Argyle Women picked up an important three points away from home on Sunday afternoon, beating Hashtag United 2-1.
Ellie Noble’s two goals, either side of the break, pushed the Greens to victory in Essex, after Honor Norton found an equaliser in the middle stages of the first half.
Head Coach Marie Hourihan was forced into one change this weekend, with the suspension of Phoebie Poole, but it meant that new signing Phoebe Hampson was handed her Argyle debut immediately after her arrival at the club.
Argyle started positively, creating an early chance for Hampson by the penalty spot, but the new signing’s flicked effort was blocked well and cleared away by multiple players in yellow.
In the 10th minute, Hashtag found the back of the net – but their celebrations were short-lived. Norton chased down a bouncing ball back to Hermione Cull, poked it away from the Argyle goalkeeper, and tapped home, but it was ruled out by the referee.
It was deemed that Cull had one hand on the ball before Norton kicked the ball, meaning the Greens were awarded a free-kick, and play could continue. Five minutes later, it was celebrations for all in green, rather than yellow.
Charlotte Whitmore broke through the Hashtag defensive line, drove forward, and perfectly picked out Noble outside the 18-yard box to strike home with confidence.
Argyle sought a second, but the hosts were able to somehow soak it all up and use it as fuel to counter - and soon shocked Hourihan’s side. Norton pounced on a missed header at the back, moved her body around the ball, and curled it into the far corner, bringing the game level.
The best opportunity in the remaining minutes of the first 45 came to Tianna Tesiar, but the Welsh forward’s header bounced into the turf and over the bar, rather than into the back of the net.
Both sides had possession throughout the opening 15 minutes after the break, with the first serious chance coming to Argyle, from a free-kick on the edge of the Hashtag box.
Noble stood over the dead ball, composed herself, and we can all guess what happened next – goal, Argyle, from the deadly Noble right foot.
Her shot made its way through the wall and past Frankie Angel in the host’s goal, and cue two meanings of the word ‘brace’. After scoring her second goal, the next thing Noble could do was brace herself before she was mobbed by her teammates in celebration.
For the next 20 minutes, it was a period of change, with both sides turning to their bench, hoping for renewed life in the final stages. Katie Wilson, Paris Dalton and Olivia Francis all made their way onto the pitch and were key in seeing out the remainder of the game.
Noble and Francis both had chances at goal, with neither testing Angel but, in the end, it did not matter, as the referee blew the whistle for full-time and Argyle could leave Essex with three points.
Argyle: 1 Hermione Cull (gk), 3 Phoebe Hampson (17 Paris Dalton, 73), 6 Layla Proctor, 7 Charlotte Whitmore (23 Olivia Francis, 73), 11 Roisin Kivel (capt), 15 Tamara Wilcock, 16 Ella Stephens (14 Katie Wilson, 75), 18 Caitlin Smith, 19 Ellie Noble, 24 Tianna Teisar, 26 Arabella Suttie. Substitutes: 21 Eilish Brogan (gk), 5 Giota Papaioannou, 29 Chloe Ingrouille, 30 Shana Dolbel
Goals: Noble 15, 60
Yellow cards: Suttie 89
Hashtag United: 1 Frankie Angel, 2 Flo Jackson (capt), 3 Angela Nelson-Iye (17 Issy Tomlin, 88), 5 Bonnie Horwood, 6 Ruby Gaitley (16 Charlotte Kellett, 66), 9 Honor Norton, 10 Macey Nicholls, 11 Emma Samways (7 Elicia Mulvaney, 66), 12 Olivia Smith, 14 Emel Huseyin, 18 Meleri Mulan. Substitutes: 13 Hope McSheffrey, 15 Aryanna Adesan.
Goals: Norton 28
Yellow cards: Gaitley 24
