Argyle Women cruise into the second round of FA Cup

REWARD IS ANOTHER HOME TIE

- By LEXIE SANDERS Plymouth Argyle Women correspondent

Ella Stephens scored her first goal of the season to make it 5-0

PLYMOUTH Argyle cruised into the second round of the Women's FA Cup with a dominant 7-0 victory over seventh-tier Maidstone United.

Braces from Ella Stephens, Charlotte Whitmore and Ellie Noble, along with an early header from captain Giota Papaioannou, sealed a comprehensive win. The Greens could have had more, with four goals ruled out — most for offside.

Manager Marie Hourihan said afterwards: "The priority today was to come through unscathed, get into the next round, and manage the game well — and I thought we did that really, really well."

Hourihan made four changes from the side that beat Watford last weekend, handing Tamara Wilcock her first start, while Whitmore, Katie Wilson and Papaioannou also returned to the starting XI.

Plymouth Argyle made their attacking intent clear from the outset, with early chances falling to Tamara Wilcock, Ella Stephens and Phoebie Poole — the latter denied by the offside flag. Wilcock came close again soon after, only for a Maidstone defender to clear off the line, while Charlotte Whitmore sent another effort narrowly wide.

Wilcock thought she had broken the deadlock midway through the first half, finding the net before the assistant's flag ruled it out for offside against Kivel in the buildup. Poole then tested the goalkeeper with a well-struck effort that was palmed away.

The breakthrough finally came through captain Giota Papaioannou, who headed home at the back post from a free kick to make it 1-0. Reflecting on her rare goal, she said: