Plymouth ARGYLE vs Morecambe-Match Report

Plymouth ARGYLE 2

Conor Hourihane 10'

Paris Cowan-Hall 16'

Morecambe 1

Williams 80' 

On a pouring Saturday afternoon John Sheridan took to the Home Park dug-out for the very first time since being appointed as the Plymouth Argyle manager after Carl Fletcher’s departure on New Year’s Day.

John Sheridan’s first ever team-sheet appeared just after 2pm on Saturday.  As you can image no-one knew what formation he was going to use.  Formally the Chesterfield boss, John Sheridan had made four changes to the side who started at Vale Park, he had also adapted to the 4-4-2 formation.   Maxime Blanchard was placed in midfield in front of the central defenders; his preferred position.  Guy Branston came straight into the side at centre back alongside Curtis Nelson, after the 34 year old signed for the greens until the end of the season after he had his contract terminated by Aldershot Town.  Sheridan also recalled his former midfielder at Chesterfield, this player was Cornish-born Jamie Lowry; he played on the left wing just in front of Zimbabwe international Onismor Bhasera, who was favoured to Robbie Williams at Left Back.  John Sheridan’s two final chances came up front with Warren Feeney coming back into the side, for the suspended Nick Chadwick. The manager also presented a debut to Ipswich loanee Ronan Murray; the 21year old joined the Pilgrims on Thursday until the end of the season.   For the visiting team Morecambe, there manager Jim Bentley made many chances to the side that overcame Dagenham & Redbridge at the Globe Arena on Tuesday evening.  Defenders Will Haining and Robbie Threlfall returned to the squad.  They also welcomed back Andrew Fleming and Izek Reid in midfield, while new signing Ryan Williams was included on the substitute bench. Morecambe were without midfielder Andrew Wright after he picked up a one match suspension. 

Three o’clock was just around the corner when both Captains Conor Hourihane and Will Haining emerged from the tunnel followed by their team-mates.  Newly appointed manager John Sheridan was the last to appear from the tunnel with the green army welcoming him to Home Park with a standing ovation.  After Conor Hourihane lost out to the toss of the coin Morecambe kicked off the first half.  Both teams were getting into the game very slowly with not even 5minutes into his first home game John Sheridan was made to make his first substitution of the game.  Tyler Harvey was replacing Irish born Warren Feeney after he landed on his ankle seriously after leaping up for a header for an Argyle attack.  With 10mintes gone in the first half Cork born Conor Hourihane had scored Argyle’s first goal of the game.  After he merged Andrew Parrish of the ball on the left side of the penalty area, he only had one thing in mind, to shoot, and so he did, a right footed curling shot into the bottom right corner of the Devonport net. GOAL.  What a start to John Sheridan’s reign as Plymouth Argyle manager.  Morecambe were rocking and six minutes later former Woking winger Paris Cowan-Hall had made it 2-0 to the Pilgrims.   Debutant Ronan Murray hitched onto Bhasera’s pass on the left wing; he then crossed the ball low and powerfully into the box for Paris Cowan-Hall to slide home his fifth goal of the season since arriving to Plymouth in the summer.  Both teams were still creating great opportunities when manager Jim Bentley rose from his seat to question a bookable offence after Andrew Parrish was shown a yellow card just after the half hour mark.  Morecambe were getting into the game after a very nervy start from them, Kevin Ellison created their first cut opportunity after he shot from close range captain Conor Hourihane was at the near post to clear the danger for the Pilgrims.  The visitors had corner after corner in front of their own fans, Argyle stood tall and defended solidly with Guy Branston shouting instruction to other players. Half Time had come with the referee blowing the whistle, Argyle are 2-0 up. 

Second half was around the corner with the visitors appearing from the away changing rooms first.  Minutes later Argyle appeared after John Sheridan had given his first half time team talk.  What a half time team talk Morecambe had, they were completely a different team, Argyle were second best to everything.  Morecambe had a superb opportunity to get back into the game with Jordan Burrow heading over Gilmartin’s crossbar from a perfect swirling delivery from Robbie Threlfall.  Most of the green army’s heart sunk when he missed that chance as he should have scored from a free header, metres from Gilmartin’s goal. The goal eventually came for the guests after pouring huge amounts of pressure on Argyle.  Substitute Ryan Williams had scored after 80minutes with a shot from outside the penalty area.  Rene Gilmartin did not move from his goal as he watched it lope over his head and into the back of the goal.   Game on.  Morecambe had nearly scored another.  Substitute Jack Redshaw found himself free inside the penalty area. Fortunately for Argyle he had diverted the football wide off the post, a let off for the men in green.  Andrew Parrish had earned himself a second yellow card after bringing down Onismor Bhasera on the half way line, and so he went for an early bath.  Ronan Murray was inches close to scoring Argyle’s third goal of the afternoon.  A curling shot beat the opposition’s goalkeeper Barry Roche and rebounded of the post. 

Full Time Argyle had won 2-1 in John Sheridan’s first game in charge.            

Argyle (4-4-2): 20 Rene Gilmartin; 2 Durrell Berry, 17 Curtis Nelson, 5 Guy Branston, 14 Onismor Bhasera; 7 Paris Cowan-Hall, 6 Conor Hourihane (capt), 4 Maxime Blanchard (8 Luke Young 90), 16 Jamie Lowry (15 Paul Wotton 77); 11 Warren Feeney (29 Tyler Harvey 8), 28 Ronan Murray. Substitutes (not used): 1 Jake Cole (gk), 3 Robbie Williams, 10 Rhys Griffiths, 19 Joe Lennox.

Booked: Harvey 37.

Morecambe (4-4-2): 1 Barry Roche; 22 Andrew Parrish, 2 Nicholas Fenton, 6 Will Haining (capt), 3 Robbie Threlfall (27 Jack Redshaw 76); 7 Izak Reid (16 Stewart Drummond 31), 17 Andrew Fleming, 18 Gary McDonald (10 Ryan Williams 67), 11 Kevin Ellison; 14 Jordan Burrow, 9 Lewis Alessandra. Substitutes (not used): 12 Dan Parkinson, 15 Chris McCready, 19 Joe McGee, 25 Andreas Arestidou (gk).

Sent off: Parrish 85.

Booked: Parrish 26, Threlfall 29, Fenton 90.

Referee: Tim Robinson.
Attendance: 6,401 (33 away).