Stoke City Women beat Plymouth to reach cup final

Stoke City celebrate their 3-0 National League Cup semi-final win over Plymouth Argyle at Home ParkImage source, Stoke City FC
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Stoke City have two players - skipper Roisin Kivel and defender Sophie Thompson - from the side who reached the final in 2020, only for it be cancelled because of the Coronavirus pandemic

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Stoke City midfielder Molly Holder has appealed for more support from people in the Potteries after making it through to the National League Cup final.

The Potters beat Plymouth Argyle 3-0 at Home Park to set up a final against Nottingham Forest at Walsall's Bescot Stadium on 23 March.

It makes up for the final that did not happen when Stoke last got there in 2020, only for the game to be called off because of the Coronavirus pandemic, as was the rest of the season and the following 2021-22 campaign.

There are only two Stoke players left from that team now - skipper Roisin Kivel and defender Sophie Thompson, and Holder says it is a rare chance for football fans in Stoke to see their side win a trophy.

"It shows the people of Stoke that the women's team are a proper team," Holder told BBC Radio Stoke.

Molly Holder (left), Arabella Suttie and Sophie Thompson celebrate Sunday's semi-final win at PlymouthImage source, Stoke City FC
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Molly Holder (left) led the Potters celebrations in Plymouth

"Most people in Stoke go and watch the men play. But Stoke fans don't see Stoke in finals too often. So come on, give us a chance and come down and support us on 23 March."

Stoke's women play in National League North - the third tier of English women's football - and proved too strong for their National League South hosts.

After going in front on the half hour with a Katie Dickson own goal after a mix-up, they sealed their safe passage with second-half goals from Shannon Stamps and Tamara Wilcock.

"We're still a part-time team," added Holder. "All of us girls still have jobs. Some of the coaching staff have jobs on the side too.

"We come in after a long day at work and train really hard, so to get rewards like this is massive.

"Forest are a really good side but we think we're a good side too."

Nottingham Forest lifted the trophy in 2023, with last season's final won by Essex-based Hashtag United.

Molly Holder was talking to BBC Radio Stoke's Lee Blakeman