Following their sensational semi-final win of the previous week, Argyle Women could not match the heroics of that victory when travelling to Gwalia United on Sunday.
Despite their dominance, the Greens could not find the goal they craved, and instead drew 0-0 on their first visit to Wales of the season.
At home, Argyle had beaten Gwalia 5-1 and 2-0 in league and cup action, and they were revisiting the scene of a dramatic win on the final day of last season, which kept them in the FAWNL National League.
These days, Argyle are seeking promotion out of the division, and remain second after this draw, but Bournemouth are not far behind, with games in hand, and a 4-3 win for Watford over Oxford United took the Hornets four points ahead of Argyle, with seven games remaining.
At Gwalia, Argyle started slowly, not at their best in the first half on a firm 4G surface, but, even then, they had a great chance on three minutes when Olivia Francis cut the ball back for Tamara Wilcock, who shot over.
Phoebie Poole dragged an effort wide on 15 minutes, and then just before the half-hour mark she got into the box and was fouled by home goalkeeper Benedicte Haaland. A penalty was given, and Haaland booked, but she redeemed herself by saving Poole’s effort, low to her left.
Gwalia had a rally towards the end of the half, with three shots in quick succession being fired off, and Argyle blocking the attempts. Almost immediately, at the other end, Roisin Kivel fired in a long-range shot which was saved, and Ellie Noble could not quite follow up.
Early in the second half, Argyle brought on Una Lue, for Wilcock, and tried to stretch their hosts. For a long time, Gwalia subdued their hosts, and Argyle looked a little forlorn. Towards the end of the game, the Pilgrims upped it, and began to pepper the Gwalia goal.
Tianna Teisar headed not far wide from a left-wing cross, and then Layla Proctor went inches wide getting on the end of a corner.
In injury time, Teisar had another shot blocked, and Katie Wilson hit the bar, as Gwalia’s goal lived a charmed life, but in the end the Welsh side earned a point for their endeavour.
Argyle: 33 Ella Stowell, 6 Layla Proctor, 9 Phoebie Poole (17 Paris Dalton, 81), 11 Roisin Kivel, 14 Katie Wilson, 15 Tamara Wilcock (2 Una Lue, 52), 16 Ella Stephens (3 Phoebe Hampson, 73), 19 Ellie Noble, 23 Olivia Francis, 24 Tianna Teisar, 26 Arabella Suttie. Substitutes: 1 Hermione Cull (gk), 21 Eilish Brogan (gk), 5 Giota Papaioannou, 29 Chloe Ingrouille.
Yellow cards: Proctor 38, Teisar 90, Francis 90
Gwalia United: 26 Benedicte Haaland, 2 Ellie Mai Sandford, 3 Tia Asker (17 Daisy Ackerman, 82), 4 Katie Quick, 10 Georgia Walters, 14 Molly Kehoe (20 Anna Powell, 69), 15 Shurima Vine, 16 Emma Thomas, 18 Manon Pearce (25 Keira O’Keefe, 69), 22 Imi Scourfield, 23 Cerys Jones (capt) (19 Callie Jones, 37). Substitutes: 7 Bonnie Gready, 13 Amina Vine, 31 Ameliah Yarwood.
Yellow card: Haaland 27
