Dorchester Town vs Plymouth Argyle - Match Report

 

Dorchester Town 1

Jake Gosling 48

Plymouth Argyle 0

 

 

 

History had repeated itself once again in front of the ESPN cameras.  Argyle had fallen to a shock, embarrassing defeat in the first round of the FA Cup away to Dorchester Town, who play their football in the Blue Square Conference South league. Even before the teams had played each other both sets of players, management staff and fans knew the second round draw.  The winners of this encounter were away to Luton Town or Nuneaton Town.  These two teams have to play a replay.  

Carl Fletcher had enforced five changes to the squad that lost away at Rotherham in the league eight days previously. The players that came into the squad were Rene Gilmartin, Onimsor Bhasera, Conor Hourihane, Curtis Nelson and Rhys Griffiths.  The players to make way were Jake Cole, Darren Purse, Paris Cowan-Hall, Guy Madjo and Luke Young.  There was one noticeable change in the Pilgrims squad with loanee Alex MacDonald not able to play due to him being cup-tied.  The fans favorite had played for Burnley, this season, in the Capital One Cup when the Clarets took on Argyle at Turf Moor. He was replaced by pacey winger and former Bristol City player Joe Lennox. 

With the game live on ESPN, that meant the kick-off time was much later than usual.  With summer time over Argyle were starting the first half in the dark and finishing the second half in absolute darkness with only the floodlights around the ground preventing the players from not seeing a thing.  Through Captain Darren Purse’s injury it was up to Purses Centre back partner Maxime Blanchard to take over the duty of being the skipper for the evening. The Pilgrims were making an encouraging start to the game in horrible conditions of hail and rain.  With Conor Hourihane already booked inside 4minutes for a challenge on Jon Choprena-Garcia it was about to get even worse for the Irish born youngster.  It was an unfamiliar second booking when Hourihane was sent to have an early bath by the referee Lee Collins after the player had taken a free kick early.  Argyle were awarded the free kick just outside the penalty box after Joe Lennox was brought down. Unfortunately it came to nothing for the greens.  After missing last weekend’s game due to suspension after picking up 5 yellow cards, Conor Hourihane will have to miss Wednesday’s game home to Burton Albion, with manager Carl Fletcher not allowed to appeal against it, as it was not issued as a straight red card. As you would expect the game was totally changed inside a couple of minutes.  Dorchester were looking the better team with the squad passing and controlling the possession of the ball extremely well, the defenders stood tall and denied the chance of Dorchester creating changes to score the opening goal.  Eventually Argyle had their first shot on target just before the 30minute mark.  Against the run of play the ball fell to Zimbabwe international Onismor Bhasera after he was played in by Rhys Griffiths, he held his man off well and fired the shot into the side netting. Minutes later it was Dorchester’s Charlie Clough to threaten, he saw his header rebound of the post.  A lucky escape for the Pilgrims.  From 30yards from goal Jamie Lowry was to fire a vicious shot goal bound. Jason Matthews was to make his first save of the evening.   Half Time was calling after the forth official had supplied two minutes extra to be played at the end of the first half.

Both teams emerged from two separate entrances ready for the second half.  There were no reinforced changes to the teams.  After Argyle had dominated the last few minutes of the first half with standout players Joe Lennox and Durrell Berry making steamy runs into the opposing half it was a big blow when Dorchester had gone ahead. Jake Gosling on loan from Exeter City had fired the ball into the back of the net from Mark Jerymn cut back. 1-0 to Dorchester.  A well-deserved goal from the Dorchester players with the Pilgrims lacking concentration for the first few minutes of the second half.  From that early second half goal, it inspired the conference south players to get more players onto the score sheet.  Both Garcia and Nicholls had the opportunity to get the goals, but the footballs ended up in the crowd or even in the Tesco car-park right outside of the stadium.    With just over 20minutes left of the first round to go Carl Fletcher chose to change the formation of his side.  Bringing on Warren Feeney he had gone with a 4-3-2 formation.  The player to make way was Newquay born Jamie Lowry. Carl Fletcher was almost awarded with his substitution when substitute Luke Young was fouled by Charlie Clough.  Rhys Griffiths was very unlucky not to connect with the ball sweeter as he headed the ball just wide of the right hand post.  Carl Fletcher then made another tactical substitution with Paris Cowan-Hall coming on for former firefighter Rhys Griffiths.  From this change Argyle were progressing and starting to force saves from the goalkeeper.  With Argyle intent to grab a late equalizer Carl Fletcher had thrown Centre back Curtis Nelson upfront. The forth official had put up the board; four minutes added time was awarded.  Argyle were throwing everything at it.

 It wasn’t to be Dorchester are progressing to the second round of the FA Cup with an away trip to Luton or Nuneaton to look forward to. 

A day to remember for the town of Dorset.

All the best in the next round Dorchester.       

Dorchester Town (4-5-1): 1 Jason Matthews; 2 Mark Jerymn (capt), 5 Nathan Walker, 4 Charlie Clough, 3 Jake Smeeton; 10 Jon Choprena-Garcia, 8 Ashley Nicholls, 7 Jake Gosling, 6 Jamie Gleeson (15 Jamie Symes 86), 11 Neil Martin; 9 Ben Watson. Substitutes (not used): 12 Arran Pugh, 14 Nick Crittenden, 16 Sam Malsom, 17 Jamie Reid, 18 Jordan Chiedozie, GK Alan Walker-Harris.

Booked: Smeeton 28, Nicholls 34, Clough 67.

Argyle (4-5-1): 20 Rene Gilmartin; 2 Durrell Berry, 17 Curtis Nelson, 4 Maxime Blanchard (capt), 33 Scott Griffiths; 19 Joe Lennox (8 Luke Young 58), 6 Conor Hourihane, 27 Andres Gurrieri, 16 Jamie Lowry (11 Warren Feeney 67), 14 Onismor Bhasera; 10 Rhys Griffiths (7 Paris Cowan-Hall 74). Substitutes (not used): 1 Jake Cole (gk), 18 Guy Madjo, 23 Jamie Richards, 29 Tyler Harvey.

Booked: Hourihane 4, Lennox 14, Lowry 63, Blanchard 69

Sent-off: Hourihane 9.

Referee: Lee Collins.

Attendance: 3196 (1200 est. away)