Argyle Community Trust FIVE goals from Gabi Alphous helped Argyle’s second string to move inexorably towards promotion with this impressive victory over visitors Plainmoor. In fairness to the visitors they battled all the way despite being camped in their own half for most of the match and are to be credited for their sporting approach to the game.
On a miserable afternoon, Argyle set out their stall early and were ahead inside five minutes. After captain Alex Hugh had gone close, her next effort from outside the penalty area flew into the net. Three minutes later and Hugh made it 2-0 by heading in Katelyn McKane's well placed corner.
Alphous opened her account with a terrific chip over the goalkeeper. Summer Taylor saw her header superbly saved by goalkeeper Hannah Rowan-Dumont as did Alphous before Darcey Hepworth added the next when in the 18th minute she fired in from distance.
The barrage continued as the goalkeeper made a double save to deny Alphous and Lennon Lewis. Five minutes later Armanie Crabtree ran on to a through ball to provide a crisp finish. The next goal came from Lennon Lewis who got on the end of a cross. Alphous then had another effort saved before Summer Taylor set up Alphous for another clinical finish. Katherine Endacott and McKane both went close before McKane ran on to a great through ball to fire low into the corner of the net.
Argyle started the second half as they ended the first when within four minutes of the restart a great Endacott cross was tucked away by Alphous from two yards. Two minutes later Taylor found Alphous who controlled the ball well before finding the top corner of the net. Hepworth had a good shot well saved before Alphous raced on to a ball headed forward by Hepworth to produce a clinical finish. Seven minutes later Taylor ran on to a well placed free kick over the defence for her goal. Crabtree then fed Endacott who found the corner of the net with Crabtree then adding her second goal. After an Alphous shot had been saved Lewis raced in to score her second goal leaving the best goal of the game coming a minute from time when Izzy Berks raced through the defence before guiding the ball into the corner of the net.
Reserve team manager Rob Bonney said after the match: “This was our first match for six weeks. The girls have trained hard during this break so it was good to get some game time in at last. We changed personnel and formations several times during the game and the girls adapted and showed their versatility and were rewarded for a very professional display.”
