MARINE Academy Plymouth and Callington Town both progressed in the Women’s FA Cup on Sunday.
Marine Academy continued their impressive start to the season with a 6-1 away preliminary round win at St Austell. That followed on from their 21-0 victory over Ottery St Mary in the extra preliminary round and a 5-0 opening day South West Women’s League Premier Division victory over Torquay United last weekend.
Izzie Scott scored twice for Marine Academy at St Austell, with their other goals coming from Jana Richards, Beth Everson, Nicola Symons and Olivia Ramsey.
Callington have also reached the FA Cup first round qualifying after they edged out Bideford 2-1 in a tight contest at Marshfield Park.
Gabi Alphous put the hosts ahead before she had to limp off. Katyln Bentley then doubled Callington’s lead before Kate McKane pulled one back for Bideford to set up a nervous ending.
However, there was disappointment for FA Cup debutants Saltash, who narrowly lost 5-4 in a thriller at Helston.
The Ashes, who had stunned St Agnes in the extra preliminary round, did take an early lead at Helston. But the hosts hit back and went 4-1 ahead before the visitors staged an impressive comeback and came close to making it 5-5 late on. Dani Harper scored a hat-trick for Saltash.
New Plymouth Argyle manager Ryan Perks admitted it is going to take the new-look Pilgrims time to gel after their 5-1 opening day FA Women’s National League Southern Division defeat at Keynsham Town.
Argyle have seen many of their key players from last season move on and have also had a change of manager and backroom staff.
They found themselves 2-0 down early on at Keynsham before Meg Williams pulled a goal back. However, the hosts scored a third just before half-time and then added two more after the interval.
Perks said afterwards: “Patience is going to be key this season. It’s going to take time as we are a young new squad.”
There was better news for Argyle’s development team, who picked up their first South West Women’s League Premier Division win of the season by beating city rivals Plympton 3-2 at Bull Point.
It was a fine way for them to bounce back from their frustrating narrow home defeat to St Austell the week before.
Signal Box Oak Villa (pictured) enjoyed an impressive start to their Devon Women’s League Premier Division season with a 6-1 home win over Exeter University at Weston Mill.
Victoria Jasper scored a hat-trick for the hosts, who went 2-0 up in the first 10 minutes.
Abigail White added two, while Amelia Brown was also on the scoresheet for Oak Villa. Exeter’s goal came in the closing stages through Pippa Tilney.
In the same division, Eggbuckland-based Activate had a tough opening day of the season as they lost 6-1 at home to Halwill. Laura HIlleson-Perrett came back to haunt her former club with four goals for the visitors.
In the Cornwall League East Division, Callington Town Reserves enjoyed a 9-2 away win against Foxhole Stars. They were 7-0 up at half-time with goals from Lisa Pearce (4), Gemma Farley, Siobhan Elliot and Lauren Baker. Rachel Finch and Kate Crowells-Hodge scored after the break for the visitors.
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