After last weekend's impressive performance and victory over Morecambe came the second long visit of Carlisle United, down from Cumbria. After Argyle's 4-1 thumping of them earlier in the season, the fans came in good voice, expectant of the start of a hopeful exciting cup run. The magic of the FA Cup is something that has been said for generations and it really is a great distraction from League 2 football, albeit with the Green Army sitting proudly atop of the division! Carlisle came into the match in somewhat indifferent form, and with a much changed line up and formation, no doubt manager Keith Curle learning from mistakes made the previous time the sides met! The Cumbrians boasted exciting Bury loanee Hallam Hope. This a man who once played alongside Raheem Sterling for England U17s, so no doubt some raw potential to be found. Another attacking option is Derek Asamoah, who has kind of taking the goal scoring mantle away from Jabo Ibehre, who started this season so well. For Argyle, the only change being Josh Simpson coming in for Hiram Boateng alongside Carl McHugh in the central position. Ryan Brunt continued in Reuben Reid's prolonged injury absence. People and the team seemed in good spirits and displaying a real togetherness1 What could go wrong?
Referee Charles Breakspear got the match underway, and that pre match optimism was almost over within the first minute. A lazy back pass from Gary Sawyer on the left let in Asamoah. He dallied however and when he did finally shoot, his curling effort went high and wide of the right hand corner of Luke McCormick's goal. The match seemed wide open, with both sides starting nervy and losing possession continuously. It wasn't long however before Carlisle found their footing in the game, something that was totally eluding the players in green and white jerseys. The possession was being dominated by the Cumbrians, but despite Argyle's mistakes, thanks to enigmatic midfielder Graham Carey, a couple of chances to take the led were created. The first saw Jake Jervis pick the ball up on the right wing and he laid it off to Carey whose quick first time left foot strike just flashed past the post and wide. A few minutes later and a free kick won just inside the Carlisle half was floated to the back post by Carey. Curtis Nelson sent a header across goal which beat everybody but agonisingly the far post too. this was to be the highlight of the match for Argyle, as soon after the Cumbrians took a deserved lead. A free kick in a similar position to Carey's was floated in by Carlisle's Danny Grainger. When the ball was only partially cleared by Sawyer, an Alex Gilliead header sent the ball back into the box. Mark Ellis won the second header before Anthony Sweeney sent an incredible acrobatic scissor kick past McCormick and into the top corner of the net. The stadium went silent apart from the hardcore contingent of Carlisle fans who had made the long trip for the second time this season! Soon after and there was more misery for the Green Army. A hopeful Gilliead ball was sent over the top with Peter Hartley caught hopelessly out of position. Asamoah picked the ball up and played a shot across McCormick. He managed to get a hand to it but Nelson, who was there to clear got his footing all wrong and Hope and slotted into an empty net. 2-0 and it was no more than the Cumbrians deserved. The match petered out to half time, and with the sunshine dissipating there was a feeling our cup run was dissipating out of sight too!
Rather surprisingly Derek Adams didn't make any of the bold changes he fans have been accustomed to at the break. The anonymous Brunt stayed on, with the midfield pairing of McHugh and Simpson clearly not working today. There was an argument that some of the youth players could have been given a chance to prove themselves (see Mark Matthews article on Argyle Life!) but the team stayed the same! Perhaps a riveting team talk had been delivered by Adams and the performance would improve? Sadly that was not the case! The second half was probably one of the worst half's of football I have had the misfortune to witness in what is the world's greatest competition. Devoid of ideas, endeavour and for once this season it was reminding of a bygone era under John Sheridan. Even Adams didn't seem concerned enough to change things drastically. To be fair to Curle and Carlisle, they had done their homework. Keeping Carey pretty anonymous and away from striking with that potent left foot, as well as narrowing the playing field so our wingers were too compact to make an impression. The one time Carey did find some space inside, his hopeful left foot effort bounced gingerly wide. Then when five minutes later an angry howl from Carey was out at yet enough loose pass, you sensed the game was up. There was still a chance for the Cumbrians to improve their lead from yet another Argyle mistake. This time Peter Hartley played a lazy ball form the left to Simpson and he was easily disposed by Jason Kennedy, who fed Asamoah through on goal with Hartley out of position. Luckily Nelson came across just in time and Asamoah sent his shot wide, failing to give the score line the gloss it deserved for Carlisle. Adams made a few token changes at the end, with Gregg Wylde replacing Simpson to no real effect on the match. Then in the last five minutes Tyler Harvey replaced Brunt and Oscar Threlkeld came on in place of Craig Tanner, but in truth nobody wanted to be out there at that stage. Both players and fans alike. The match was brought to a close and for the Green Army it really was welcomed!
Well to review that game it can be summed up in a few simple words! An absolutely dreadful performance, with only Carey I can give meagre praise too. Sometimes in football you have these match or performances where everything just seems to go rotten. After the game Adams alluded to not having funds to get Carlisle goal scorer Hope down to Home Park. Perhaps his lack of changes or ignorance to his usual very good tactical nous was him proving a point in a cup run he may have rather done without. Who knows? One thing is for sure, that if we perform like that regularly we wont be thinking about promotion come May! The major saving grace is that awful performances like today have almost been forgotten in what has proved to be a season to remember so far. On Remembrance weekend where we say lest we forget the brave souls who gave their lives for our freedom, I will say let's please forget this FA Cup performance, and in a hurry. On a side note I went to the Dairy in Plymouth on Friday night and met two of the most affable doormen in the city (pictured below). I said I would give them a shout out and send away fans their way as they treated me and the fiancé with great respect. Cheers Sean and Luke! Let's bring on Millwall on Tuesday and hopefully my next beverage will be toasted with a victory!
Best Player - Graham Carey
Attendance - 6005
Next Game - 10/11/2015 Millwall (h) (Johnstones Paint Trophy Southern Section Quarter Final)
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 that I hope to do for every match day. If you would like to be featured please feel free to email me at
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| Sheridan Davey (Right) |
Today's fan 42 year old Sheridan Davey from Bristol
How long have you been an Argyle fan for? ' Since my Dad took me to Home Park aged 8'
What's your earliest PAFC memory? 'Pompey invading the Lyndhurst when they secured promotion in 1983/84 season. I watched them from the Mayflower!'
Favourite ever Argyle match and why? 'Oh it's a hard one. There are so many. But I think when we were 3-1 down to Brighton in 2002/03 season. Friio scored two diving headers in the 3 minutes of injury time to get a point. It felt like a win and the Mayflower went mental! Off the top of my head that was up there as one of the best buzzes I've ever had watching Argyle!'
Best all time Argyle player? 'Kevin Hodges. I idolised him at 12/13 years old'
Best current Argyle player? 'Gregg Wylde. I think he's a game changer'
General feeling around Derek Adams' performance so far? 'Derek Adams is going to take us all the way to the Premier League. Just like he die with Ross County in the Scottish Leagues!'
Season Prediction? 'We clinch promotion as champions in Portsmouth on April 16th and invade Fratton!'
Prediction for our next match at home to Millwall? '1-1 and then the lottery of penalties!'
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