Ladies cup date at Oxford

ARGYLE Ladies face a difficult visit to fellow National League Southern Premier Division outfit Oxford United in the second round of the Women’s FA Cup. The tie, which is scheduled for December 1, will be the Pilgrims’ 13th league and cup match of the season, ten of them played away from home.

Argyle boss Dave Leonard admitted: “No matter who you play, all you ever want is a home game, I'm a little disappointed we have got an away game, but it is what it is and we have to get on with it.

“I want us to be successful in this and give it a good go because the next round is when all the big clubs come in. We want to test ourselves and it’s an opportunity to play on a good pitch against a good side, and we have got to be at our best to win.”

The Pilgrims have not had the best of luck in cup-tie draws this season, as they visited Exeter City in the National League Cup, which they lost 4-3. Next up in the Plate competition, Argyle travelled to Buckland Athletic, coming away with a 7-1 victory.

There now follows three cup ties in a row, Feniton away in the Devon Senior Cup on Sunday followed by a home tie against AFC Wimbledon in the National League Plate competition before travelling to Oxford.

There is also a financial incentive in the FA Cup, as the increase in prize fund means the winner pockets £1,000, with £250 going to the losing team.

Oxford were relegated from Super League Two when they failed to gain a Tier two licence at the end of the 2017/18 season. Argyle lost 2-1 at Oxford in the previously-named Southern League Premier Division, with the Greens winning the return match 1-0 at Newton Abbot, where Becky Dandridge came up against her former team-mates.

Oxford have the talented Emily Allen in their squad, who Argyle manager Dave Leonard described at the time as “outstanding and the best player I have seen in this league.”