Argyle Women picked up another win over Oxford United on Sunday afternoon, coming away from The MGroup Stadium as 1-0 victors.
Arabella Suttie’s bundled finish late in the first half handed the Greens three points in the league in Oxfordshire, just seven days after Argyle beat the U’s 3-2 in the FAWNL Cup at Home Park.
With the victory, Argyle’s unbeaten run in all competitions extends to 14 games and moves them closer to second-place AFC Bournemouth, after the Cherries’ match was postponed.
Marie Hourihan’s side dominated possession in the early proceedings and created the first chance of the game, through Charlotte Whitmore on the right flank. The forward picked up the ball, cut onto her left foot, and attempted to curl the effort into the top corner, but it flew wide of the post and out of play for a goal kick.
Against the run of play, Oxford came somewhat close to taking the lead, but Holly Manders' flick towards goal was cleared away by Suttie.
At the other end, Layla Proctor headed Suttie’s free-kick towards goal, but it was off target, much like Caitlin Smith’s flick from a corner, which hit the side netting.
In the 39th minute, at a perfect time, the goal arrived. Ellie Noble’s free-kick, in a similar position to her spectacular strike the previous week, was pushed onto the bar by Bethany-May Wookey, but the ball dropped perfectly to the arriving Suttie to force home, with Tianna Teisar just a few feet behind her.
The start of the second half was much the opposite of the first. After Nicole Barrett was shown a yellow card within 20 seconds, Oxford applied pressure on Argyle unseen in the game so far, but defensive solidarity held the lead for the visiting side.
Maisy Barker hit the bar with a header, which potentially was saved by Hermione Cull off her line, with Oxford’s follow-up missing the target and ending the attacking threat.
Oxford’s pressure continued, but the hosts were not able to seriously test the Argyle defence, with all chances being either off target or cleared away, as far as possible, by any player in green.
Noble came close to adding a second for Argyle, against her childhood team, in the 88th minute, but her left-footed effort across goal hit the post and bounced back into play, rather than the back of the net.
The Greens were able to hold on through additional time, and as the full-time whistle blew, celebrations were on show, with an impressive three points claimed in Oxfordshire.
Argyle: 1 Hermione Cull, 6 Layla Proctor, 7 Charlotte Whitmore (23 Olivia Francis, 78), 9 Phoebie Poole, 11 Roisin Kivel (capt), 14 Katie Wilson, 17 Paris Dalton, 18 Caitlin Smith, 19 Ellie Noble, 24 Tianna Teisar, 26 Arabella Suttie. Substitutes: 21 Eilish Brogan (gk), 5 Giota Papaioannou, 15 Tamara Wilcock, 16 Ella Stephens, 30 Shana Dolbel.
Goal: Suttie 39.
Yellow card: Dalton 90+5.
Oxford United: 1 Bethany-May Wookey, 3 Shelly Provan (14 Adele Lindbaek, 78), 4 Kate Wiseman (8 Jenna Legg, 88), 5 Naomi Bedeau (capt) (12 Sauna Jenkins, 64), 6 Riva Casley, 7 Nicole Barrett (20 Lucy Trinder, 78), 10 Emma Thompson, 11 Ruby Sealey, 18 Grace Palmer, 21 Maisy Barker, 30 Holly Manders. Substitutes: 13 Maddison Millington-Stanbury, 2 Nicola Gibson.
Yellow card: Barrett 46, Manders 81.
Referee: Elora Hardstaff.
