Maidstone United Women’s manager Tori Campbell reflects on a day to remember at Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup first round

Maidstone United Women savoured every moment of their FA Cup first-round tie at Plymouth Argyle on Sunday.

The Stones lost 7-0 to a team four levels above them in the women’s football pyramid.

But they felt nothing but pride after a history-making run which ended at Argyle’s 18,000-capacity Home Park ground.

Plymouth, on a long unbeaten run at home, led 4-0 at half-time and added three more after the break.

But Maidstone, who caught their opponents offside 22 times, kept their heads up and continued to give everything.

It was always asking a lot to beat a team knocking on the door of Women’s Super League 2 - but the result didn’t matter.

“It was a long day but the best day,” said player-boss Tori Campbell, with United having set off for Devon at 6.30am.

“The girls, whether we won or lost, it was the toughest game any of us had ever played, so we wanted to enjoy it.

“At half-time, when we were 4-0 down, it was a case of do something that’s going to make you proud.

“We put a personal spin on it rather than ‘we can get this back’, which would normally be our message.

“For us, with the occasion, it was do something that’s going to make you proud, your family proud, whether that was winning a tackle, a header, whatever it was.

“That’s what the girls did. It was incredible - such a good day. We’re immensely proud of all the players.”

The reality of the task facing Maidstone dawned when they caught a glimpse of Home Park for the first time.

It also put into perspective the achievement of reaching the first round as a Step 7 club.

“We were driving down the road and we could see it coming up - it was a head-turner,” said Campbell.

“The bus went silent and we were all in awe.

“A few of girls said it’s hit now, it’s sunk in, that