Plymouth ARGYLE vs Exeter City-Match Report

Plymouth Argyle 1

Jason Banton 45

 

Exeter City 0

 

 

Plymouth Argyle move further away from the relegation zone after Crystal Palace loanee scored the winning goal against Exeter City in the Devon Expressway Derby at Home Park.   

In John Sheridan’s first ever Devon Derby, he had made two changes to the side that were victorious at Southend United 11 days previous.  After a recurrence of his groin injury in that fixture Anthony Charles was replaced by Paul Wotton in central defence alongside Guy Branston.  The other change to the squad came in midfield where Paris Cowan-Hall was replaced by Argentine winger Andres Gurrieri. There was also a change on the substitute bench with Sheridan welcoming back Curtis Nelson after two months out with a groin injury. For the visiting team Paul Tisdale made two changes to the side after the 4-1 home win against Capital One Cup Finalists Bradford City, Tommy Doherty came into midfield dropping former Argyle Apprentice Jake Gosling to the substitute bench.  The other change from Exeter City came with Jamie Cureton coming in the side with John O’Flynn also dropping to the bench. Former Pilgrim Mark Molesley was also in the side to face his former team-mates after he signed a contract until the end of the season, after being released by his former employers AFC Bournemouth in January.       

Both teams emerged from the tunnel following referee Darren Drysdale to walk out onto the Home Park pitch surrounded by green and white placards, from blocks 1 to 15 created by fans group Forza Verde.  Argyle was to kick off with Conor Hourihane and Lee Cox in a 1pm kick-off at Home Park. The visitors Exeter City started the brighter side having long stages with the football.  Not long after this Exeter had their first sight on goal with 20 goals this season Jamie Cureton firing high and wide of Jake Coles goal in front of a very packed out Devonport.  Soon after that attack Plymouth Argyle saw their first shot on target saved comfortably by goalkeeper Artur Krysiak, Jason Banton had intercepted a loose ball by Exeter and fired it straight into the hands of the goalkeeper.  Argyle were soon getting into the game competing against City with both team eager to add to their points to guide themselves further away from relegation and closer to the Npower League Two automatic promotion places.  The main threats for the Pilgrims were Bristol City loanee, Joe Bryan, Crystal Palace loanee Jason Banton and Andres Gurrieri all attacking players who have all played a huge part in recent games under Sheridan. Andres Gurrieri had nearly given the Pilgrims the lead on the 20minute mark after he powerfully drove a shot millimetres wide of the near post from outside the penalty area on the right.  Ten minutes later the Pilgrims were creating more and more opportunities to open the scoring.  After being awarded one corner Argyle were awarded three more in quick succession with wingers Bryan and Gurrieri causing chaos in the penalty area.  From this little spell the scores were still level. Following his goal at Roots Hall Reuben Reid was full of spirit holding the ball up under huge amounts of pressure from the defenders.  Jason Banton had many chances to create an opening to score by cutting in from right wing position, but the City players knew what he was capable off and defended solidly as a unit.  With three minutes additional time added onto the 45, Jason Banton had given Argyle the lead; he controlled a pass from Captain Conor Hourihane and skipped around the defender with his trickery.  From around 25 yards out he unleashed a magnificent shot to the far right hand post past Artur Kryisak and into the back of the net sending the Home Park faithful totally wide.  Soon after that goal the referee blew for half time.         

Half Time Argyle 1-0 Exeter

Both managers had made changes at the start of the second half.   Midfielder Lee Cox had to be replaced by Plymouth born Luke Young after he landed on his shoulder awkwardly in the first half.  As for Exeter City, Jake Gosling, who knocked Argyle out of the FA Cup by his goal for Dorchester, was recalled to the squad to replace Tommy Doherty in midfield for the start of the second half.  Not long after the re-start Argyle’s current top scorer Jason Banton had nearly added to his goal tally.  From a defensive mistake by Danny Coles inside the penalty area Banton quickly made sure the ball was his and shot straight at the goalkeeper. From conceding a very late goal in added time of the first half, Exeter City were enthusiastic for an equaliser and so they decided on the long ball.  The central defenders Paul Wotton and Guy Branston defended solidly to deny City’s top scorer Jamie Cureton from scoring.  Exeter’s second substitution of the afternoon came with John O’Flynn replacing Lawson D’Ath to booster there attacking threat.  Minutes after a cross was whipped with pase across the penalty area the ball finally fell to Cureton, free inside the box, side footed it wide of the post flat footing goalkeeper Jake Cole. From being awarded a few kick outside the penalty area Gurrieri curled a shot wide of the near post.  Half way through the second half John Sheridan made his final two substitutions bringing on Paris Cowan-Hall and Ronan Murray replacing goal scorer Jason Banton and Andres Gurrieri.  The last 15 minutes was very nervy for the fans as Exeter pushed for a very last equaliser.  In this Argyle were forced deeper and deeper inside their own half to defend Exeter’s long ball tactics.  Whenever Argyle had cleared there lines the ball would come straight back at them and so they had to defend extremely well.  It seemed as if the forth official was taken ages to hold up the board to indicate how many minutes were added on, three minutes it was.  In this time Exeter was forcing everyone forward to attack, but once the Pilgrims got hold of the ball they slowed the game down.  The Greens was awarded a throwing in the ding minutes of additional time, Ronan Murray didn’t have time to take it as the referee blew for full time.  Home Park went wild after winning their third consecutive game.

Full Time Argyle 1-0 Exeter City                                                                                                                                        

Plymouth Argyle has taken 4 points out of a possible 6 from their nearest rivals Exeter City.

 

 

Argyle (4-5-1): 1 Jake Cole; 4 Maxime Blanchard, 15 Paul Wotton, 5 Guy Branston, 14 Onismor Bhasera; 27 Andres Gurrieri (7 Paris Cowan-Hall 76), 6 Conor Hourihane (capt), 19 Jason Banton (28 Ronan Murray 72), 10 Lee Cox (8 Luke Young h-t), 18 Joe Bryan; 24 Reuben Reid. Substitutes (not used): 9 Nick Chadwick, 17 Curtis Nelson, 20 Rene Gilmartin, 29 Tyler Harvey.

Exeter City (4-5-1): 1 Artur Krysiak; 16 Kevin Amankwaah, 6 Danny Coles, 5 Pat Baldwin, 3 Craig Woodman; 14 Tommy Doherty (32 Jake Gosling h-t), 28 Mark Molesley (22 Jimmy Keohane 71), 4 Scot Bennett, 25 Lawson D'Ath (19 John O'Flynn 59), 11 Arron Davies; 12 Jamie Cureton. Substitutes (not used): 2 Steve Tully, 21 Guillem Bauza, 24 Rhys Evans (gk), 37 Jordan Moore-Taylor.

Booked: Bennett 90, Coles 90.

Attendance: 13,251 (1,635 away)

Referee: Darren Drysdale.