Barnet vs Plymouth Argyle - Match Report



Barnet 1
Stephens 16

Argyle 4
Griffiths 2

Blanchard 11
Cowan-Hall 62
Young 90

 

 

 

 

Once Edgar Davids, a former Holland International had joined Barnet’s backroom team as a player-coach, all the media attention was on him. Argyle were looking to turn that around and so they did from demolishing the Bees 4-1 at Underhill, London.   

From midweeks win in the Johnstone Paint Trophy manager Carl Fletcher decided to make six changes to the squad.  Firstly Jake Cole returned in-between the posts, a familiar place for the number 1 who spent three year playing for the Bees at Underhill. Also recalled to the squad were defenders Darren Purse and Maxime Blachard, strikers Guy Madjo and Alex MacDonald. Meanwhile Andres Gurrieri was dropped to the bench in favor of Rhys Griffiths.

The home side only making one change from their Johnstone Paint Trophy tie against Leyton Orient, with Holland international player Collins John making his debut for the Bees. There was also Barnet who had a new face on the bench with Edgar Davids being joint head coach at Underhill. 

The first half was not even 5minutes old when Argyle took the game to Barnet and found themselves 1-0 up in the first two minutes.  Paris Cowan-Hall a stand out player once again cut back a pass to the oncoming central midfielder Luke Young who then was tackled by Mark Bryne.  The referee Fred Graham pointed to the penalty spot.  Argyle’s current number 10 Rhys Griffiths had stepped up to make it 1-0 by slotting the ball right down the middle of the goalmouth, with former Argyle goalkeeper Graham Stack diving the wrong way.  With the Pilgrims determined to put last weekend poor result behind them, the players were going the right way about it passing the ball comfortable between the back four, midfielders and front men. Argyle were also winning every second ball with Barnet bottom of league two not looking to pressure the defenders, with the bees unable to collect and gather a couple of passes or possession together.  Before not to long Maxime Blanchard had made it 2-0 to the visitors 9minutes after Griffiths had made it 1-0. Hard work from right back Durrell Berry had forced a corner from Jordan Brown.  The in swinging corner came from loanee Alex MacDonald, who earlier in the week extended his loan deal until early December, had found the head of Blanchard who climbed above his marker to convert the ball home into the top corner of the goal.  Things got even worse for the basement club when debutant Collins John was forced off the field of play due to injury with John Oster replacing the international player.  From Argyles 2-0 lead at Underhill, Barnet had pulled a goal back from David Stephens. The goal was a blow for the Pilgrims, being in total control of the game; after Captain Darren Purse had cleared the ball off the goal line into the danger area with Stephens reacting first to convert comfortably passed Jake Cole.  From Barnet pulling the goal back to make it 2-1 they were starting and progressing to pass the ball between themselves and abling their teammates to have a crack at goal.  Somehow for Argyle after starting very positive from the first half whistle the players were second best to everything with the Bees trying and hoping to grab another goal to make it all square at the break.  Fortunately for the Argyle players they went into half time leading 2-1 after the referee had blown the whistle when the 3 additional minutes were up.

Second half was approaching with manager Carl Fletcher making a tactical substitution with Andres Gurrieri replacing Guy Madjo who also extended his loan deal from Aldershot until the middle of December.  The reason why the manager had made this substitution was because he thought Gurrieri would be the player to stick to first half substitution John Oster more than Guy as he was seeing a lot of the ball before half time.  Not too long after half time Rhys Griffiths had the chance to scoring once again after he had got hold of a terrible back pass.  He did the hard thing in going round Graham Stack but unfortunately Rhys had slide the ball into the side netting. Up jumped the 1000+ green army but it was back to the seats for them.  Andes Gurrieri had his first touch of the Barnet football when he unleashed a thunderous shot towards goal.  A double save from Graham Stack prevented him from celebration his second goal in as many games.  Paris Cowan-Hall had made it 3-1 not so long after.  Rhys Griffiths was fouled by the Bees captain Garry Fuller.  Another neat and set piece delivery from Alex MacDonald found Cowan-Hall’s head who fired over Graham Stack and into the back of the net.  The Pilgrims were cruising to a much needed and well deserved three points.  With a two-goal lead going into the final 20minutes Argyle still had to be on the toes and aware of Barnet’s threats.  A goal line clearance from goal scorer Maxime Blanchard when Krystain Pearce headed goal bound.  Another substitution from Carl Fletcher was made with winger Joe Lennox replacing Alex MacDonald, with chants ringing around Underhill ‘sign him up’ whilst he left the field of play.  A straight swap for Argyle.  Moments after Lennox had come on he had a delightful chance to score but a last ditched tackle from Stephens denied Lennox from doing that.  Two of the three minutes of additional time was being played when Argyle were awarded a free kick just outside of the penalty box, young midfield Luke Young curled the ball into the back of Stacks net to make it 4-1 to the Pilgrims, and to also top of a great afternoon for the Plymouth Argyle players, management staff and of course the 1053 fans that travelled to the game.                

Barnet (4-4-2): 29 Graham Stack; 2 Barry Fuller (capt), 32 Krystian Pearce, 30 David Stephens, 3 Jordan Brown; 11 Ricky Holmes (25 Jamal Lowe 80), 8 Mark Byrne, 4 Clovis Kamdjo, 15 Andy Yiadom (17 Anthony Edgar 72); 19 Jake Hyde, 36 Collins John (31 John Oster 15). Substitutes (not used): 1 Liam O'Brien (gk), 7 Oliver Lee, 10 Jon Nurse, 26 Elliott Johnson.

Booked: Byrne 2, Stephens 56

Argyle (4-4-2): 1 Jake Cole; 2 Durrell Berry, 5 Darren Purse (capt), 4 Maxime Blanchard, 33 Scott Griffiths; 32 Alex MacDonald (19 Joe Lennox 72), 6 Conor Hourihane, 8 Luke Young, 7 Paris Cowan-Hall; 10 Rhys Griffiths (9 Nick Chadwick 83), 18 Guy Madjo (27 Andres Gurrieri h-t). Substitutes (not used): 16 Jamie Lowry, 17 Curtis Nelson, 20 Rene Gilmartin, 23 Jamie Richards.

Booked: Hourihane 21, MacDonald 57

Referee: Fred Graham.

Attendance: 3,229 (1053 away)