Plymouth Argyle vs Rochdale - Match Report

Argyle 3
Madjo pen 4, pen 90, Gurrieri 7

Rochdale 1
Adebola 76

An excellent display from Plymouth Argyle earned themselves a third consecutive win in all competitions when they took on Rochdale at home in Npower league 2.  It was there second win in a row for the Pilgrims at Home Park with the first one coming against Aldershot Town in the Johnstone Paint Trophy. 

Two Guy Madjo’s penalty’s at each end of each half helped Argyle to a deservedly 3-1 victory over the Lancashire Club. 

After last Saturdays 4-1 victory at Underhill manager Carl Fletcher had made one change to the side.  Midfielder Andres Gurrieri was brought into the side after summer signing Rhys Griffiths was left out of the match day squad as of a minor injury to his groin. Argyle were going into the game with a foemation standing at 4-5-1.  As of Rochdale there were two changes to the side who lost 2-1 to Morecombe last Saturday.  Former Pilgrim Georgie Donnelly was dropped to the bench in favor of Jason Kennedy.  The other change to the side was Bobby Grant replacing Joe Rafferty.  Grant was making his comeback after serving a three match ban.

Argyle were full of confidence going into the game, and that showed after the Pilgrims got off the mark early on, a repeat of last Saturday away at Barnet. Referee Gary Sutton had awarded the greens a penalty inside 5minutes after Ryan Edwards had handled the ball after left back Scott Griffiths hand put in a low cross for Andres Gurrireri.  On loan striker Guy Madjo was ready and raring to take the penalty in front of the Devonport End.  The striker calming slipped in inside the far post. 1-0 to Argyle. Minutes later the Pilgrims were further ahead when Andres Gurrieri had headed in Paris Cowan Hall’s inviting cross which he dispatched into the far corner of the goal.  This would be Andres second goal in two starts after his first goal in England came against Aldershot.  Even when the Lancashire club were getting the ball and passing it around the field, the Argyle players were shutting them down immediately, whilst forcing the opposite players into their own half. Argyle should have been 3nil up at own point but to an outstanding save by Rochdale’s Josh Lillis denied Guy Madjo.  Again the provider Paris Cowan Hall had fired in a delightful cross onto the Cameroonians head.  From around 5yards from goal the green army were ready and willing to celebrate but from a reflex save the fans were left seated.   Another fine save from Rochdales number 1 prevented both Andres Gurrieri and Paris Cowan Hall, after the Argentinian had forced a save form Lillis with the former Woking player shot being deflected out for a corner. With Rochdale never coming close to scoring, they nearly did after Dele Adebola’s lopping header going across Jake Cole goal, hitting the post and fortunately going out for a goal kick to Argyle.  The forth official had issued a minimum 2minutes added time onto the 45 after the 2goals from Guy Madjo and Andres Gurrieri early on in the first half.  The referee had blown the first half whilst with Darren Purse side going into the break 2-0 to the good. 

Both teams emerged for the second half with Argyle exercising with their new look warm up with Kevin Nacekivell.  The Pilgrims were forced into an early substitution after Paris Cowan-Hall was replaced by Joe Lennox.  Cowan-Hall never looked right after coming out of the tunnel for the second half.  It had appeared after the game that he was forced off with a dead led.  Manager Fletcher has deemed that the injury isn’t too bad, and should be available for the trip to Cheltenham, Gloucester on Tuesday Evening kick-off 7:45pm.  On the 55minutes Rochdale were awarded a very soft penalty after it had appeared Jason Kennedy had fallen over Maxime Blanchard’s head.  Jake Cole had saved the penalty after Bobby Grant side footed his attempted straight at Cole.  With the Devonport Chanting ‘There’s only one Jake Cole’.  It was still 2-0 to Argyle. You could tell Rochdale had a telling of at half time as they were trying their best to grab a goal back.  Rochdale had brought on former Pilgrim George Donnelly and Joel Logan to increase their attacking options. However the substitutions did work after Joel Logan invited a foul.  From that free kick Rochdale were back into the game after Dele Adebola had headed in from the delivery in the 76^th minute.  From Carl Fletchers reaction on awarding the free kick he wasn’t very happy as an understandment with the 32 year old kicking a water bottle down the touchline.  That incident from Carl Fletcher was seemed to by the forth official that had a little word with the manager.  In the game the forth official was up and down like a yo! yo! to the home dug out telling Fletcher to calm down after decision went the opposite way. From the Rochdales goal it proved to be a tense ending to the game with Dale pushing to get the equalizer.  Free kicks were the threat from Rochdale after Hourihane, Gurrieri and Young were eager to get the ball up field but from this they ended up fouling the opposition players.  For more cover at the back Fletcher went for the save option by bringing on Centre back Curtis Nelson for goal scorer Andres Gurrieri in the 90^th minute.  The forth official had issused 4minutes of added time with Rochdale still pushing to grab a late equalizer.  That was not going to happen after Gary Sutton awarded Argyle their second penalty of the game after Joe Lennox was fouled by Ryan Edwards in the box after he had made one of his steamy runs into the box. Guy Madjo was the first one to grab the football to take the penalty and so he did.  The striker fired it into the top corner, no chance for the goalkeeper.  The referee had bloom his whistle. Plymouth Argyle had won the game 3-1 after goal from Guy Madjo and Andres Gurrieri. 

Green Army.            

 

Argyle (4-5-1): 1 Jake Cole; 2 Durrell Berry, 5 Darren Purse (capt), 4 Maxime Blanchard, 33 Scott Griffiths; 32 Alex MacDonald, 8 Luke Young, 27 Andres Gurrieri (17 Curtis Nelson 90), 6 Conor Hourihane, 7 Paris Cowan-Hall (19 Joe Lennox 48); 18 Guy Madjo. Substitutes (not used): 9 Nick Chadwick, 11 Warren Feeney, 16 Jamie Lowry, 20 Rene Gilmartin (gk), 22 Jared Sims.

Booked: Griffiths 30, Hourihane 87, MacDonald 89.

Rochdale (4-5-1): 1 Josh Lillis; 12 Phil Edwards, 5 Ryan Edwards, 3 Rhys Bennett, 14 Kevin McIntyre; 22 Bobby Grant, 8 Andrew Tutte, 4 Peter Cavanagh (capt, 26 Joel Logan 69), 7 Jason Kennedy, 11 Ashley Grimes (9 George Donnelly 69); 15 Dele Adebola. Substitutes (not used): 2 Joseph Rafferty, 6 Brian Barry-Murphy, 19 Matty Pearson, 23 Ian Craney , 31 Ben Smith (gk).

Booked: P Edwards 85.

Referee: Gary Sutton.

Attendance: 6,261 (111 away).