Argyle Women ended their FAWNL Southern Premier Division calendar with a 4-1 win at Real Bedford on Sunday.
After trailing at the break, second-half goals from Paris Dalton, Olivia Francis, Tianna Teisar and Tamara Wilcock pushed the Greens over the line in Bedfordshire and over the 50-point mark in the league table.
In Northern Premier Division action, a Burnley victory over Stoke City secured top spot for the Clarets, and confirms Argyle’s play-off final will take place with runners-up Wolverhampton Wanderers as their opponents.
More news will come in due course on pafc.co.uk regarding the fixture on Bank Holiday Monday, 4 May, at the Pirelli Stadium, the home of Burton Albion.
Back to this weekend’s action – Head Coach Marie Hourihan made five changes to her side that faced Oxford United at Home Park earlier in the month.
Ella Stowell replaced Hermione Cull between the sticks, with a back four of Ella Stephens, Caitlin Smith, Arabella Suttie and Roisin Kivel sat in front. The midfield trio of Layla Proctor, Dalton, and Ellie Noble claimed their usual spots, as Francis and Wilcock provided the support for our Welsh international, Phoebie Poole, leading the line.
A delayed kick-off time of 2.30pm, due to heavy traffic congestion and road closures around the Ledger Stadium, soon came around with Argyle getting the game under way.
Quick attacking play made the travelling Green Army and staff in attendance think that an early goal might be coming their way, but this was not to be the case. Tidy defensive work from the Pirates cut out immediate opportunities, with the closest coming from a Dalton shot from inside the box, which required a goal-line clearance to halt Argyle from leading.
As the minutes went on, both teams created chances in front of goal, but defences were on top, neutralising any threat at hand. Bedford’s Issy Bryant had her attacking phase stopped by a combination of Kivel and Stowell prior to Wilcock’s well-struck volley being saved well by Erica Meale in the hosts’ goal.
Just before the half-hour mark, however, Bedford took the lead. Bryant volleyed home inside the area, after Argyle struggled to clear a corner away from danger, on the second attempt, sending Ledger Stadium into delirium, as rock music blared from the speakers.
The remaining 15 minutes of the half consisted of very few chances for either side, meaning a stern team talk was on for Argyle from Hourihan, which worked a treat, it seems, alongside a dual substitution.
Una Lue and Katie Wilson took to the pitch before the restart, replacing Poole and Stephens, and within seven minutes the game was level. The immediate credit must go to Dalton, Francis and Noble, however.
Francis’s quick play on the right flank caught Bedford out and allowed Noble to place a delivery perfectly onto the head of Dalton, who flicked the ball home with a looping header, over the grounded Meale.
Six minutes later, one became two, with Dalton and Francis continuing their fine start to the half. The Welsh forward latched onto the end of a pass from Dalton, slotting home inside the area, putting the Greens in front.
The attacking barrage continued, but Bedford managed to hold on and slow the game down. Hourihan reacted, though, making a triple change, bringing on Phoebe Hampson, Charlotte Whitmore and Teisar, which worked in the Greens’ favour.
Before the goalscoring continued, play had to be paused after a collision of heads between Lue and Bedford defender Sofia Stovald. Both received treatment; Stovald had to be substituted due to the collision, whilst Lue continued.
In the final stages of the game, Teisar and Wilcock both found the back of the net in quick succession, with similar finishes from the left side of the 18-yard box, further extending the lead and allowing Argyle to leave Bedford with a three-goal victory.
Argyle: 33 Ella Stowell, 6 Layla Proctor, 9 Phoebie Poole (2 Una Lue, half-time), 11 Roisin Kivel (capt), 15 Tamara Wilcock, 16 Ella Stephens (14 Katie Wilson, half-time), 17 Paris Dalton (7 Charlotte Whitmore, 68), 18 Caitlin Smith (3 Phoebe Hampson, 68), 19 Ellie Noble, 23 Olivia Francis (24 Tianna Teisar, 68), 26 Arabella Suttie. Substitutes: 1 Hermione Cull (gk), 5 Giota Papaioannou.
Goals: Dalton 52, Francis 58, Teisar 88, Wilcock 90+1.
Real Bedford: 13 Erica Meale, 2 Hannah Warren (capt), 3 Nicola Puddick (19 Sophie Byrom), 5 Scarlett Williams, 6 Sofia Stovald (12 Beatrice Cunnison, 83), 7 Issy Bryant, 8 Melis Mehmet (16 Marcie O’Meara), 9 Breon Grant (15 Izzy Lane, 64), 10 Abbie Bensted, 11 Lucy Wood (21 Chloe Logie, 83), 66 Rhianne Rush. Substitutions: 18 Faye Field-Davis, 23 Mylee Baker.
Goal: Bryant 29.
