Argyle vs Cheltenham Town - Match Report

I expect most of the players, staff and fans of Plymouth Argyle are glad the 2011-12 season is all over.  The season in which saw Argyle enter in administration with former Argyle manager Peter Reid struggling to bring in fresh players, due to the transfer embargo meaning that he was forced into using part of the 2011-12 youth team champions.  From September 19^th when experienced manager Peter Reid was sacked.  Former chairman Peter Ridsdale then appointed captain of the time Carl Fletcher as player-manager.  From, that day on the club wouldn’t look back as the first game Fletcher was involved in the team won 2-0 against Macclesfield, in which this game was a Fans-reunited game where fans from different clubs came down to Devon to support the greens.  Some as far as Scotland.   Argyle played Oxford on Saturday 21^st April with the final score at 1-1.  The pilgrims are safe with two games to go until the end of the season.  This season has been very emotional indeed. 

With Simon Walton, Darren Purse, Paul Wotton and Nick Chadwick all watching on from the Mayflower in came Curtis Nelson to partner the Skipper for the afternoon.  There were also recalls for Ladjie Soukouna, Conor Hourihane and also Alex MacDonald.  Centre-back Maxime Blanchard was awarded the captains armband after signing a new 2year deal with the greens.  The Robins also made a couple of changes most noticeable former pilgrim Steve MacLean playing upfront for the Town.  He did get a bit of stick from the green army especially from the Devonport Enders. 

Cheltenham kicked off the first half quickly getting into the game and passing the ball around neatly forcing some early saved from the pilgrims keeper Jake Cole.   Cheltenham won a free kick just outside the penalty box when Steve MacLean deflecting the shot that passed Jake Cole in goal.  Off MacLean trotted to celebrate right in front of the Devonport.  They didn’t like that. Argyle 0-1 Town in the 21^st minute.  After that goal against us the greens started but slowly to get into the rhythm of the game and started to pass the ball within the defence, midfield and forwards.  With the pace of Cheltenham’s number 20 Jermaine McGlashan it was giving the home side problems especially down the left with Robbie Williams struggling every time. McGlashan was making every single chance for robins to score in the first half.   With the robins pressing the pilgrims defence all the players except Warren Feeney were pushed into their own half defending for their lives.  Phil Gibbs had blown the whistle for half time as the players walked down the tunnel and into the dressing room.

At the start of the second half Carl Fletcher had decided to make two changes to the team that started the first half.  The manager took of both defender Robbie Williams and striker Alex MacDonald bringing on Juvhel Tsoumou and Joe Lennox.  This meant a formation change with Onismor Bhasera dropping back into left back giving the chance for Joe Lennox to run down the left wing. What a good tactical substitution that turned out to be great one.  Within 10minutes of Juvhel Tsoumou being on the pitch he had equalised for the pilgrims.  He had done so after powerfully heading in Onismor Bhasera’s cross from the left.  Argyle 1-1 Town.  Not even 60seconds had gone when Cheltenham went up the other end and had went 2-1 up with ex pilgrim MacLean heading the ball across the goal line when step in captain Marlon Park had put a foot to the ball and it went over the lone according to the linesmen.  But every single green army fan and even the players different think it crossed the goal line.  Another case for the introduction of goal-line technology for the next season or years to come.  I hope your reading Mr.S.Blatter.  With 80minutes gone on the clock the fans gave a standing ovation when former pilgrim Luke Summerfield was striped and ready to make a return to the theatre of greens.   With long serving goalkeeper of nearly 12 years Romain Larrieu in which he was to announce his retirement from the game.  What a legend he has been for the greens.  In the 85^th minute it was time for another change from player manager Carl Fletcher.  This substitution was a well-deserved change as Jake Cole made way for Larrieu his last appearance in a green shirt.  There was a round of applause even before he had got onto the pitch when he was warming up and fell over.  Former pilgrim Luke Summerfield nearly made it 3-1 to the visitors but it was just wide of the right hand post.  The referee had blown for full time with the pilgrims going down 2-1 to Cheltenham Town who go back up the M5 happy knowing they will have to play Torquay in the first round of the play-offs.  Have a great summer you pilgrims.  See you all next season!! GREEN ARMY.  Happy retirement Larrieu.