Devon Derby delight for Argyle Women as a superb second-half display saw the Greens beat Exeter City 2-0.
Phoebe Hampson’s spectacular strike early in the second period set the tone, with substitute Tianna Teisar sealing the result in stoppage time.
Marie Hourihan made three changes to the side that drew at Gwalia United last week. Goalkeeper Hermione Cull came back into the side, with Ella Stowell dropping out. Una Lue and Hampson both had returns to the Argyle team, with Ella Stephens and Teisar replaced.
This meant that it was Cull in goal, with a back four ahead of her, featuring Hampson on the right, Roisin Kivel on the left, and both Arabella Suttie and Katie Wilson in the centre.
Ellie Noble partnered Layla Proctor in the middle of the park, with Phoebie Poole playing just ahead as an attacking midfielder. Olivia Francis and Tamara Wilcock held the width, in support of Lue, who featured through the middle for Hourihan’s side.
With conditions tricky – the rain was beating down and wind to match – it was slow start to proceedings for both teams as they took time to adjust.
Of the two sides, Argyle seemed to find their feet quicker. Despite not creating any chances of note, the Pilgrims did well to retain possession in and around the Exeter half.
The first chance of the game developed when Kivel battled well down the left to stop the ball crossing the byline, she turned and cut the ball back to Lue inside the area. It was not the striker’s best effort, as she blazed the ball well over the crossbar from a decent position, but positive nonetheless.
Exeter kept Argyle honest, Wilson made a great defensive intervention to deny Sophie Gillies when she was baring down on goal, having already beaten Hampson well.
The last chance of the first period fell to Francis; she received the ball on the right flank and darted infield, beating two Exeter players in the process. However, when she did eventually take aim, it was well wide of Abbi Bond’s goal. This would turn out to be Francis’ last involvement of the night, as she was soon withdrawn after pulling up injured; Teisar came on to replace her.
It was goalless at the interval, with both teams having struggled to get going and create enough to break the deadlock.
It did not take Argyle long to get going in the second half, though. Hampson had Bond worried when she volleyed Lue’s deflected cross just over the crossbar. Wilcock then followed that move up with a looping header that just would not dip enough to threaten the Exeter goal.
The pressure continued to build, Noble’s set play was headed back across goal and into the danger area by Proctor. Among a cluster of bodies was Poole, who was beaten to the ball by a red and white shirt that thumped it clear.
Referee David Sellars had a big decision to make when Teisar appeared to be bundled over inside the penalty area by Jaydee Seaman; however, no penalty was the call made, much to the objection of the Argyle bench.
With half an hour left to play, the Greens were really beginning to build some momentum and ask questions of the Grecians’ defence. It would finally prove too much for the visitors, and Argyle took the lead in style through Hampson.
Poole received the ball in the middle of the park and did well to turn away from her marker and spray a pass wide to Hampson, who had advanced from her full-back position.
When all attendees in Home Park thought she would cross, the defender shot, driving the ball past the unsuspecting Bond and into the far-left corner.
You could tell how much that goal meant to Hampson and her teammates, as they wheeled away in celebration infront of the jubilant St Luke’s Lyndhurst Road Stand.
The Pilgrims did not stop there; Kivel nearly got in on the act as she burst forward to make it to Lue’s overhit cross. Her effort, however, was well saved by Bond at the near post.
It was Argyle that seemed the more likely side to score heading into the final ten minutes. Hourihan’s team wanted to extend their advantage, as not to allow Exeter any chance of getting back into the game.
Skipper Seaman nearly headed into her own net when Wilcock crossed well from the right, the resulting corner almost bounced on the goalline before it was hacked clear by an Exeter defender.
It was heart-in-mouth action when Sophie Gillies’ cut back fell kindly to Amber Pollock inside the Argyle penalty area late on. Fortunately, there were plenty of green shirts on hand to make the block, denying the visitors an attempt on goal.
The Grecians came close once again, this time from a corner; the ball bounced just wide of the post, much to the relief of everyone from an Argyle persuasion.
With the last attack of the game, Teisar sealed the result when she was played through on goal. Bond was quick off her line, with the substitute not left much time to think, but she remained composed and poked the ball beyond the goalkeeper, into the back of the net.
Within seconds of the game getting back underway, the referee had blown his whistle to indicate full time, Argyle had won the Devon Derby.
Argyle: 1 Hermione Cull, 2 Una Lue, 3 Phoebe Hampson, 6 Layla Proctor (17 Paris Dalton, 66), 9 Phoebie Poole, 11 Roisin Kivel (capt), 14 Katie Wilson (18 Caitlin Smith, 90+2), 15 Tamara Wilcock (16 Ella Stephens, 90+2), 19 Ellie Noble, 23 Olivia Francis (24 Tianna Teisar, 45), 26 Arabella Suttie. Substitutes: 21 Eilish Brogan (gk), 33 Ella Stowell (gk), 5 Giota Papaioannou.
Goals: Hampson 65, Teisar 90+5
Booked: Poole 19, Proctor 27, Teiser 90+5
Exeter City: 1 Abbi Bond, 3 Emily Toogood, 4 Jaydee Seaman (capt), 6 Jess Sandland, 7 Phoebe Baker (5 Fearne Slocombe, 76), 10 Sarah Stacey (9 Ellie Sara, 76), 14 Emily Poole, 15 Ishbel Zuurmond, 21 Sophie Gillies, 22 Leah Burridge, 23 Amber Pollock. Substitutions: 12 Olivia Giles (gk), 25 Ellie Sargent, 28 Jas Styles, 30 Abbie Britton.
Booked: Britton 73
Referee: David Sellars
