PLYMOUTH Argyle produced a battling performance but returned empty-handed from a trip to high-flying Oxford United on Sunday in the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division.
The Pilgrims were beaten 1-0 at Court Place by third-placed Oxford after conceding a goal in the opening five minutes.
They did have chances but were unable to find a breakthrough to keep their winning run going.
The match-winning goal was scored by Oxford’s Phoebie Poole in the fourth minute of the match.
However, despite losing their first game in three matches, Argyle stay out of the relegation zone and will have taken confidence from their performance away at one of the top sides in the division.
Elsewhere, Marine Academy Plymouth overcame their South West Premier Division title-rivals Torquay United 4-1 at Manadon on Sunday to reach the semi-finals of the Devon Premier Cup.
Marine Academy took the lead after just five minutes when Kelsey Blight chased down a back-pass to the goalkeeper and blocked her attempted clearance before calmly firing the ball into the net from a tight angle.
The home side should have added to their tally nine minutes later, but they were just wide with an effort and almost immediately Torquay went up the other end and Lucy Solloway fired in a volley to pull her side level.
Marine, though, were dominating the midfield and Carmen Morison hit the bar and Blight had a good shot saved by the Gulls’ goalkeeper.
Torquay did have a couple of chances themselves, but Marine did get the second goal their possession deserved when captain Samantha Drewery scored from 18 yards after the visiting goalkeeper had cleared the ball straight to her.
In the second half, Marine had a good shout for a penalty, but it was not given. However, eight minutes later the home side did get a third goal when Morison scored from the right.
Morison then finished off the scoring in the closing stages when she beat the offside track down the right and calmly beat the goalkeeper with a shot into the far corner.
Elm United progressed in the Devon Women’s Senior Cup after they beat their league rivals Lakeside Athletic on penalties.
The match had ended 1-1, with Angel Goucher netting for Lakeside, but Elm won the shoot-out 3-2.
In the Cornwall Cup, Saltash United were handed a walkover by Ludgvan, while Saltash Borough were beaten 5-2 away at Bodmin. Jodie Randall and Estelle Hodges scored for Borough, who had been leading 1-0 at half-time.
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