August match reports: Part 1
League 2
Plymouth Argyle 2 (Garita 38, 71)
Luton Town 1 (McGeehan 72)
Our first game of the season finished in a victory at home to Luton, with on loan Bristol City Striker Arnold Garita notching both goals. Although we were quick out the blocks it was Luton with the first real chance of the game, a few missed clearances from the defence allowed Jake Gray to fire a shot outside the box over the bar. Our goal came from a Luton clearance finding Sonny Bradley and he took a few touches and pinged a superb 25 yard pass for Rhys Healey who pulled it back for Garita to open his account for the season. We went into half time after a stunning save from the Luton keeper to keep the score at 1-0. We looked very comfortable going in at the break, but after half time Luton started very quickly and were looking to get an equaliser. Our second goal of the game came from a Luton free kick which was swept up and cleared for Garita to chase with a defender which he breezed past and stuck the ball in the keepers near post. Luton pulled a goal back 1 minute later from a sublime free kick from the man I pointed out in the build up to this game; Cameron McGeehan, he stuck the ball in the top right hand corner of Luke McCormicks goal with Lutons first and only shot on target of the game. Thankfully nothing really happened after the goal and we held on for all 3 points.
Plymouth Argyle starting line up:
4-4-2
McCormick
Packwood, Bradley, Sheaf, Sawyer
Kennedy, Threlkeld, Fox, Carey
Garita, Healey
Plymouth Argyle substitutes:
McCallum, Songo'o (Bradley 62), Tanner, Taylor (Healey 62), Sarcevic (Fox 56), Donaldson, Spencer
Luton Town starting line up:
5-3-2 (WB)
Macey
Rea, Mullins, Sheehan
O'Donnell, Georgiu
McGeehan, D'Ath, Gray
Hylton, Palmer
Luton Town substitutes:
Moore, Cuthbert (Mullins 71), Gambin, Marriott (Palmer 61), Smith (O'Donnell 84), Potts, Ruddock
Player of the match: Arnold Garita- 2 goals and caused havoc for the Luton defence for the whole 90 minutes.
Attendance: 9,799 (626 away)
EFL Cup
Plymouth Argyle 2 (Fox 16, Garita 54)
Cardiff City 0
On a very wet summers night we ran out winners against Championship side Cardiff. We made one change to the team that beat Luton; Rhys Healey was ineligible as the Bluebirds are his parent club and Ryan Taylor came into the starting eleven. The game sprang into life in the 5th minute when Ainsley Maitland-Niles rattled the crossbar from a cross and the ball was put out for a corner to Cardiff. We then started an attack of our own as we countered Cardiff after a poor pass from Joe Ralls, the ball was played to Taylor who put a through ball into Garita, who squared to across the 18 yard box to Matt Kennedy who's shot was saved by Brian Murphy in the City net. Garita then hit the bar from a poor clearance in the 9th minute. We opened the scoring when a Graham Carey corner was not dealt with and the ball landed at Ben Sheafs feet who passed it to David Fox who's tamely hit shot was deflected into the net off Zohore who was on the line. Cardiff did create some free flowing passing moves but their shots were off target from shots outside the box. Straight from kick off we should of made it two, after Carey played a through ball down the line for Garita who crossed the ball for Taylor but he headed over the bar. Our second goal came from a passing move where the ball was shifted out wide to Kennedy who put in a low cross around the penalty spot for Garita to bend it into the top corner of the goal. Near the end of the game Max Power smashed a shot over from an Aron Gunnarsson long throw and that is the closest Cardiff came to scoring all night. Even though City had 13 shots at our goal they didn’t register a single shot on target and gave Luke McCormick nothing to do during the game. That is now only 1 shot on target against us in 2 games!
Plymouth Argyle starting line up:
4-4-2
McCormick
Packwood, Bradley, Sheaf, Sawyer
Kennedy, Threlkeld, Fox, Carey
Garita, Taylor
Plymouth Argyle substitutes:
McCallum, Songo’o (Bradley 71), Tanner (Carey 57), Miller, Sarcevic, Donaldson, Spencer (Taylor 57)
Cardiff City starting line up:
4-2-3-1
Murphy
Richards, Manga, Connolly, John
Ralls, Gunnarsson
Maitland-Niles, Power, Pilkington
Zohore
Cardiff City substitues:
Byrne, Morrison, Wharton (Ralls 55), Harris (Pilkington 60), Patten, Blaise, Weymans (Maitland-Niles 60)
Player of the match: Ben Sheaf- The 18 year old played like a seasoned pro and was rock solid at the back. Also got the assist for the opener.
Attendance: 9,084 (984 away)
League 2
Carlisle United 2 (Hunte 86, Miller 91)
Plymouth Argyle 0
In my monthly review I said that we should win this by a couple of goals, how wrong could I be! A few changes were made to the team after Wednesdays giant killing, these changes were: Yann Songo’o came in for Sonny Bradley, Craig Tanner replaced Graham Carey and Rhys Healey came straight back into the 11 for Ryan Taylor who dropped back onto the bench. We were dreadful all over the park and didn’t even register a single shot on target, The first half was a boring one as nothing happened and both teams went into the break still goalless. The games first chance fell to John O’Sullivan who went through one on one with McCormick and dragged his shot wide. We had to wait until the 86th minute for the next big moment of the game which was the first goal and it came from Ryan Taylor being easily dispossessed on the half way line, O’Sullivan passed the ball down the line for Adams who pulled the ball across the 6 yard box for Connor Hunte to open the scoring. The second goal came from Oscar Threlkeld trying to mess around with the ball just outside the box, the ball was squared for Shaun Miller who bent home United’s second goal. This will easily be our worst game of the season and if it’s not I’ll be very shocked! Onto the next game, Notts County away.
Plymouth starting line up:
4-4-2
McCormick
Packwood, Songo’o, Sheaf, Sawyer
Kennedy, Threlkeld, Fox, Tanner
Healey, Garita
Subs:
McCallum, Bradley, Carey (Fox 52), Taylor (Garita 62), Sarcevic, Donaldson (Kennedy 52), Spencer
Carlisle starting line up:
4-2-3-1
Gillespie
Miller, Gillesphey Wynter, Grainger
Kennedy, Bailey
Devitt, O’Sullivan, Adams
Proctor
Subs:
Crocombe, Raynes, Joyce, Miller (Proctor 67), LIddle (Bailey 67), Chambers, Hunte (Devitt 62)
Player of the match: Nicky Adams- Ran the show and grabbed 2 assists.
Attendance: 5,115 (196 away)
League 2
Notts County (Forte 47, T Campbell 82) (O’Connor sent off 85) Plymouth Argyle (Garita 9, Taylor 45, Songo’o 88)
We travelled to Meadow Lane looking to forget about the Carlisle defeat and want to put in a good performance for the travelling fans. County have only picked up 1 point in their first 2 matches and should have all 3 on Saturday but let a 2 goal lead slip. We made two changes to the team: Carey who came in for Threkeld and Healey dropped onto the bench for Ryan Taylor. We didn’t have to wait long for an opener, Garita latching onto an awful backpass and struck past the on rushing keeper. Garret should of doubled his tally and our lead after a fantastic through ball from Taylor but Garita nudged the ball wide. With 5 minutes of the half left Carey was denied a goal when his fantastic free kick struck the post. Just before half time we doubled our lead when Garita then ran down the left channel and pulled the ball across the box for Taylor to open his account for the season with a tap in 2-0. Adam Campell had Notts County’s first chance of the game of his fierce strike was saved by McCormick, from the resulting corner the ball was whipped in for Forte with a free header which put the Magpies back in the game. Garret had his thunderous strike magnificently saved by Adam Collin which could of put the game to bed. In the 79th minute Shola Ameobi could of drew County level but his header was only kept out by the crossbar, McCormick was beaten and if the shot was on target it was destined for the net. Tahvon Campbell did put Notts level when David Fox’s slide tackle found him on the edge of the box and he put the ball away into the back of the net, McCormick will be very disappointed to have not saved that. When we were pushing to get a winner county went down to 10 men after Michael O’Connor was sent off after a rash challenge on Kennedy when he was already on a yellow card. We did find a winner in the 88th minute when a Matthew Kennedy cross was flicked on by Donaldson which found Songo’o at the back post to score at the second attempt, 3-2 what a game!
Plymouth starting line up:
4-4-2
McCormick
Packwood, Songo’o, Sheaf, Sawyer
Kennedy, Carey, Fox, Tanner
Taylor, Garita
Subs:
McCallum, Bradley (Sheaf 58), Threlkeld , Healey, Sarcevic (Carey 53), Donaldson (Tanner 53), Spencer
Notts County starting line up:
4-4-2
Collin
Tootle, Clackstone, Bola, Dickinson
T Campbell, Grant, O’Connor, Forte
A Campbell, Stead
Subs:
Loach, Hollis (Dickinson 64), Thompson (Grant 64), Ameobi (A Campbell 58), Richards, Edwards, Smith.
POTM: Arnold Garita- Opened the scoring but could of had a hatfull.
Attendance: 4,586 (158 away)
League 2
Plymouth Argyle 2 (Garita 85, Healey 87)
Mansfield 0
After Tuesdays heart racing game I came into this thinking we can win but hopefully don’t make it too much hard work. We faced a Mansfield side who only have 1 victory out of 3 games in this start of the season clash. Carey was dropped after his poor display at Meadow Lane and was replaced by Sarcevic who deserves a start after coming off the bench in both league games. The game sprung into life in the 4th minute when Benning hit the post from a free kick for Mansfield. Garita was very unlucky to not see his header go in and just went past the post on the 23rd minute Arquin could of opened the scoring for Mansfield minutes later when he was unmarked from a corner and his header just went wide. McCormic denied MacDonald the chance to score when he made a brilliant one on one save to keep it at 0-0. Garita should of opened the scoring seconds after half time but fired wide past Jake Keans near post, then Mansfield almost scored themselves after Sarcevic’s poor pass was intercepted by Danny Rose but McCormick kept him at bay and pushed the shot away for a corner. Arquin then fired close but his low shot went just past the post but would of beaten McCormick. The deadlock was finally broke near the end of the game when a Matthew Kennedy clearance found Rhys Healey who pulled the ball back for Garita who banged in his 4th league goal this term. Healey then opened his account for the Pilgrims when Garita put in a deep cross to the back post for Healey to head home to make it 2-0.
Plymouth starting line up:
4-4-2
McCormick
Packwood, Songo’o, Sheaf, Sawyer
Kennedy, Sarcevic, Fox, Tanner
Taylor, Garita
Subs:
McCallum, Bradley, Threlkeld, Healey (Taylor 54), Carey (Fox 65), Donaldson (Tanner 65), Spencer
Mansfield starting line up:
4-2-3-1
Kean
White, Pearce, Howkins, Benning
Whiteman, Byrom
Arquin, Dowell, MacDonald
Rose
Subs:
Shearer, Taft, Baxendale (MacDonald 57), Green (Dowell 79), Potter (Rose 69), Shires, Collins
POTM: Arnold Garita- Opened the scoring and then create the 2nd goal.
Attendance: 9,164 (151 away)
EFL Cup Round 2
Swansea City 2 (Cornet 42, Cullen 84)
Plymouth Argyle 1 (Healey 74)
Our reward for beating Cardiff in the 1st round was their Neighbours Swansea who are top of the Premiership after 2 games with 6 points. We made 3 changes which were Healey for Taylor, Carey for Tanner and Threlkeld for Fox. In what will be our first of second games this month at the Liberty Stadium the first moment in this match was a shot by Cornet bent the ball just past Luke McCormicks goal. Nathan Dyer then fired straight at McCormick in the 29th minute and should of done a lot better. The first goal of the game came from Cornet when Nathan Dyer put him through on goal and he buried his chance. The second half started quickly and there were chances end to end, our best chance came when Garita’s shot from outside the box went over the bar. Taylor then had a glorious opportunity to equalise but his strike was saved by Nordfeldt, but after a poor throw out we seized our opportunity and Healey equalised after a low cross from Kennedy found him in the box. Sigurdosson almost scored a wonderful free kick but it went just wide, but that didn’t matter as Liam Cullen scored on his debut as Sawyer threw possession back to Swansea. Comet could of put us out of sight as he went one on one with McCormick but it went just passed the post and we were left praying we had another roll of the dice and that chance did come just after 90 minutes as a superb ball found taylor in the box but his header was saved by Nordfeldt.
Plymouth starting line up:
4-4-2
McCormick
Packwood, Songo’o, Sheaf, Sawyer
Kennedy, Sarcevic, Threlkeld, Carey
Taylor, Garita
Subs:
McCallum, Bradley, Fox (Sarcevic 63), Taylor (Garita 58), Tanner, Donaldson (Carey 58), Spencer
Swansea starting line up:
4-1-2-3
Nordfeldt
Ivan, Van Der Hoorn, Mawson, Lewis
Britton
Fulton, Sigurdosson
Dyer, Llorente, Cornet
Subs:
Birighitti, Amat (Mawson 70), Fox, Cullen (Dyer 45), Dyson (Llorente 63), Fernandez, Garrick
POTM: Maxwell Cornet- Played really well and could of had a hat trick!
Attendance: 9,918 (1,037 away)
Blackpool (A)
Blackpool 0
Plymouth Argyle 0
We travelled to Bloomfield Road in 4th and we faced a team who I thought were going to challenge us for the title but have started poorly and were down in 22nd, but there is a lot of games left to play though! We made juts the one change to the side who lost to Swansea and that was Donaldson in place of Kennedy as he was a little fatigued. McCormick made a great save early on from Robertson's thunderous strike after our defence didn’t clear the ball properly. McCormick was the hero again, this time making a double save from a Philliskirk strike and then denied a Danns header to keep the scores level. The scores were level coming into the break and we have McCormick to thank for that after making save after save. The first chance of the second half again came straight after the restart Slocombe saving a low shot from Donaldson, our first real chance of the game. Nothing really happened after that and it ended 0-0 a bit of a boring match to be fair. Next up Swansea U23s in the Checkatrade Trophy
Plymouth starting lineup:
4-4-2
McCormick
Packwood, Songo’o, Sheaf, Sawyer
Donaldson, Sarcevic, Threlkeld, Carey
Taylor, Garita
Subs:
McCallum, Bradley, Fox (Threlkeld 51), Taylor (Garita 64), Tanner (Donaldson 51), Kennedy, Spencer
Blackpool starting lineup:
4-4-2
Slocombe
Nolan, Aldred, Robertson, Taylor
Stobbs, Potts, Danns, Flores
Delfouneso, Philliskirk
Subs:
Lyness, Higham (Robertson 63), Osayi-Samuel (Danns 63), Vassell, Odelusi (Delfouneso 57), Mellor, Cullen
Attendance: 3,590 (186 away)
POTM: Yann Songo’o- Played very well and didn’t put a foot wrong.
Swansea U23s (A)
Swansea City 3 (Borja 83, 86, 88)
Plymouth Argyle 0
Our second trip to Swansea in a week was in the Checkatrade Cup, I’m not a fan of the U23 sides being aloud to play in the competition so for that reason I won’t be doing an in depth match report for this dodgy competition. I had made a few changes to the side that drew with Blackpool and played young players. The game was settled by a Borja Baston hattrick, a lad who's valued at £10.5m and is a 24 year old Spanish striker, I hope this helps with England’s progress in a major tournament!
Plymouth starting lineup
Dorel
Miller, Bentey, Sheaf, Sawyer
Donaldson, Smith, Fox, Tanner
Taylor, Spencer
Subs
McCallum, Bradley, Threlkeld (Fox 54), Healey (Taylor 54), Kennedy, Sarcevic, Garita (Spencer 68)
Swansea U23 lineup
Tremmel
Lewis, Morgan, B.Cooper, Lewis
J.Evans
Hazell, Blair
Fox, Borja, G.Cooper
Subs
Treacy, Davies, Darame (Fox 45), Roberts, Plezier (G.Cooper 56), Erickson, K.Evans (Hazell 61)
Attendance: 1,975 (9 away)
POTM: Borja Baston- Hattrick hero nothing else needed to be said.
