Plymouth Argyle started 2025 with a much-needed victory after defeating bottom side MK Dons 2-1 at Home Park in the FA Women's National League Southern Premier Division.

Firsthalf goals from Ella Stephens and Taya Pomfret were enough to seal all three points, but they were made to fight for them after Mollie Knox scored in the 77th minute and gave the visitors hope of a first league win of the season.

The result sees the Greens climb out of the relegation zone, where they have sat since the middle of September, and with games in hand on the sides immediately above them. Head coach Ryan Perks was missing from the dug-out after he received a red card in their last league match against Cheltenham Town in November.

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It was a slow start to the game with neither side really having a strong chance, Argyle coming closest with a Charlotte Whitmore effort from the wing. The hosts were struggling to get forward in numbers, but they probably wanted to avoid an early defensive mistake to gift MK the advantage, as this is how they got onto the scoresheet in the reverse fixture in September.

The Greens took the lead in the 21st minute through a long-range effort from Stephens. The ball was originally intended for Whitmore, but a heavy touch fed the ball in front of Argyle’s number 16, who did not pass up the chance to give them the advantage.

The Pilgrims were now motivated, applying pressure on the visitors. Stephens toyed with two defenders on the wing and somehow still managed to feed into the box. Her target was Whitmore, who failed to connect with the ball, so goalkeeper Margot Farnes put it out for a corner.

Pomfret then got on to the end of the inswinging corner by Whitmore, and just like that, Argyle had a two-goal lead. MK were rattled and could not retain possession or find safe passes. They were in dire need of a break so that they could reset, and as luck would have it both Olivia Oshodi and Argyle’s Stephens went down needing attention.

After a break in play, MK managed to reset and find their heads again, resulting in Comfort Erhabor in the home goal being called into action three times in as many minutes.

Argyle started the second half strongly and were on the hunt for their third, but the Dons were hoping they could force a defensive error which they could capitalise on.

Amii Kearley blocked a cross from Giuseppina Carnevale at one end, which was shortly followed by a Whitmore chance at the other, in which she beat Poppy Beverly in a one-on-one and tried from distance but her effort was claimed with ease by Farnes.

In the return of play and after a couple substitutions, MK looked as if they had found their confidence again as they were making strong tackles and retaining possession well. Fern Orchard thought she had Argyle’s third, but the referee’s assistant quickly raised his flag to call it offside.

Oshodi then stole the ball off Whitmore on the edge of the box and attempted a shot but it was parried away by Erhabor, where Sydney Wootton thought she could get on the end it, but the keeper was there to claim too.

The visitors were being brave in possession and beginning to threaten the Pilgrims’ defence more frequently. Annaliese Jacovides had a shot from close range saved by Erhabor, then cleared by Kearley for a corner, which was played short but came to nothing.

Knox then clawed one back for MK in the 77th minute after she found her way round Erhabor, and Caitlin Smith and Giota Papaioannou both could not get back fast enough to prevent the ball from crossing the line.

Thankfully, Argyle saw out the rest of the game unscathed to get their new year off to the best possible start. They will be looking to keep that momentum going – and start pulling away from the relegation zone – when they face Hashtag United at Parkside, Essex, next Sunday.

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