PLYMOUTH Argyle Ladies have suffered another big blow with the departure of top striker Natasha Knapman.

Double golden boot winner Knapman, who has netted 181 goals in 156 appearances for Argyle, has joined Buckland Athletic.

She featured for Buckland in a pre-season friendly against Bishop Lydeard on Sunday.

Knapman’s departure follows the loss of fellow key players Helen Bleazard, Leah Burridge and Zoe Cunningham.

Wales international Bleazard, who has scored 18 goals in 43 games, has joined Ilminster Town as their player-assistant manager, Burridge had returned to Yeovil Town and all-action midfielder Zoe Cunningham, who has netted 39 times in 73 appearances, has also joined Buckland.

The Pilgrims were looking on course to challenge for the National League Southern Division title last season until Christmas when they suffered a host of injuries, including to flying winger Amber Pollock, and also saw England under-20 international Jessie Jones move to the Middle East.

They did eventually regroup and were in fifth place when the season was brought to an early end due to Covid-19. They also reached the semi-finals of the League Cup Plate competition.

Manager Dave Leonard said: “We have lost some top players but we have a tremendous amount of good youngsters coming through the system but I won’t push them as they have to develop.”