brooklyn Brothers and the injured Laura Curnock.
This meant a back four of Khloe Reed, Lambe, Cadi Rodgers and Ellie M Bishop started ahead of goalkeeper Liv Giles, who was returning to her former club. Gimson, Gilbert and Ingrouille formed the midfield three and were flanked by Kennedy Garside and Shana Dolbel, leaving Millie Pullen to lead the line.
Exeter took an early lead when Lewis headed Ishbel Zuurmond’s deep cross past Giles at the far post.
They doubled their advantage shortly after, with ex-Argyle forward Sara receiving a pass on the edge of the box and firing a shot across goal and into the bottom-left corner.
Argyle provided a reaction after going two goals down. The Pilgrims’ two latest signings combined as Pullen latched onto Gimson’s through ball, taking it past two Exeter defenders before finding a pass to Gilbert outside the penalty area – but the midfielder’s shot was blocked.
Gimson, who was making her debut after joining from Bridgwater United, impressed the travelling Green Army with her passion and willingness to work hard for the team. This was showcased on the half-hour mark when she sprinted across the pitch to deny Whitmore’s shot on goal.
Former Pilgrim Whitmore then saw two efforts saved by Giles and missed the target from inside the six-yard box.
But, Whitmore eventually extended the hosts’ lead with a right-footed volley following Tia Asker’s pinpoint cross.
It was a busy few minutes before half-time for Whitmore, who was then fortunate to escape a red card, and was only shown a yellow for her poorly timed challenge on Ingrouille.
Argyle changed shape at the break, to a back three, as Ellie J Bishop replaced Garside. This led to an improved second-half display from the Pilgrims, who limited their opponents to fewer chances and found the back of the net themselves.
Whitmore was yet again involved following half-time and was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card for an altercation with Gimson by the corner flag.
Despite a resilient defensive Greens display, former Argyle captain Papaioannou added a fourth to Exeter’s total with a clinical finish at the back post. She classily refused to celebrate the goal, having been at Argyle for eight seasons between 2018 and 2026.
Former Argyle pathway player Vacarro scored Exeter’s final goal of the evening in the 71st minute, converting Jessica Sandland’s set piece with another header.
Argyle continued to fight and did not give up, as Lambe pulled a goal back, thrashing the ball into the back of the net from close range after Kiesha Walker’s corner.
The Pilgrims continued to battle until the final whistle and made a few more chances of their own in the remaining 15 minutes, but no more goals were scored and the game ended 5-1.
Speaking after the game, Green said: “I’m a bit disappointed with our first-half performance. We went in at half-time, changed the formation to a 3-5-2 and we got a bit more out of that second half.
“We will try to take the positives from that second 45 minutes and we look to move on. We are going to have to dust ourselves off from today ahead of this weekend – and that is what we will do.”
Argyle will return to Home Park on Sunday for their FA Women’s National League Plate fixture against Arsenal PGA in the last 16. Tickets are now available for the 2pm kick-off and can be purchased here.
Exeter City: 25 Erin Foley, 3 Tia Asker (16 Phoebe Baker, 83), 4 Emily Poole (26 Lauren Le Poidevin, 83), 6 Jess Sandland, 8 Fearne Slocombe, 9 Ellie Sara (7 Georgia Vaccaro, 62), 10 Ishbel Zuurmond (capt), 18 Nia Lewis (14 Bethan McGowan, 72), 19 Charlotte Whitmore, 22 Giota Papaioannou, 23 Amber Pollock (17 Emily Pitman, 62). Substitutes: 24 Amy Lockyer, 13 Ffion Llewellyn.
Goals: Lewis 7, Sara 10, Whitmore 36, Papaioannou 60, Vaccaro 70
Red card: Whitmore 58
Yellow card: Whitmore 30
Argyle: 1 Liv Giles, 2 Cadi Rodgers, 4 Ali Lambe, 5 Ellie M Bishop (15 Kiesha Walker, 65), 7 Millie Pullen, 8 Libby Gimson (19 Brooklyn Brothers, 65), 14 Shana Dolbel, 16 Sienna Gilbert, 17 Kennedy Garside (24 Ellie J Bishop, 45), 21 Chloe Ingrouille (23 Phoebe Bettey, 85), 25 Khloe Reed (30 Lily Coaker. 88). Substitutes: 29 Aimee Walters (GK).
Goals: Lambe 73
Booked: Lambe 56, Gimson 58
Referee: Mark Dobrijevic
Attendance: 1,686