Plymouth Argyle 2
Reid 40'
Hector (og) 54'
Cheltenham Town 0
Plymouth
Argyle moved three points clear of the relegation zone after a 2-0 victory over
automatic promotion chasing Cheltenham Town at Home Park.
John
Sheridan had made two chances to the side that had lost to York City on Easter
Monday. Captain Conor Hourihane was absent from the squad through suspension,
whilst winger Paris Cowan-Hall was dropped to the substitute bench. The players to come into the side were Curtis
Nelson and Andres Gurrieri. Through
Irish midfielder Hourihane being suspended for two games, manager John Sheridan
named a new captain. The choice of
captain would’ve surprised a lot of fans when Sheridan named Curtis Nelson as
the skipper for the Npower League Two fixture.
From the decision Curtis Nelson became the second youngest Argyle player
ever to wear the armband since 1969.
Sheridan also welcomed back defender Anthony Charles to the substitute
bench after he had recovered from a recurrence of a groin injury. Cheltenham manager Mark Yates had made no
chances from their Easter Monday 1-0 victory over promotion chasing Northampton
Town at the Abbey Business Stadium.
Making
his first appearance for Argyle in nearly two months, Curtis Nelson, who has
recently recovered from a groin injury, was ready to lead by example and walk
out his team onto the Home Park pitch following the referees for the start of
the fixture. Curtis Nelson playing in
midfield was to get the game underway alongside central midfield partner Luke
Young. The visitors, Cheltenham Town,
were well in control of the tempo of the encounter in the early stages of the
match forcing an early save of Jake Cole.
Byron Harrison had their first shot on target; a weakened shot was shot
straight at Jake Cole, who saved well.
Argyle gradually got into the game, when leading by example captain Curtis
Nelson ran towards the goal, with defenders backing off it enabled him to
spread the play out wide to Argentine winger Andres Gurrieri, who pinged it
across the penalty area to Rueben Reid. His
first touch wasn’t the best as he scuffed the ball missing the target. Crystal Palace loanee, Jason Banton was once
again a threat on both sides of the midfield.
His first shot towards goal ended up in the stand after he fired the
shot high and wide over the crossbar. It wasn’t long after that shot that
Cheltenhams boss Mark Yates had to make a substitution. Swindon loanee Paul Benson went down inside
Argyles half un-challenged as he tried to receive a pass from midfielder Marlon
Pack. Shaun Harrad was to replace Benson upfront, as he was carried off on a
stretcher to receive some treatment. Argyle had another shooting opportunity
when Andres Gurrieri slide in Jason Banton, who was searching for his 7th
Argyle goal since joining on loan in January. Jason Banton avoiding the
off-side track as he got in between the Cheltenham defenders, shot wide from
the far post as Scott Brown spread out wide to deny the forward from scoring
from an acute angle. Left-back Onismor
Bhasera had another break to give the Pilgrims the lead. A busting run from the Zimbabwe international
was first and a shot followed, goalkeeper Scott Brown was unable to hold onto
it and so it fell to Bhasera again, he passed it to Gurrieri who shot went
inches wide of the left goal-post from inside the penalty area. From a Sido Jombati throwing near the opposition
dug-out, Argyle had taken the lead just before the interval. A Blanchard clearance from the throwing fell
to Gurrieri who booted it up field. The ball
kindly fell to Yeovil loanee Reuben Reid who held of defender Michael Hector to
pass it to Jason Banton. He then passed
it out wide to Joe Bryan who checked inside on his left and spirited towards
goal, Bryan un-leashed a shot which rebounded of the far post. Following a goalmouth scramble inside the box
the ball finally fell to Reuben Reid whose shot ended up in the back of the end
passing defenders and a goal keeper.
Cheltenham did have a chance on goal just after Plymouth took the lead
with Reuben Reid. After having no-luck
right-wing against Onismor Bhasera, McGlashan switched wings. A daring run by the pasey winger forced a
save off Jake Cole after he had cut inside of Blanchard and curled a shot
towards goal. After three additional
minutes were played the referee blew for half time.
Half Time Argyle 1-0 Cheltenham
Argyle
was out for the second half starting of the way they finished the first half. Jason Banton had picked up the ball inside his
own half and picked out Reuben Rid on the left wing with a great pass over the
midfielders and defenders, Reid then spread the ball to on rushing Joe Bryan
who cut inside on the left and shot, a high dipping shot was saved comfortably by
Scott Brown. Argyle had scored again
from an own goal by central defender Michael Hector. Following Hector intercepting an Bryan shot
the ball kindly fell to midfielder Luke Young, he then p[assed it to over lapping
Onismor Bhasera on the left wing.
Bhasera powerfully ran down the wing to the bar line, shaking off
defenders, he then crossed the ball ready for Reid to knock home, but unfortunately
for Cheltenham the ball rebounded of Michael Hector and into the back of the
Devonport net. Argyle had nearly got another goal after Joe Bryan had
intercepted Sam Deering just inside Cheltenham’s half, Banton of laid the ball
to Reid who was once again on the left wing, he once again cut inside on the
left and forced a great save of Scott Brown in goal. Cheltenham Town had two every good chances of
scoring a goal, with the first one coming after a high ball from Scott Brown, substitute
Kaid Mohammed shot after Paul Wotton was unable to hold off his man, Cole made
a fantastic save with his feet to deny the substitute. Mohammad had another chance but shot straight
at goalkeeper Jake Cole from outside the penalty box. Sheridan was forced into make his first substitution
of the fixture after Paul Wotton was forced off through a groin injury, the
player to replace and partner Branston in the heart of the defence was Anthony
Charles. Reuben Reid had nearly grabbed
his second goal of the afternoon, Banton had done exceptionally well to avoid
the defenders and find Reid who was unmarked.
He put it onto his right foot and inside Lowe to shot, the shot rebounded
of the goalpost and out for a goal kick. After Easter Monday’s disappointing
defeat, this victory was well deserved, as the Pilgrims raised four places to
18th in Npower League Two. Full
Time: Argyle 2-0 Cheltenham.
Argyle (4-5-1): 1 Jake Cole; 4 Maxime Blanchard, 15 Paul Wotton (26
Anthony Charles 76), 5 Guy Branston, 14 Onismor Bhasera; 27 Andres Gurrieri, 17
Curtis Nelson (capt), 19 Jason Banton (28 Ronan Murray 90), 8 Luke Young, 18
Joe Bryan, 24 Reuben Reid (7 Paris Cowan-Hall 90). Substitutes (not
used): 2 Durrell Berry, 9 Nick Chadwick, 20 Rene Gilmartin
(gk), 29 Tyler Harvey.
Cheltenham
Town (4-4-2): 1 Scott Brown; 2 Keith Lowe, 27 Michael Hector, 6
Steve Elliott, 22 Sido Jombati; 11 Jermaine McGlashan, 7 Marlon Pack, 4 Darren
Carter (16 Russell Penn 60), 8 Sam Deering (23 Kaid Mohamed 55); 19 Paul Benson
(14 Shaun Harrad 25), 29 Byron Harrison. Substitutes (not used): 3 Billy Jones, 9 Darryl Duffy,
12 Connor Roberts (gk), 25 Jason Taylor.
Booking:
Mohammed 65.
Referee:
Carl Berry.
Attendance:
7,941 (316 away).
