AFC Wimbledon (a) (Johnstones Paint Trophy Southern Section 1st Round) Match Report 01/09/2015

On the back of three straight wins and sitting pretty upon the top of League 2 came the annual distraction of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Whether a cup run in this less prestigious of competitions will be a welcome distraction is yet to be determined. However, we travelled up to Wimbledon, for the second time in under a month, in good numbers nonetheless, with a sense of anticipation of watching yet another game of fast, free flowing football. This has become somewhat of a routine under Adams' and with it has come plenty of goals! Usually in this competition, fans get to see some of the younger players blooded, but perhaps due to the small size of squad, or even Derek Adams' continuing with a winning formula, the team was much the same to the eleven that faced Newport County on Saturday. The only change being the return from injury of Gregg Wylde, back in for Craig Tanner on the left wing. AFC Wimbledon started with a strong side also, with Adebayo Azeez and Lyle Taylor the notable changes from our previous encounter just 24 days prior.

The match got underway and Argyle were back to starting games slowly. After coming out at a faster pace against Newport on Saturday, it was frustrating to see this again just three days on. On this occasion we were finally punished for this lackadaisical approach to starting matches. After just five minutes the Dons Andy Barcham picked the ball up on the right wing and cut inside the Argyle box. He played a neat one two with Jake Reeves, the return ball going through Kelvin Mellor's legs, before firing a rasping shot that was parried by Luke McCormick to the edge of the box. Reeves returned the ball with a looping header that McCormick seemed to misjudge, flapping the ball down invitingly for Azeez to tap into an empty goal from two yards out. 1-0 down and the task had already been set to achieve something that hadn't been achieved in 913 days, coming back from behind to win a football match! The goal seemed to wake us up slightly and with Adams urging us to press on we were almost back in it. After forcing a succession of corners and free kicks, it was from one of these that a goal came. The ever reliable Graham Carey whipped a free kick into the far post and a Peter Hartley header looped over Wimbledon keeper James Shea and into the net...1-1! But a flag had come up and the goal was ruled out for an alleged offside. Ryan Brunt was holding the ball up well and bringing others into play and he had a header that was well saved. Another header, this time from Hartley and a couple of customary shots from Carey were beginning to set a more positive tone. But then disaster struck. Taylor, who already had a shot that flashed just wide of McCormick's post, picked a loose ball up in the box before firing a hard shot, through a group of players and above McCormick, into the top left hand corner of the net. Barely twenty five minutes into the game and we were 2-0 down and the situation was becoming evermore untenable. To be fair it was probably slightly unfair on Argyle, who on another day could have been level. But it was frustrating to see Mellor again caught out and the usual defensive flaws we have on the back of a counter attack. The Green Army did respond well however, and it was only thirteen minutes later that we got our reward. In a swift counter attack the impressive Brunt picked the ball up with his back to goal. He hooked the ball over his head into the path of the onrushing Jake Jervis who charged towards goal, before calmly and accurately sliding the ball past Dons keeper Shea and into the net. 2-1 and the fans had something to cheer. We were back in the game and kept up our record of scoring in every game so far this season. The game then went a bit flat as it meandered towards the break and Argyle went in at half time 2-1 down but definitely in the game.

During the half time interval there was a real sense we could come back from behind to win and get yet another monkey off of our back. Adams seems to put a real sense of confidence into the team and that showed on the pitch in the second half. The half did however start with a scare as Azeez, who had looked a real handful all game, pressured Curtis Nelson into a mistimed back pass. Azeez rushed through on goal one on one with McCormick. He lifted the ball over the oncoming Argyle keeper, but also just over the crossbar. It was a let off that would prove costly for him, but beneficial for the Green Army. From then on it was all Argyle. A first time cross from the right, across the six yard box was met by Jervis with his left foot, only to be expertly saved by Shea with his feet. Not long after, a first time cross, this time from the left by Wylde was met with a bullet header by Brunt, sending it back across the goal and into the back of the net for the equaliser. The crowd went wild and it was no more than we deserved after a positive response from going behind. Just three minutes later and we took the lead. A buoyant Argyle were now in full attacking freeflow. A Carey cross was met by a Karleigh Osborne header that looped into the air. Carl McHugh, who had been excellent all game alongside Hiram Boateng, watched the ball fall for what seemed like an eternity. He then hit a beautifully timed left foot volley straight into the bottom left hand corner, leaving Shea with no chance. 3-2 and it was great to see both McHugh and Brunt get off the mark for goals this season and with Reuben Reid barely featuring so far, the signs are looking good with goals being shared around the team. The rest of the game took a similar pattern with Jervis performing well on the right, taking on Wimbledon players and having a couple of close efforts. One just wide and one well saved by Shea. A couple of Argyle changes were then made with Tanner coming on for Brunt and new sigining Oscar Threlkeld making his debut in place of Wylde. Tanner nearly opened his account for the evening when a glancing header from a left wing Gary Sawyer cross was again well saved by Shea with his feet. Moving into the closing stages and Wimbledon tried in vain to put us under pressure, but in all truth it was laboured effort with very little end product. The referee blew his whistle and we had done it. We had come back from behind to win a game, and that unwanted record was now erased.

Looking at the performance, there were some key individuals. Boateng and McHugh were calm and assured and dictated play from the middle of the park. Brunt got the goal his efforts deserved and held the ball up really well. Jervis was excellent, showing great technique and attitude in his play coming forward and tracking back. And Carey again used brilliant delivery on the set pieces in what was one of his quieter games by his high standards. All in all I felt this was a great exercise for the team. Although lethargy and sloppiness put us behind early on, in truth it was probably a good test of our steel and mental toughness for further challenges ahead. A test that we passed with flying colours and one that will last long in the memory of the travelling Argyle support. Next up is a trip to Stevenage, where hopefully we can make it five wins on the bounce!

Best Player - Carl McHugh

Attendance - 1251 (356 Argyle)

Next Game - 05/09/2015 Stevenage (a) (League 2)








As always each match report is featured with our Match Day fan feature, which is a short Q and A about Argyle related fodder and something I hope to do for every match day. If you would like to be featured please feel free to email me at danstone84@hotmail.com or alternatively get in touch through social media. Either on Twitter @danstone84 or on one of the Facebook forums tagging me in Dan Stone. My match reports are also featured on www.argyle.life where I am a part of a team of feature writers. Please come and visit and support the site and writers. It's a great site with a broad range of opinions and views.

Today's fan is 22 year old James Curno from Plymouth

How long have you been an Argyle fan for? '14 years. Although as a teenager I didn't follow football as much, and as a result wasn't that invested in Argyle during the dark days of administration. My first game after not going for so many years was very different. Very grim atmosphere. Now back to loving football and hopefully good times ahead with Argyle!'

What's your earliest PAFC memory? 'My earliest memory was my first game. In my memory it was an inter-squad friendly. For some reason I think it was on Boxing Day, but it cant of been. It must of been a pre-season friendly. I think Mickey Evans scored. Other early memories include Pilgrim Pete throwing sweets into the crowd at half time, was my favourite part of the game at that time!'

Favourite ever Argyle match and why? '2-0 QPR to win the title. It was a really nice sunny day, with a packed crowd and a great Argyle performance. Typical of the time'

Best all time Argyle player? 'Can only go from who I've seen. Something draws me to David Friio. Great goal scoring midfielder'

Best current Argyle player? 'Hard to choose. But I'm going for a new player in Graham Carey. Shown some great skill and creativity, well above League 2 standard and he is already getting goals. Will be having his name on the back of my new shirt. Always love a number 10'

General feeling around Derek Adams' appointment? 'Adams has proved to be a great signing. He fills me with optimism and I think the club is in good hands. He's got a plan which is good to see. So far, so good'

Season Prediction? 'Going to stick with what I've said before which is somewhere in the top 5. Would love a top 3 finish. Alright I'm going to be optimistic and say 3rd!'

Prediction for our next match away to Stevenage? '2-1 Argyle. I think we will come out on top thanks to the momentum from the Wimbledon result. However I think Stevenage will put up a good fight'