Argyle put five past Bridgwater United at Home Park on Sunday afternoon, to make it two wins from two games in the FA Women’s National League Cup.
An Imy Crawford brace and goals from Olivia Francis, Phoebie Poole and Charlotte Whitmore helped secure the victory for the Greens at Home Park, after starting their campaign with three points on Thursday against Marine Academy Plymouth, with an identical scoreline.
Francis opened the scoring for Argyle, picking up the ball at the back post and firing home with her left foot, for her first goal at Home Park. She had also scored the final goal on Thursday.
“I'm really happy to finally get off the mark,” Francis told Argyle TV. “I feel like I've grown in confidence now, it’s taken me a few games to get into it, but I'm really happy to get on the scoresheet on Thursday and today, and get the three points at Home Park.
“We talked, last week, about having a big three-game week, and we just wanted to get nine points out of it. We did that and are also happy with getting three wins from three games at Home Park, which is obviously another objective we wanted.”
Argyle continued to dominate possession and create chances in front of goal, with Francis coming close on another occasion after finding the back of the net, but in the 25th minute, it was Poole who added the second.
Roisin Kivel was fouled inside the area, after driving through the Bridgwater defence, winning Argyle a penalty which Poole calmly converted from the spot.
Ten minutes later, two became three. Crawford had previously tested Charlotte Johnson in the Bridgwater goal with long-range efforts, but none had paid off as wanted. This strike, however, did.
Picking up the ball 25 yards out from goal, the Argyle captain curled an effort into the far top corner, from right-to-left, before being mobbed by her teammates.
After the break, the scoring continued for Crawford and the Greens. This time, from the edge of the box, the Argyle number eight curled her shot into the opposite top corner of the Bridgwater goal, after Francis set her up perfectly.
Both sides made substitutions to try to change the game, but it soon became even harder for the Somerset side after Zoe Watkins was sent off, receiving two cautions, the second delaying the restart after an early foul on Crawford saw her initially have her name taken.
Argyle had multiple chances in front of goal, over a half-hour spell, to add to their lead, but could not find the back of the net. Another Crawford long-range effort was saved well by Johnson, whilst new signing Tianna Teisar's shot, from inside the box, was deflected onto the bar.
Ten minutes before full-time, Whitmore added the Greens’ fifth, slotting the ball into the bottom left corner of the Bridgwater goal after play inside the 18-yard box.
The visitors scored a consolation goal two minutes from time. Arabella Suttie was ruled to have handled the ball inside the area, with Connie Pengelly scoring from the penalty spot, before the full-time whistle was blown.
Francis added: “It’s just amazing [at Home Park]. I love it. I think from the first game I played here, I’ve just loved the atmosphere. It’s like a 12th person on the pitch.
“Something we reiterate every time we play a game now is about moving forward, looking forward and bringing that momentum now. We've had a really positive week winning all three games, so it's about finishing off the group to the best of our ability, when it comes around, and hopefully, getting nine points and staying on top.”
Argyle: 1 Hermione Cull, 6 Layla Proctor, 7 Charlotte Whitmore, 8 Imy Crawford (capt), 9 Phoebie Poole (9 Tianna Teisar, 59), 11 Roisin Kivel, 14 Katie Wilson (5 Giota Papaioannou, 78), 18 Caitlin Smith (2 Katie Dickson, 78), 19 Ellie Noble (17 Paris Dalton, 70), 23 Olivia Francis (27 Sienna Gilbert, 85), 26 Arabella Suttie. Substitutes: 21 Eilish Brogan (gk).
Goals: Francis 10, Poole 25, Crawford 35, 54, Whitmore 79.
Bridgwater United: 1 Charlotte Johnson, 2 Ella-Mae Miller (12 Camryn Lines, half-time), 4 Keely Banfield, 5 Manfy Sharpe (capt), 7 Abbie Carslake (9 Connie Pengelly, 78), 8 Ellie Bell (10 Scarlett Mills, 59), 17 Beatriz Kretteis, 20 Emily Nicolson, 23 Steph Beck (15 Jemima Guise, 59), 25 Hannah Price (21 Aimme Kingdon, 59), 40 Zoe Watkins.
Goal: Pengelly 88.
Yellow card: Watkins 49.
Red card: Watkins 65.
Referee: Rebecca Halford.
Attendance: 784.
