Plymouth Argyle vs AFC Wimbledon - Match Report.

Plymouth Argyle 1

Rhys Griffiths 89

 

AFC Wimbledon

Byron Harrison 13

Rashid Yussuff 90+2

 

In Carl Fletchers post match reaction on the defeat to AFC Wimbledon at Home Park, he declared that’s what his team had deserved from the game.

There were 4 changes to the squad that drew away at Wycombe Weonders on Tuesday evening.  In came Paris Cowan-Hall, Luke Young, Rhys Griffiths and Curtis Nelson.  The players to drop out of the starting 11 were ever present Maxime Blanchard who had failed a match-day fitness test due to concussion that he had sustained in the previous match, both Warren Feeney and Ross Jenkins with Groin injuries. Whilst loanee Guy Madjo was dropped to the bench.  Whilst for Wimbledon caretaker manager Simon Bassey, had made one change from there defeat at Oxford United on Tuesday evening.  The player to drop out was Christian Jolly with Rashid Yussuff coming into the midfielder’s position. 

The game started very slowly for the Pilgrims who were not their usual selves around the ball, no confidence at all.  The Dons on the other hand knew what their new apponited caretaker manager wanted from them.  Not even 30seconds had passed on the clock when referee Keith Stroud assembled his first bookable offence of the game. The booking was shown to Dons player Yado Mambo after a late tackle on tricky winger Paris Cowan Hall.    Plymouth Argyle who had gone behind early on against Wycombe four days previously had done the exact same against yesterday’s visitors by conceding in the 13^th minute.  The goal came from a sloppy touch from Rhys Griffiths who was making his full league debut, presented the ball to George Francomb who ran at Robbie Williams and Onismor Bhasera down the left wing.  He drilled the ball across the penalty box with Jack Midson helping it onto Byron Harrison who touched it home from inches out in front of the Devonport end.  Argyle were 1 nil down.  From that goal it completely knocked believe out of the players who couldn’t bring together a couple of passes between one another.  The Dons players on the other hand were first to every second ball and beaming with confidence, they were after a second but the players stood tall and defended well.  The only really threat from Argyle came Paris Cowan-Hall, running at the opposition defenders when he skipped into the penalty box, it didn’t present the greens anything other than a corner.  Although it did take pressure of the home defenders.  It wasn’t until one of Robbie Williams’s free kicks that tested the goalkeeper Seb Brown. He scrambled the ball away for a corner.  The Pilgrims were slowly improving but it was always AFC Wimbledon on top.  Another right hand cross from Francomb lead to Harrioson heading the football inches wide of the left post with Jake Cole in wonderland.  A lucky escape for the greens.  The fourth official had issued a minimum of 3minutes added time. The pilgrims went in at half time 1 nil down. 

The Pilgrims came out ready for the second half early on for their new look warm up with Coach Kevin Nacekivell.  There were no chances for both teams.  For Argyle they would have been looking for an early breakthrough like they have had in their last couple of their NPower league 2 games.  Not long after the second half whistle had gone from the re-start manager Carl Fletcher was going to make a change.  Onismor Bhasera made way for Guy Madjo who was making his last appearance in an Argyle shirt after his loan spell expired.  He now returns to his parent club Aldershot Town who Argyle face in the Jognstone Paint Trophy on Tuesday at Home Park.  An unusual kick-off of 7pm, to encourage more young fans to attend the cup game.  Carl Fletcher is looking to extend the loan deals of Alex MacDonald and Guy Madjo after Tuesday’s game.  If Fletcher had extended the loans before Tuesday the players will be unavailable for the games.  Argyle were playing 4 forwards upfront with the pilgrims formation standing at 4-2-4.    After Fletcher had made that substitution there was a bit more purpose in the game.  They started passing and keeping possession of the football.  Griffiths and Madjo were linking up well with Guy holding the ball up exceptionally well. Whilst Hourihane’s shot was goal bounds with Seb Brown making a good save.  With Griffiths he had the ball in the back of the net.  Home Park went wild.  It wasn’t until the players, management staff and fans realized that the goal wasn’t standing, it had been ruled out for offside. The players ran back to their position on the field and had to regroup to build another attack.   The Dons were about to bring on Huw Johnson for Luke Moore in the 81^st minute of the game.  The Pilgrims were fighting for a draw.  Carl Fletcher brought on Joe Lennox and Nick Chadwick.  The players to make way were Durrell Berry and Conor Hourihane.  Alex MacDonald had dropped to right back to fill in Berry’s position.  The formation of play had changed once again with Argyle playing 4-1-5.  The front five players were working there socks off to grab a late gasped equalizer.  The goal had finally come from Rhys Griffiths in the 89^th minute. A penalty for Griffiths after Madjo was fouled by Mambo.  The penalty was originally saved from Brown but the fireman placed it into the back of the net after the goalkeeper was unable to keep hold of the ball.  Home Park went wild for the second time.  The goal stood, it was 1 apiece.  The official had added an extra 4minutes onto the 90, but I expect most fans just wanted the game to be over.  Then it was heartbreak AFC Wimbledon were taking 3points back to London after Rashid Yussuff’s defected shot came off Robbie Williams to catch Jake Cole of his line.  It was in the back off the net, and that’s how it finished 2-1 to AFC Wimbledon. 

Onwards and Upwards for the Pilgrims

Green Army.                       

Argyle (4-4-2): 1 Jake Cole; 2 Durrell Berry (19 Joe Lennox79), 5 Darren Purse (capt), 17 Curtis Nelson, 3 Robbie Williams; 32 Alex MacDonald, 8 Luke Young, 6 Conor Hourihane (9 Nick Chadwick 81), 14 Onismor Bhasera (18 Guy Madjo 58); 7 Paris Cowan-Hall, 10 Rhys Griffiths. Substitutes (not used): 20 Rene Gilmartin (gk), 21 Matt Lecointe, 23, Jamie Richards, 27 Andres Gurrieri

Booked: Berry 18, Williams 35, Purse 34.

AFC Wimbledon (4-4-2): 1 Seb Brown; 24 George Francomb, 29 Will Antwi, 30 Yado Mambo, 15 Jim Fenlon; 28 Steven Gregory, 11 Luke Moore (17 Huw Johnson 81), 8 Sammy Moore (capt), 23 Rashid Yussuff (22 Curtis Haynes-Brown 90); 9 Byron Harrison (12 Christian Jolley 72), 10 Jack Midson. Substitutes (not used): 4 Louis Harris, 20 Frankie Merrifield, 21 Charlie Strutton, 33 Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz (gk).

Booked: Mambo 1, Yussuff 51.

Referee: Keith Stroud.

Attendance: 6,271 (285 away).

Next Home Game: Tuesday 9^th October – Aldershot Town (JPT) Kick-off 7pm

Next Npower League 2 game: Saturday 13^th October – Barnet (Away) Kick-off 3pm