Plymouth Argyle have advanced into the next round of the FA cup after a convincing 2-0 win against Welsh side Gwalia United earlier today. It was a highly anticipated match, with the sides meeting earlier in the month, Argyle winning 5-1.
After an initial hour delay due to traffic issues with the away side, the match kicked off and Argyle came out flying, dominating possession for a majority of the half. The home side had plenty of opportunities in the opening half hour but were unable to convert until Welsh striker Phoebie Poole headed the ball home from a Charlotte Whitmore corner in the 36th minute.
Only minutes after their first, Argyle won themselves a penalty, which Poole slotted calmly into the far left to double the Pilgrims’ lead. Whitmore had the opportunity to score shortly before the end of the first half, but got her feet tangled and couldn’t convert.
Phoebie Poole steps up for her penalty (shots_by_jazz/Jasmine Bishop)
The Greens started their second half as they meant to go on, applying pressure to the Gwalia defence, allowing the forwards to drive forward with confidence and test the opposition goalkeeper on multiple occasions, but didn’t convert any of these opportunities.
A foul in stoppage time sparked a confrontation between players from both sides which escalated quickly into a scuffle. After the referee had restored order, he issued a red card to Argyle’s double goalscorer Phoebie Poole and to Gwalia substitute Bonnie Gready.
The incident seemed to just be a late flashpoint, as Argyle calmly finished off the game to secure a deserved 2-0 victory and a spot into the next round of the cup.
Attention now turns to tomorrow night’s draw, where Argyle will discover their opponents for round three. The next stage of the competition sees the introduction of WSL 2 (Women’s Super League) teams into the mix, offering the potential for some exciting matchups.
With confidence high and a 15-game winning streak on their side, the Greens will be eagerly waiting to see who they’ll draw in the next round.