PLYMOUTH Argyle were beaten 5-0 by Hashtag United in front of nearly 600 fans at Home Park on Sunday in the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division.
The Pilgrims found themselves 2-0 down at half-time to their third-placed opponents, with Sophie Baigent and Holly Turner scoring for the visitors.
Turner added a second straight after the break and then Kallie Georgie Balfour and Macey Nicolls bagged further goals for Hashtag in the closing stages.
Argyle had gone into the match on the back of two wins, including a 5-1 away victory over Milton Keynes Dons, and manager Ryan Perks admitted his team did not perform at the level they could.
“I don’t think it was good enough,” said Perks, who apologised to those supporters that turned up. “That is not what we are about. Hopefully, we can put it right next week.”
Argyle will be back at Home Park on Sunday when they host London Bees in the FA Women’s National League Cup.
Marine Academy Plymouth are the early leaders of the South West Women’s Premier Division after they came from behind to beat Ilminster Town 4-1 at Manadon on Sunday.
Ilminster started the better and went 1-0 up on 15 minutes with a goal from Krystal Edwards.
Midway through the half, Marine Academy made a few tactical switches and they finally started to get on top.
And the home side levelled just before the break when captain Sam Drewery beat the out-rushing goalkeeper to head in after a long-range shot deflected of an Ilminster player who was down on the floor.
The second period was dominated by Marine, and they took just five minutes of the half to go 2-1 in front when Beth Overton fired in from the edge of the box.
They added a third 12 minutes later when Abbie Woodward pounced on a loose ball in the six-yard box, before Overton added a fourth not long later from a Drewery corner.
Marine have scored 11 goals in their opening two league games and have only conceded one.
In South West Division One, newly-promoted Plympton made a dream start by hammering Bideford 9-0 at Bull Point.
It was the second time in seven days the teams had met at the same venue, with Plympton beating their north Devon opponents 6-0 in the FA Cup the previous weekend.
Isabelle Firth scored five of Plympton’s nine goals on Sunday, with Sam Metters, Daisy Canning, Melissa Yabsley and Mollie Naughton also getting on the scoresheet.
In the same division, Saltash United also got off to a fine start with a 3-1 away victory at Weston-super-Mare.
Nicola Champion scored twice for the Ashes, with Evelyn Bray also on target for the Cornish club.
In Devon League South West, Horrabridge made a winning start with a 3-1 home success over Paignton Villa. Jessica Oaten, Toni Allen and Katie Cox scored for Horrabridge.
In the same division, Lakeside Athletic were beaten 2-1 away at Plainmoor, with Lilly Daw scoring for the visitors, while new side The Victory Pub went down 4-0 at home to Shaldon and Elm United beat Hunters District 3-1 away.
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