On a winter Tuesday evening at Home Park, the theatre of
greens was filling up quickly as they prepared for their game against derby
contenders Bristol Rovers. There were
two changes from Saturday’s game with Paul Wotton out with a groin injury and
Warren Feeney dropping to the bench. The
two players that were called upon were Guy Madjo and also Matt Lecointe. Fletcher had gone for a 4-4-2 formation. Jim Paterson a former Pilgrim was among the
substitutes sat on the bench. Another
change from Rovers squad at Gillingham was Matt Harrold being replaced by Fabian Broghammer after he damaged
his cruciate ligaments in the 4-0 defeat to Gillingham.
Argyle were straight under pressure from
kick-off with Rovers coming to Home Park to grind out a result. Jake Cole was forced into an early save after
Dave Clarke stepped up and took a shot on.
It was comfortable for Cole in the goal.
With less than 5minutes gone on the clock Luke Young had his second
bookable offence in two games after fouling an opposition player. The greens had started very slowly in this
game after their blistering display against Port Vale on Saturday. For most of the first half Bristol rovers
looked the better side with Argyle very hesitated towards the ball whilst they
passed it on the ground. Argyles first
clear cut on goal came from Guy Madjo, who was clear of any defenders stringing
off a shot which beat young goalkeeper Sam Walker and onto the crossbar with
then went out for a goal kick. From the
point on Argyle were to make some more chances, with both sides going for the
points. It wasn’t until the 35th
minute when Home Park was rocking, a superb goal from young midfielder Conor
Hourihane who gave the Pilgrims an unexpected lead with Rovers dominating the
game. The move came about when Argyle put together some decent passing when
Central midfielder slides it through to Hourihane who fired the ball into the
back of the net from around 35yards out in front of the Barn Park End where the
away fans were situated. It was good to
see the young midfielder score on the Home Park turf as he has been getting
into good areas around the 6yard box.
Argyle defended solidly until the half time whistle to prevent the Gas
from scoring and getting an equalize going into the break.
Second half was underway with the Gas
coming out and determined to get an equalizer.
In terms of being an Argyle supporter the players started slightly
better than in the first half. In the
second Argyle stood a high line with the players noticing they would have to
get another goal to go on and win the West Country derby between both sides.
Bristol Rovers were making their first sub of the evening with Matt Lund coming
of for Eliot Richards. From the high line that the Argyle players were using,
they would fine that they would get caught on the break more than often. A second substitution came from Rovers with
Wayne Brown making way for Joe Anyinsah.
Carl Fletcher was to make a substitution with Paris Cowan-Hall coming on
for Matt Lecointe. In no time at all
Rovers had equalized in the 70th minute. The goal came about with Rovers forcing
aload of corners when Tom Parks found space to slot home the equalizer which
gave Jake Cole no chance. From that goal it gave the Gas a huge
lift. They were stiffing a winner. A great block from top scorer Robbie Williams
prevented Clarkson’s dangerous shot by taking the power out of the shot so the
ball could roll though to number 1 goalkeeper Jake Cole. In the last 10minutes
Carl Fletcher had made another subsitition with Alex MacDonald coming off for
versatile player Warren Feeney. It was a
straight swap for everyone concerned with Argyle. The swap was made for more attacking options
in the last third for Argyle to try and snatch a last minute winner. The result stayed that way until the 4minutes
of added time was up. A dissappointing
night for Argyle and the green army whilst Bristol travel up the M5 with a
point in the bag.
Booked: Young 2, Purse 29, Madjo 88.
Bristol Rovers (4-5-1): 28 Sam Walker; 19 Adam Virgo (2 Michael Smith 60), 5 Gary Kenneth, 6 Tom Parkes, 14 Lee Brown; 26 Matt Lund (10 Eliot Richards 55), 21 Wayne Brown (16 Joe Anyinsah 68), 8 Matt Gill, 15 Ollie Norburn, 11 Fabian Broghammer; 7 David Clarkson. Substitutes (not used): 3 Jim Paterson, 20 Conor Gough (gk), 24 Ollie Clarke, 25 Seanan Clucas.
Booked: W Brown 55, Parkes 71, Norburn 84.
Referee: Darren Deadman.
Attendance: 6,303 (361 away).
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