The Greens were beaten 3-1 at Home Park in the FAWNL Southern Premier Division despite scoring first through Una Lue
Argyle winger Tianna Teisar battles for the ball during the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division game against Watford at Home Park on January 3, 2026 – Photo: Jasmine Bishop (shots_by_jazz)
Plymouth Argyle Women were left frustrated at Home Park as Watford struck three times in the closing stages to overturn a first-half deficit and claim a 3-1 FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division victory.
Argyle, beaten only once previously in the league this season, appeared on course for another strong home result after Una Lue’s opener and a controlled first-half display. However, Watford’s late surge proved decisive, punishing lapses in game management and decision-making.
Head coach Marie Hourihan admitted the result was “a bitter pill to swallow” after seeing her side lead for much of the contest. “To be 1-0 up and then go on and lose the game 3-1 is obviously very disappointing,” she said, pointing to costly moments late on that shifted the balance.
The defeat was only Argyle’s second league loss of the campaign, but one that left a sense of missed opportunity after a dominant opening 45 minutes.
Argyle started on the front foot in front of the Devonport End, pressing aggressively and forcing early mistakes from the visitors. That pressure created the first chance of the afternoon when Roisin Kivel won possession high up the pitch, eventually allowing Tianna Teisar a sight of goal, though her effort lacked power and was comfortably saved.
Watford threatened soon after through Florence Fyfe, who beat the offside trap, but her shot on the turn was straight at Hermione Cull. The opening exchanges were evenly matched, with both sides finding it difficult to create clear-cut chances.
Argyle looked most dangerous down the right flank, where Olivia Francis’ pace and directness caused Watford problems. A free-kick delivered into the area by Ella Stephens found Layla Proctor arriving at the back post, but the midfielder was unable to steer her volley on target.
The breakthrough came just before the half-hour mark following a slick, well-worked move. Francis surged down the right and delivered a low cross into the six-yard box, where Una Lue reacted quickest to turn the ball home from close range. It marked the striker’s second goal in as many games since joining Argyle.
Hourihan was pleased with her side’s execution before the break. “I thought the first half performance was very good,” she said. “We executed our game plan really well, denied them space centrally and caused them problems with our build.”
Watford nearly found an equaliser in stoppage time when Anna Filbey met a corner with a powerful header, only for Cull to produce a superb diving save on the goal line. “Other than that corner at the end, they didn’t really cause us issues in the first half,” Hourihan added.
The second half resumed in similarly tight fashion, with Watford making an early change as Isabella Fisher was introduced. While Argyle remained organised, the visitors gradually began to build momentum as the half progressed.
Layla Proctor, who was booked early in the half, felt the contest shifted after the interval. “It was definitely a game of two halves,” she said. “We went in 1-0 at half-time very happy with how we were playing, but in the second half they gained momentum and took their chances.”
Argyle still had opportunities to extend their lead, with Kivel firing straight at the goalkeeper and Ella Stephens seeing a long-range effort saved. However, the turning point arrived in the 77th minute when Madison Perry’s cross-shot looped over Cull and into the far corner to level the scores.
From there, Watford sensed an opening. “I just felt the last 20 minutes of decision making was a problem,” Hourihan admitted. “There were opportunities to slow the game down and gain territory, but some of our details let us down.”
The visitors completed the turnaround in the 87th minute when Fisher fired high into the net following a quick break. Argyle nearly responded immediately, with Phoebie Poole heading narrowly wide, but any hopes of a comeback were ended in added time when Perry capitalised on a defensive mix-up to score her second and Watford’s third.
Proctor acknowledged the disappointment but stressed the importance of responding. “We’re extremely disappointed, especially to let a team come here and beat us at home,” she said. “But every time we’ve lost this season, we’ve bounced back — and that mentality is there again.”
Argyle will now turn their attention to cup action next weekend as they travel to Lewes in the quarter-finals of the FA Women’s National League Cup. The Greens will be hoping to replicate their earlier meeting this season, when they produced an emphatic 4-0 victory over the same opposition.
It begins a busy period on the road for Hourihan’s side, with Argyle set to continue away from home when they return to league action. A trip to Billericay Town follows before another testing fixture against Gwalia United.
Gwalia recently announced a significant change behind the scenes, naming captain Cori Williams-Mills as their new first-team manager, with the midfielder set to continue playing for the remainder of the campaign alongside her new role.
Argyle’s next opportunity to respond in front of the Home Park faithful will not come until February 18, when they host local rivals Exeter City in a midweek league fixture.
Argyle: Hermione Cull, Una Lue, Layla Proctor, Phoebie Poole, Roisin Kivel, Katie Wilson, Ella Stephens, Ellie Noble, Olivia Francis (Charlotte Whitmore 80 mins), Tianna Teisar (Tamara Wilcock 75 mins), Arabella Suttie. Unused subs: Eilish Brogan, Phoebe Hampson, Giota Papaioannou, Paris Dalton
Watford: Hope McSheffrey, Anna Filbey (Annie Rossiter 90 +2 mins), Anne Meiwald, Lachante Paul (Jhanaie Pierre 77 mins), Ava Kuyken (Freda Ayisi 72 mins), Madison Perry, Eden Skyers, Poppy Wilson, Lucy Lyon, Florence Fyfe (Isabella Fisher 50 mins), Coral Haines. Unused subs: Rebekah Dowsett, Niamh Peacock, Megan Chandler
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