Plymouth ARGYLE vs Oxford United - Match Report - Southern Quarter Final of the Johnstone Paint Trophy

Plymouth Argyle 1

Alex MacDonald 20

Oxford United 1                                                                                    Constable 62

Oxford win 3-1 on Penalties

Griffiths (Argyle) scored 1-0
Rigg (Oxford) scored 1-1
Gurrierri missed 1-1
Chapman scored 1-2
Lowry saved 1-2
Davis scored 1-3
Blanchard saved 1-3

In Alex MacDonald’s last game for the Pilgrims it ended in disappointment when Oxford United won 3-1 on penalties after Alex MacDonald had given the Pilgrims the lead, during the first half of the Southern Area Quarter Finals of the Johnstone Paint Trophy. A costly mistake from goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin denied Argyle from progressing to the Area Semi Final with substitute James Constable heading into an empty net to equalize for Oxford.   

 Manager Carl Fletcher stuck to the same 11 players that started the game 10 days previously against Chesterfield at Home Park.  There were noticeable absentees for Argyle with Warren Feeney, Guy Madjo and Joe Lennox left out of the 16-man squad.  Tyler Harvey a youth team prophetic was named on the bench alongside young defender Jamie Richards.   Whilst Oxford made five changes from their 3-3 draw against Accrington Stanley on Saturday in the second round of the FA Cup. Former Pilgrim Tony Capaldi was dropped out of the 16man squad all together, so was John-Paul Pittman, Andrew Whing and Peter Leven.  Goal scorer for the evening James Constable was dropped to the bench.  The players to come into the side were Jake Forster-Caskey, the step-son of current Dover manager Nicky Forster, Damian Batt, Adam Chapman, Liam Davis and Tyrone Marsh. 

With both Plymouth Argyle and Oxford United struggling to get any sort of results in Npower League 2 it was a chance for the players to show the character and professionalism in the game.  It was time to welcome the players onto the pitch with the captains leading the way with a 7pm kick-off.  In Alex MacDonald last game for Argyle he made one last run from the Lyndhurst to the Devonport applauding the fans like he does in every single home game.  The Pilgrims kicked off the first half, but within seconds of the first half Argyle had lost the possession of the ball through a miss placed ball from Andres Gurrieri.  From this Argyle were always on the back foot, with United forcing errors from the Pilgrims who haven’t played in over a week.  AFC Bournemouth midfielder Mark Molesley, who was making his 2^nd appearance in an Argyle shirt, was the stand out player of the evening driving forward with aspiration, avoiding the opposing team players. It was Molesley who had the first shot on goal as he calmly jogged towards the penalty area and firing the football towards the goal, this equally forced goalkeeper Ryan Clarke into a great save to deny Mark from celebrating his debut goal.  Argyle were soon getting back to match fitness passing the ball comfortably around the defence and midfielders.  Argyle were very close to going ahead in the quarter final, right back Durrell Berry sprinted into the penalty box avoiding many players on the run to shoot towards goal with his left foot, unfortunately the inside post came to Oxfords rescue to stop Berry scoring his first goal for Plymouth.  Soon after this Argyle did take the lead on 20minutes through Burnley Loanee Alex MacDonald, his free kick taken on the left with his right foot was travelling at some pace that effectively the ball swung over the helpless goalkeeper, and into the net to give Argyle the lead. What a way to end of your second loan spell with the Pilgrims.  Former Woking winger Paris Cowan-Hall almost doubled the lead but Ryan Clarke bravely saved from the feet of the winger.   With 2minutes of additional time played the referee blew for half time, by this point most clubs were just about to kick off.

Oxford United were out onto the pitch first for the second half as Argyle made them wait for a couple of minutes, both managers kept the team the same with no substitutes made by either manager.  The opposing team Oxford United were the better side for the opening minutes of the second half with the Argyle defence defending immensely.  Midfielder Mark Molesley was again the player to shot towards goal with the curling effort going inches wide of the goal.  MacDonald was once again thinking about the goal when Conor Hourihane laid off a free kick from 35yards.  His shot swerved wide and into the advertising boards with the amount of curl the Burnley loanee had put on it.  Oxford were looking for an equalizer when their manager changed their formation and brought on two very experienced players.  The U’s to come on were James Constable and Simon Heslop.  The players to make way were Lee Cox and Tyrone Marsh.  Within 8minutes of James Constable coming into the frame he had equalized for United.  Goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin and his defenders failed to clear the cross from the left, Rene instantly punched the ball into the danger area when under pressure from Riggs, and James Constable sent the ball looping over the keeper and defender Durrell Berry.  Carl Fletcher responded well and brought on Rhys Griffiths for former Stockport striker Nick Chadwick.  The former fireman made an instant impression by holding the ball up tremendously well under pressure from the opposing defenders.  Minutes of the Welshman being on the field he was booked by premier league referee Roger East.  Argyle were going for the win when Durrell Berry made a forward run and inch perfectly found MacDonald in the penalty box, the player was unable to direct his header goal bounds.  The away team were hoping to reach the next round as well when Riggs played in the on the left to fire the ball towards goal, Gilmartin was unable to hold onto it and parried it out for a corner.  The game was going to end in anxiousness when Durrell Berry was to pick up he’s second yellow card of the game for pulling back an Oxford player in his own half.  The right back will now miss the next Npower league 2 game, which is at home to York on Saturday.  This only meant Alex MacDonald was going to finish his second loan spell at Home Park in a right back position.  The scores were level at the 90minutes and so it went to penalties……..unfortunately Argyle lost 3-1 on penalties, Rhys Griffiths was the only Pilgrim to slot the ball past Ryan Clarke      

           

Argyle (4-5-1): 20 Rene Gilmartin; 2 Durrell Berry, 17 Curtis Nelson, 4 Maxime Blanchard, 14 Onismor Bhasera; 7 Paris Cowan-Hall (29 Tyler Harvey 90), 30 Mark Molesley (16 Jamie Lowry 83), 32 Alex MacDonald, 6 Conor Hourihane (capt), 27 Andres Gurrieri; 9 Nick Chadwick (10 Rhys Griffiths 68). Substitutes (not used): 1 Jake Cole (gk), 23 Jamie Richards.

Sent off: Berry 84.

Booked: Berry 21, Griffiths 71, Hourihane 82.

Oxford United (4-3-3): 1 Ryan Clarke; 2 Damian Batt, 4 Michael Raynes, 6 Jake Wright, 26 Liam David; 18 Jake Forster-Caskey, 19 Lee Cox (9 James Constable 54), 7 Adam Chapman; 14 Sean Rigg, 28 Tyrone Marsh (8 Simon Heslop 54), 15 Alfie Potter. Substitutes (not used): 21 Wayne Brown (gk), 22 Harry Worley, 23 Luke O’Brien.

Booked: Forster-Caskey 75 .

Referee: Roger East.
Attendance: 2,383 (118 away).