Plymouth Argyle moved off the bottom of the
Npower League Two table after a 2-1 victory at Home Park against relegation
rivals Barnet.
John Sheridan had made one tactical change to
the side that drew 1-1 at AFC Wimbledon the previous Tuesday evening. Gozie Ugwu who is on-loan from Premiership
side Reading was replaced by former Burton Albion player Andres Gurrieri an Argentine
Winger. The Pilgrims had set up in
attacking 4-3-3 formation. On-loan
from Championship side Crystal Palace winger Jason Banton was named in the
starting line-up after recovering from a thigh strain that he had picked up
during the mid-week draw at AFC Wimbledon.
John Sheridan had also included on-loan striker Rueben Reid after his
loan was extended for another month after his first loan spell with the Pilgrims
ended after Tuesday Evening’s game. As
for the visitors Barnet player manager Edgar Davids made one change to the side
that overcame Jonstone Paint Trophy finalist Southend United by beating them
2-0 at Underhill. Sintra born Mauro Vilhete was replaced by Holloway born Andy
Yiadom in right midfield. In the Barnet
line-up it also saw former Argyle players returning to Home Park, Goalkeeper Graham
Stack and Defender Bondz N’Gala played the full 90minutes. The Barnet line-up also saw a very well-know
figure in the midfield. Player, manager
and captain Edgar Davids formally a Holland International midfielder named
himself in the starting line-up.
First half was very much nearing when the two
teams emerged from the tunnel and onto the Home Park playing field, following
there captains for the afternoon Edgar Davids and Conor Hourihane. After both
captains had taken their time for photographs and to shake hands with the
referee and linesmen Argyle had swapped ends as they were attacking the home
fans which were situated in the Devonport. John Sheridan’s Pilgrims had started
the encounter very positively indeed passing with confidence throughout the
team. After recent performances over the
last few weeks, the Pilgrims believing they could stay in Npower League Two,
with this fixture being in particular important to the Green Army with Argyle’s
fight against relegation to the Blue Square Conference Premier. Within the first 15 minutes of the fixture
the home side was very unlucky not to take the lead on several occasions
through Onismor Bhasera and Rueben Reid.
Former Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Graham Stack saved them with no
difficulty. On the 21st
minute in the game with one shot on target and not challenging Jake Cole
earlier in the encounter, the visitors Barnet had found themselves take the
lead from Jake Hyde. An Elliot Johnson
low cross into the penalty area was turned into the net from close range after
Jake Hyde had got in front of central defender Guy Branston to try the ball
into the net passing goalkeeper Jake Cole.
It was very disappointing from an Argyle’s fan view to concede as they
were totally in control of the match before the opening goal. After the Pilgrims had conceded the goal,
there was no time to dwell on the goal as Argyle started over again passing the
football with confidence. Just after the
half hour mark Plymouth Argyle had found themselves level after captain Conor
Hourihane had found the back of the net with a fantastically taken goal from
just outside the penalty area in front of the Devonport Enders. In his second spell with the Pilgrims Reuben
Reid held the ball up devoutly until team-mates joined him in the attack. He then found Hourihane free after being surrounded
by three Barnet players; he took a touch then swung a curling ball into the
back of the green and white goal with his left foot. Graham Stack was left ruling the goal as he
was left static in the middle of the goal. The equalizer from Conor Hourihane
was a relief, all they had to do until half-time was to keep their composer
defending and attacking. After one
minute of additional time due to the goal celebration the referee for the
fixture Dean Whitestone blew his whistle for half time.
Half Time ARGYLE 1-1 BARNET
Second half was fast approaching with the
Pilgrims first to appear from there half time break. Edgar
Davids was to make a half time substitution with goals corer Jake Hyde making way
for Luke Gambin. Barnet were to kick-off
the second half, the visitors were very much improved from the first half where
Argyle were in control of much of the first half encounter. John Sheridan’s half time message must have
been to score an early goal and so they did from on-loan Swindon Striker Roan
Murray in the 49th minute. From
a long ball over the midfield Conor Hourihane who held the ball up exceptionally
well from experienced defender Guy Branston, the captain then found on rushing
left back Onismor Bhasera, he then lade it off to Rueben Reid who saw his shot
blocked, the re-bound found Reid’s strike partner for the afternoon Ronan
Murray. The Irish-man shot found the
back of the net with Barnet’s goalkeeper Graham Stack already on the ground
from the blocked shot couldn’t get across to the near post to prevent Ronan
Murray’s shot going into the back of the net. This was Murray’s first Argyle
goal since joining the greens on-loan from Swindon until the end of the
season. Plymouth Argyle continued to run the show
after taking the lead with corner after corner.
These corners did not come to anything through Barnet clearing there
lines. Edgar Davids still on the playing
field was to make his second substitution of the game. Striker Iffy Allen was to take the place of
Andy Yiadom. The introduction of the striker had nearly been a super sub after
a cross had found him inside the penalty box at the far post. Onismor Bhasera didn’t notice he was behind
him and so Cole had to save extremely well down to his right at the near
post. With the last 8minutes plus
additional time John Sheridan was to make three substitutions. Lee Cox was the first to make way with Luke
Young coming on. The next two players to
make way were Reuben Reid and Andres Gurrieri; the players to come on were
Gozie Ugwu and Paris Cowan-Hall. The
fourth official had added on 3minutes from the winning goal and the
substitutions made by both managers. A late
corner in additional time was to be very nervous for Argyle fans but the header
went wide of the post. Argyle had won
the game 2-1 after going behind early on from goals from captain Conor
Hourihane and Ronan Murray. Full
Time ARGYLE 2-1 BARNET
Argyle (4-3-3): 1 Jake Cole; 4 Maxime Blanchard, 5 Guy
Branston, 26 Anthony Charles, 14 Onismor Bhasera; 27 Andres Gurrieri (7 Paris
Cowan-Hall 85), 6 Conor Hourihane (capt), 10 Lee Cox (8 Luke Young 82); 19
Jason Banton, 24 Reuben Reid (18 Gozie Ugwu 85), 28 Ronan Murray. Substitutes
(not used): 9 Nick Chadwick, 13 Ollie Chenoweth (gk), 15 Paul Wotton, 23
Jamie Richards.
Barnet (4-4-2): 29 Graham Stack; 2 Barry Fuller, 45 Bondz
N'Gala, 30 David Stephens, 26 Elliot Johnson; 15 Andy Yiadom (22 Iffy Allen
76), 4 Clovis Kamdjo (20 Curtis Weston 54), 38 Edgar Davids, 8 Mark Byrne; 19
Jake Hyde (12 Luke Gambin h-t), 40 Dani Lopez. Substitutes (not used): 3
Jordan Brown, 34 Chiro N'Toko, 35 Dillon Barnes (gk), 43 Dominic Vose.
Attendance: 8,210 (151 away)
Referee: Dean Whitestone
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