Relegation-threatened Plymouth Argyle fell to another loss on the road in the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division, beaten 3-1 by Ipswich Town in front of 10,807 fans at Portman Road.
They finished with match with 10 players after Giota Papaioannou was sent-off for a second yellow card in the 80th minute following a foul on Ruby Seaby
Currently, Papaioannou is set to miss the crucial final home match of the season, against AFC Wimbledon on April 13 at Home Park, but after refusing to go down the tunnel she may even see her ban be extended.
Charlotte Whitmore clawed one goal back for the visitors late into the game, against the run of play, but it was too little too late, leaving Argyle still bottom-but-one in the table with just two games to go.
Singer-songwriter and Ipswich supporter Ed Sheeran was among the large crowd at Portman Road and Town's victory moved them to the top of the Southern Premier Division.
The home side took an early lead through Lucy O’Brien after she got on to the end of a Lily Felgate rebound. Natasha Thomas had the original shot from the right edge of the box but it had too much on it for the Argyle goalkeeper to claim.
The Tractor Girls nearly had their second within four minutes, in a similar fashion to the first, this time with Sophie Peskett finding space on the right and sending a ball into Thomas, who failed to get the final touch inside the area.
Ipswich were putting the Pilgrims under constant pressure and created a number of chances, with O’Brien coming closest, but her shot was defended well by Papaioannou.
Felgate was called into action once again with O’Brien trying a strike from the edge of the box, but it was an easy claim for Argyle’s number one.
The visitors had their second set-piece of the game but they failed to make anything of it as Ipswich cleared the Ava Kuyken strike. It only went as far as Roxy Thomas but she failed to curl her long-range shot on target.
It did not take long for the home side to create another chance, again with Peskett crossing into Thomas, who attempted to win the header, however Caitlin Smith did well to use her body and force the Ipswich forward into a tough effort which ran wide of the post.
Thomas finally got the goal she had been looking for when she headed home at the far post after beating Taya Pomfret.
Papaioannou received her first booking for a foul on Peskett after going in strong and failing to win the ball. The hosts continued to apply pressure and produced wave after wave of attack but failed to add their third before the break.
Ipswich started the second half strong and continued to create chances, coming close in the 52nd minute, however Thomas’ header went over the bar.
Shortly after Lulu Jarvis was brought on to replace Ellie Sara, Peskett added a third for the hosts. Ella Rutherford tried to catch Felgate off guard as she attempted a strike from the edge of the box, which had too much on it for her to claim. Peskett was fastest to react and added her name to the scoresheet.
Kuyken was down and required treatment when the hosts added to their tally but only managed to play for another four minutes before needing to be replaced by Georgie Knott.
Argyle retaliated with a strong attack when a pass from Thomas into the left channel found an attacking Whitmore, but the cross into the area was claimed with ease by Natalia Negri.
Papaioannou received her second yellow for pulling back Seaby while she was trying to progress with the ball. Despite the setback, the Pilgrims managed to pull one back as Negri played a rogue ball which landed at the feet of Whitmore, who took the chance from 20 yards out into an empty goal.
Georgia Wilson went close to adding a second for Argyle in the final minute of regular time, after she won possession from 35 yards out and fired an effort at goal, which barely missed the top right corner.
Argyle will hope they can pick up some vital points in their last two fixtures of the season, with their next game against AFC Wimbledon at Home Park looking crucial to their hopes of survival.
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