Argyle started their FAWNL Cup campaign emphatically on Thursday night, with a 5-1 victory against Marine Academy Plymouth.
Goals from Phoebie Poole, Roisin Kivel, Charlotte Whitmore, Olivia Francis, and an own-goal propelled the Greens to victory at Erme Valley, the home of Ivybridge Town.
Despite Argyle having most of the possession through the opening stages of the tie and creating chances in and around the MAP final third, it was the hosts that took the lead in the 21st minute.
Former Pilgrim Kelsey Blight charged down a clearance attempt from Argyle goalkeeper Eilish Brogan, with the block falling to the feet of Skye Macdonald-Brown to tap home.
This lead did not last long, however, as the Greens drew level within five minutes, and then took the lead before the break. The first came via Poole’s close-range finish from a Giota Papaioannou cross on the right wing, and the second thanks to an own goal, which saw Paris Dalton’s cross get turned home by a player in blue and white.
Within three minutes of the restart, Argyle extended their lead and seemed to have already found the confidence and momentum needed to secure three points up the A38.
Argyle attacked down the left, with Katie Dickson sliding Kivel in behind the MAP defence, and ending with the Greens’ number 11 placing her finish in the far corner of the goal.
Just before the hour mark, Head Coach Marie Hourihan turned to her bench, bringing on Charlotte Whitmore and Arabella Suttie, and soon enough, last year’s Player of the Season Whitmore had already made an impact on the tie.
After a free kick ran just wide of the far post, Whitmore slotted home and scored Argyle’s fourth goal of the game after tidy build-up play in the hosts’ half.
Moments later, a fifth fell their way. Confident play between Katie Wilson, Katie Dickson, and Ellie Noble down the left flank ended with an easy tap-in for Francis, following an block from Jasmine Read in the MAP goal.
Hourihan turned to her bench for the final time and brought on 16-year-old Sienna Gilbert, meaning a good evening’s work all round ended with a pathway player making her first-team debut.
Argyle: 21 Eilish Brogan, 2 Katie Dickson, 5 Giota Papaioannou (capt), 8 Imy Crawford (6 Layla Proctor, 66), 9 Phoebie Poole (7 Charlotte Whitmore, 56), 11 Roisin Kivel (26 Arabella Suttie, 56), 14 Katie Wilson, 17 Paris Dalton, 18 Caitlin Smith, 19 Ellie Noble, 23 Olivia Francis (27 Sienna Gilbert, 81).
Goals: Poole 27, Own-goal 39, Kivel 48, Whitmore 78, Francis 80.
MAP: 1 Jasmine Read, 4 Kelsey Blight, 6 Yaz Golley, 7 Sam Drevery (capt) (18 Ella Ravley, 64), 8 Kayleigh Turner, 10 Anthea Kaptein, 12 Ellie Bishop (9 Carmen Morison, 56), 15 Lily Hamp, 16 Beth Overton (5 Clara Martin, 46), 21 Skye Macdonald-Brown, 22 Chloe Kind. Substitutes: 13 Charlie Nicholson (gk), 2 Imi Jones, 19 Lily Dowling, 20 Lilly Mearns.
Goal: Macdonald-Brown 21.
