Yeovil Town Ladies waved goodbye to FA Women's Super League Two with a 3-0 win over Sheffield Ladies FC to clinch the league title at the expense of Bristol City Women.
Having secured promotion in their previous fixture against London Bees,the Lady Glovers went into the final round of fixtures knowing that they needed to better the Vixens result against Oxford United Ladies. Any fears of stage fright were put to rest when Lucy Quinn gave them the lead on 15 minutes - a lead which they held until the half-time break.
Within a minute of the restart for the second half, Annie Heatherson doubled Yeovil's lead before Nicola Cousins added a third goal late on to put the icing on the cake for Jamie Sherwood's side in front of a club record crowd of 1,384.
Their success this season now means that the Lady Glovers will be rubbing shoulders with the likes of Arsenal Ladies, Chelsea Ladies and Manchester City Women in a summer series which starts next Spring before the FA Women's Super League switches from a summer season to a winter programme.
Yeovil's elevated status will also mean that several of the England side that finished third in the Women's World Cup in Canada in 2015, including Steph Houghton, Lucy Bronze, Eni Aluko and Karen Carney, along with Scotland's Kim Little, who recently re-joined Arsenal Ladies from American side Seattle Reign, will be appearing at Huish Park.
Their feat represents remarkable progress which the men's game could probably equated to AFC Bournemouth winning promotion to the Premier League, but as the Cherries have shown it is possible to compete at the highest level with team spirit, organisation and togetherness: traits that sum up Yeovil Town Ladies' club of 'achieve by unity'.
Monday, 7 November 2016
PIRATES CLASH POSSIBLE REWARD FOR PEACOCKS
If Taunton Town are able to overcome Barrow in their FA Cup 1st round replay a week tomorrow then they could be facing Bristol Rovers in round two.
The Peacocks drew 2-2 with their National League opponents on Sunday in a game that they led twice as former Plymouth Argyle starlet Matt Wright and ex Pilgrims and Torquay United defender Matt Villis gave them the lead.
However, they were pegged back by Barrow, managed by former Torquay boss Paul Cox, as Byron Harrison netted from the penalty spot and Richie Bennett forced the ball over the line following good work from Liam Hughes, who later dismissed for head-butting Taunton keeper Lloyd Irish.
Should the Peacocks upset the odds in the re-match at Holker Street then they will be playing either Crawley Town or Bristol Rovers away in the next stage of the competition and a meeting with the latter would attract a great deal of interest.
It would also be the first time ever that Taunton have made the second round of the FA Cup, having previously reached the first round for the only previous time in the 1981-82 season.
Taunton's Somerset neighbours Yeovil Town will also need a replay to overcome the now managerless Solihull Moors - Saturday's tie was the final match in charge for Marcus Bignot who recently accepted the Grimsby Town manager's job - and a trip to Exeter City's conquerors Luton Town.
Plymouth Argyle will be at home to either Alfreton Town, managed by former Pilgrims' midfielder Nicky Law, or Newport County after they defeated Mansfield Town 2-1 at Field Mill.
The Peacocks drew 2-2 with their National League opponents on Sunday in a game that they led twice as former Plymouth Argyle starlet Matt Wright and ex Pilgrims and Torquay United defender Matt Villis gave them the lead.
However, they were pegged back by Barrow, managed by former Torquay boss Paul Cox, as Byron Harrison netted from the penalty spot and Richie Bennett forced the ball over the line following good work from Liam Hughes, who later dismissed for head-butting Taunton keeper Lloyd Irish.
Should the Peacocks upset the odds in the re-match at Holker Street then they will be playing either Crawley Town or Bristol Rovers away in the next stage of the competition and a meeting with the latter would attract a great deal of interest.
It would also be the first time ever that Taunton have made the second round of the FA Cup, having previously reached the first round for the only previous time in the 1981-82 season.
Taunton's Somerset neighbours Yeovil Town will also need a replay to overcome the now managerless Solihull Moors - Saturday's tie was the final match in charge for Marcus Bignot who recently accepted the Grimsby Town manager's job - and a trip to Exeter City's conquerors Luton Town.
Plymouth Argyle will be at home to either Alfreton Town, managed by former Pilgrims' midfielder Nicky Law, or Newport County after they defeated Mansfield Town 2-1 at Field Mill.
Sunday, 30 October 2016
THIRTEEN NOT UNLUCKY FOR ARGYLE
Thirteen certainly wasn't an unlucky number for Plymouth Argyle as they extended their unbeaten run to 13 matches with a victory over Colchester United.
On loan winger Craig Tanner gave the Pilgrims the lead before Craig Slater equalised for the U's, but Ryan Donaldson scored a late winner for Argyle - two minutes after coming on as a substitute.
The result means the Pilgrims have now equalled their joint best start to the league campaign since the 1929-30 season - but the game will probably be remembered for the injury sustained by referee Kevin Johnson following an accidental collision with Argyle striker Jimmy Spencer on 76 minutes, which resulted in a ten minute delay.
Next week, the Pilgrims take a break from league action as they travel to face Mansfield Town in the first round of the Emirates FA Cup.
When they return to league action in a fortnight's time, they will be making the trip to Crewe Alexandra who are currently in seventh place in the League Two table.
On loan winger Craig Tanner gave the Pilgrims the lead before Craig Slater equalised for the U's, but Ryan Donaldson scored a late winner for Argyle - two minutes after coming on as a substitute.
The result means the Pilgrims have now equalled their joint best start to the league campaign since the 1929-30 season - but the game will probably be remembered for the injury sustained by referee Kevin Johnson following an accidental collision with Argyle striker Jimmy Spencer on 76 minutes, which resulted in a ten minute delay.
Next week, the Pilgrims take a break from league action as they travel to face Mansfield Town in the first round of the Emirates FA Cup.
When they return to league action in a fortnight's time, they will be making the trip to Crewe Alexandra who are currently in seventh place in the League Two table.
Sunday, 23 October 2016
UNITED MOORE THE MERRIER AFTER GOALKEEPING HEROICS
A goalkeeping master class from Torquay keeper Brendan Moore
was instrumental in securing a point for the Gulls against Aldershot.
“He’s got a presence about him, with most of the saves he made I wasn’t as worried as much as you’d thought I might have be.
Waddock said “He (Moore) had a wordly in fairness to him”.
Moore, who hails from Atlanta, Georgia - the birthplace of civil rights leader Martin Luther King - twice denied Aldershot's Bernard Mensah in the opening 15 minutes of the first half.
After the half-time break, he was called upon to keep Shots' substitute Matt McClure at bay on two occasions in the opening minutes of the second half and on 79 minutes he prevented former Gulls' loanee Shamir Fenelon - formerly Goodwin.
On one occasion when he was beaten - by McClure in the 89th minute - the post came to his rescue.
That's not say United weren't without chances themselves as two of their Aldershot old boys Brett Williams and Damon Lathrope combined to create an opportunity that saw Lathrope head over.
Jamie Reid also had several chances and Joe Ward nearly snatched all three points at the end with the right footed volley that sailed wide, but the Gulls remain indebted to Moore for his heroics.
The American made a string of saves throughout the match
that kept the Shots at bay that earned him praise from both his own manager
Kevin Nicholson and Aldershot boss Gary Waddock.
“He (Moore) has done very well, you would fancy Brendan in
those situations,” said Nicholson, who brought himself on a substitute late in
the first half. “He’s got a presence about him, with most of the saves he made I wasn’t as worried as much as you’d thought I might have be.
“It wasn’t as though as we were without threat ourselves,
but we did the ugly side better than we created chances today.”
“It’s a massive credit to the boys that they stayed pretty
calm; for the most part they did the basics well, but take nothing away from
Aldershot - they’re a good side.”Waddock said “He (Moore) had a wordly in fairness to him”.
“He’s had a day today that he will remember for a very long
time. All credit to him, but we’ve got to find a way to beat him and he got the
better of our front players today.
“I’m frustrated because we had chances to win the game, we
had a lot of possession and we did dominate the game for long spells. Moore, who hails from Atlanta, Georgia - the birthplace of civil rights leader Martin Luther King - twice denied Aldershot's Bernard Mensah in the opening 15 minutes of the first half.
After the half-time break, he was called upon to keep Shots' substitute Matt McClure at bay on two occasions in the opening minutes of the second half and on 79 minutes he prevented former Gulls' loanee Shamir Fenelon - formerly Goodwin.
On one occasion when he was beaten - by McClure in the 89th minute - the post came to his rescue.
That's not say United weren't without chances themselves as two of their Aldershot old boys Brett Williams and Damon Lathrope combined to create an opportunity that saw Lathrope head over.
Jamie Reid also had several chances and Joe Ward nearly snatched all three points at the end with the right footed volley that sailed wide, but the Gulls remain indebted to Moore for his heroics.
Thursday, 20 October 2016
TAUNTON MAKE HISTORY WHILST GULLS CRASH OUT
Taunton Town will be in the first round proper of the FA Cup for only the second time in the club's history after they beat Hemel Hempstead in their fourth qualifying round replay.
A 16th minute penalty from Jordan Rodgers proved to be enough for the Peacocks to progress at the expense of their National League South opponents as they will now make their first appearance in the first round since 1981.
Their reward will be a home tie against National League side Barrow, who are managed by former Torquay United manager Paul Cox.
Unfortunately the Peacocks will not be joined by the Gulls as they went down to a 2-1 defeat in their replay against fellow National League side Woking.
As in the first meeting, United led at the half-time break after Sam Chaney scored his first goal for the club on 22 minutes. However, a second half brace from former Yeovil Town and Plymouth Argyle loanee Gozie Ugwu ensured that the Cards progressed at the Gulls' expense and face Stockport County, now of National League North, in the next round and pocketed the £12,500 prize money in the process.
A 16th minute penalty from Jordan Rodgers proved to be enough for the Peacocks to progress at the expense of their National League South opponents as they will now make their first appearance in the first round since 1981.
Their reward will be a home tie against National League side Barrow, who are managed by former Torquay United manager Paul Cox.
Unfortunately the Peacocks will not be joined by the Gulls as they went down to a 2-1 defeat in their replay against fellow National League side Woking.
As in the first meeting, United led at the half-time break after Sam Chaney scored his first goal for the club on 22 minutes. However, a second half brace from former Yeovil Town and Plymouth Argyle loanee Gozie Ugwu ensured that the Cards progressed at the Gulls' expense and face Stockport County, now of National League North, in the next round and pocketed the £12,500 prize money in the process.
Wednesday, 12 October 2016
GULLS UP FOR THE CUP
During his seven years as a player with Torquay United between 2007 and 2014, Kevin Nicholson won 12 FA Cup ties in a spell that saw the Gulls reach the fourth round twice.
Now, in 2016, Nicholson will be looking to recapture their spirit of their previous successes as they prepare to welcome Woking to Plainmoor on Saturday.
United haven't tasted victory in the world's oldest knock out competition since they defeated Chesterfield in the first round of the 2011-12 campaign on November 12th, 2011 and, following their 3-2 second round defeat against Sheffield United of the same season, as well as failing to secure a win the Gulls haven't managed to score.
In the last two seasons, they have failed to qualify for the first round proper - having lost out in the fourth qualifying round.
However, if United were looking for any inspiration for turning around such an appalling run they need look no further than to Plymouth Argyle.
The Pilgrims, who famously reached the semi-finals of the competition in 1984, endured a wretched spell in the cup between 2008 and 2013. In 2008, Argyle were knocked out in the fourth round by eventual winners Portsmouth, which sparked a run of five years without a win.
Although they earned a plum draw with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the third round in the 2008-09 season, they endured a winless streak that included defeats against Stourbridge of the Southern Premier League and Dorchester Town, then of National League South, in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 campaigns respectively.
This nightmare run came to an end in the 2013-14 season when a first round win over Lincoln City sparked a run to the third round where the Pilgrims were eliminated by Port Vale.
A similar run in the current campaign for the Gulls would certainly come in handy in terms of prize money and gate receipts, given the financial unease surrounding the club which has seen Nicholson drive the team mini-bus to the recent fixture against Chester FC to enable the players to afford an overnight stay.
Now, in 2016, Nicholson will be looking to recapture their spirit of their previous successes as they prepare to welcome Woking to Plainmoor on Saturday.
United haven't tasted victory in the world's oldest knock out competition since they defeated Chesterfield in the first round of the 2011-12 campaign on November 12th, 2011 and, following their 3-2 second round defeat against Sheffield United of the same season, as well as failing to secure a win the Gulls haven't managed to score.
In the last two seasons, they have failed to qualify for the first round proper - having lost out in the fourth qualifying round.
However, if United were looking for any inspiration for turning around such an appalling run they need look no further than to Plymouth Argyle.
The Pilgrims, who famously reached the semi-finals of the competition in 1984, endured a wretched spell in the cup between 2008 and 2013. In 2008, Argyle were knocked out in the fourth round by eventual winners Portsmouth, which sparked a run of five years without a win.
Although they earned a plum draw with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the third round in the 2008-09 season, they endured a winless streak that included defeats against Stourbridge of the Southern Premier League and Dorchester Town, then of National League South, in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 campaigns respectively.
This nightmare run came to an end in the 2013-14 season when a first round win over Lincoln City sparked a run to the third round where the Pilgrims were eliminated by Port Vale.
A similar run in the current campaign for the Gulls would certainly come in handy in terms of prize money and gate receipts, given the financial unease surrounding the club which has seen Nicholson drive the team mini-bus to the recent fixture against Chester FC to enable the players to afford an overnight stay.
Thursday, 6 October 2016
GOLDEN GRAHAM
As Plymouth Argyle's League Two promotion bid gathers pace, the Pilgrims are looking to tie up the long term future of midfield talisman Graham Carey.
Carey, 27, is one of the few survivors in the current Argyle squad from last year's Play-off final defeat against AFC Wimbledon. He has proved to be an influential figure for Derek Adams and is currently the Pilgrims' top scorer with five goals, including a stunning 25-yard strike against Yeovil Town recently.
If Argyle were to agree a longer contract with Carey - it would serve to keep the minds of the 'Green Army' at rest if he was to commit his long term future to the club.
Arguably Carey is the most talented midfielder to have pulled on the green shirt since Hungarian Akos Buzsaky left for QPR in November 2007 (Buzsaky joined the Hoops loan before making the move permanent in January 2008) and you also make a case that his presence in Paul Sturrock's title winning teams of 2001-02 and 2003-04 would improve both of those respective sides. Although you could also possibly make a similar case for Carey's compatriot Conor Hourihane, now of Barnsley.
One factor that could see Carey put pen to paper is the fact that he has worked under Derek Adams at Ross County during the 2013-14 season. Another positive that Argyle have in their factor in attempting to getting the former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international to put pen to paper is that he was prepared to stay and play under Adams this season when many of his former teammates left Home Park for pastures new last summer.
Adams has already committed his long term future to the Pilgrims - having agreed a deal until 2020 and it is likely that Carey will feature largely in any future plans that he may have for Argyle.
Carey, 27, is one of the few survivors in the current Argyle squad from last year's Play-off final defeat against AFC Wimbledon. He has proved to be an influential figure for Derek Adams and is currently the Pilgrims' top scorer with five goals, including a stunning 25-yard strike against Yeovil Town recently.
If Argyle were to agree a longer contract with Carey - it would serve to keep the minds of the 'Green Army' at rest if he was to commit his long term future to the club.
Arguably Carey is the most talented midfielder to have pulled on the green shirt since Hungarian Akos Buzsaky left for QPR in November 2007 (Buzsaky joined the Hoops loan before making the move permanent in January 2008) and you also make a case that his presence in Paul Sturrock's title winning teams of 2001-02 and 2003-04 would improve both of those respective sides. Although you could also possibly make a similar case for Carey's compatriot Conor Hourihane, now of Barnsley.
One factor that could see Carey put pen to paper is the fact that he has worked under Derek Adams at Ross County during the 2013-14 season. Another positive that Argyle have in their factor in attempting to getting the former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international to put pen to paper is that he was prepared to stay and play under Adams this season when many of his former teammates left Home Park for pastures new last summer.
Adams has already committed his long term future to the Pilgrims - having agreed a deal until 2020 and it is likely that Carey will feature largely in any future plans that he may have for Argyle.
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