Hashtag victory for Argyle Women

PLYMOUTH Argyle Women battled their way to a hard-earned 2-1 FAWNL Southern Premier Division victory at Hashtag United, grinding through a scrappy first half before producing the key moments of quality needed to take all three points in Essex.

- By LEXIE SANDERS

Ellie Noble's two goals, either side of the break, pushed the Greens to victory in Essex

Argyle also handed a debut to new signing Phoebe Hampson, who joined the club ahead of kickoff. The midfielder went straight into the starting XI and, while it was not an easy game to make a big impact in given the scrappy first half, she worked hard and showed glimpses of what she could offer once she settles into the side.

The Greens were without a key figure as this was the first match of Phoebie Poole’s suspension following her red card in the FA Cup win over Gwalia. Poole’s influence going forward is significant, and her absence showed early on, with Argyle taking time to find any real rhythm or cohesion in attack.

Despite their early struggles, Argyle created chances. Three minutes in, Charlotte Whitmore was brought down by a strong challenge but recovered quickly. Soon after, she broke down the right and picked out Hampson, whose back-heel was blocked at close range.