Argyle Community Trust ARGYLE Ladies made their longest journey of the season and gave a gutsy performance, but ultimately came away with a narrow 2-1 defeat that sees them slip into the relegation places for the first time this season.
Despite missing Jessie Jones and Kayley Lane who were both suspended following their indiscretions in the previous two home games, Argyle started the game brightly and gave as good as they got in the opening half-hour with chances at either end coming at a premium.
However, a momentary lapse by Ellana Moseley in the 32nd minute allowed Karen Stephanou to nip in behind the Argyle defence and her cut-back to Karissa Rodney was met with a fine strike, which was well saved by Michaela Phillips. Unfortunately for Argyle, the ball ran loose to Lilly Mellors who fired the rebound through a crowd of players into the far corner of the net to give the home side the lead.
Rocked by the setback, Argyle found themselves two goals down moments later when Basildon skipper Claire Lacey outjumped Katie Middleton to head home Amy Nash’s corner off the underside of the crossbar.
Mollie Taylor and Phoebe Baker came close to reducing the arrears just before half time and although in terms of the balance of play there was little to choose between the teams, Argyle went in 2-0 down at the break.
The Pilgrims felt they were still very much in the game and got the boost of an early goal at the start of the second half when Becky Atkin’s innocuous looking cross was headed into her own net by Laken Duchar-Clark.
Argyle were having their best spell in the game and almost grabbed an equaliser in the 55th minute when Ellana Moseley’s deep cross was headed just over the bar by Mollie Taylor, and five minutes later Kayleigh Brown went through but fired wide of the far post.
There then followed a twenty minute period of incessant Basildon pressure, as the home side went in search of restoring their two-goal cushion but despite a series of corners and a couple of good saves by Michaela Phillips, Argyle’s defence held firm.
The final ten minutes was end-to-end without either side creating a real clear-cut chance until deep into injury time when Phoebe Baker intercepted a square ball and was clean through, but with the Basildon goal seemingly at her mercy, she opted for a square pass which went just behind the onrushing Mollie Taylor and was cleared.
Agonisingly for Argyle, the final whistle sounded moments later and a game they had every chance of taking something from ended in defeat.
However, manager Kevin Taylor can take some solace from the fact that apart from the one momentary lapse in the first half and the well-taken header from the corner for Basildon’s second goal, his defence looked far more solid than in the previous few weeks and the team as a whole showed a lot more determination to get themselves back in the game, despite coming up just short.
“There were also signs of a decent partnership developing down our left-hand side between Natalie Volpini and Phoebe Baker which we can build on in the coming weeks,” said Taylor.
“Both players played very well today and defensively they nullified that side of the pitch for the most part and linked up well going forward in the second half.
“Continuity is key and, despite losing, we must take the positives from this performance into next week’s very tough game at home to Cardiff City if we are to have any chance of moving forward and getting ourselves out of the relegation places over the coming weeks.”
