Argyle Community Trust ARGYLE’S second string continued their impressive form with a superb 11-1 win over previously unbeaten Bideford.
The players had to overcome a strong wind in bitterly cold conditions and it was no surprise that the opening period was a scrappy affair. Argyle started on the front foot with Gabi Alphous going close on two occasions. Argyle were then stunned when a Kaz Parsons free kick bounced down off the crossbar and eventually in to the hands of goalkeeper Jessie Fox.
The deadlock was broken in the 14th minute when the Bideford defence failed to clear and Alphous pounced to give Argyle the lead. Knapman had a lob saved with the lively Izzie Berks firing a snap shot wide and Knapman having a shot blocked and a header going wide.
Argyle made it 2-0 when Summer Taylor found herself unmarked to fire home. The goal of the game came in the 29th minute when Berks cut in from the right, beat two defenders – then the goalkeeper before prodding the ball past another defender.
Six minutes later Summer Taylor set up Katelyn McKane for the next goal, and she was soon adding her second by scoring direct from a corner. Bideford's first real attack saw Lucy Clements race clear to reduce the deficit. Argyle responded when a Knapman lob bounced off the top of the crossbar.
Argyle kept up the pressure in the second half and within a minute of the restart Middleton smashed the ball home when Bideford failed to clear a corner. Five minutes later and Alphous showed her predatory instincts scored from close range. Argyle continued to push for goals with Knapman crossing for McKane to shoot home on the hour mark.
Alphous then completed her hat trick when firing in from 12 yards, as did McKane, who raced on to a Knapman through ball to make it 10-1. The final goal came with seconds to go when Katherine Endacott-Foster slammed the ball into the top corner of the net.
Delighted Argyle manager Rob Benney said: “Sometimes, it’s not about the scoreline, it's about individual and team performance. We saw a lot of what we work on at training which is very pleasing.”
