So after a weekend humbling to Argyle's local rivals Exeter City, it was back to formalities and amore realistic League 2 Home Park crowd for the visit of Leyton Orient. Previously I stated that coming into the match against the Grecians, the Green Army had a realistic chance of getting nine points from their next three matches. Obviously now that had reduced to six, but the team played well on Saturday and there was a feeling, that against an out of form Orient, it could be time to get back to winning ways. Within the O's ranks was yet another former Arsenal academy product Jay Simpson in attack, who after a blistering start to the League 2 campaign, has slightly tailed off, but is no doubt a considered threat. Another player of note is of course Dean Cox, who is as talismanic for Orient as Graham Carey is for Argyle. With Cox out injured, it could only increase positivity for the Argyle faithful. For Argyle, there was a welcome return to the starting line up for Carl McHugh, as well as second starts for new loan signings Christian Walton and Luke Croll respectively. Oskar Threlkeld kept Josh Simpson out of the side, and with Reuben Reid still side lined, Jake Jervis continued in his central striking role.
Referee Andy Woolmer got the match underway, and the initial possession was firmly in the Green Army's hands. Yet again, in what has been a feature this season, a defensive howler almost let in Orient's Ollie Palmer. A hopeful punt down the field from Bradley Pritchard was allowed to bounce by Croll. He attempted a weak and short header back to Walton, and as Palmer closed in, Walton just managed to clutch the ball from above his head, but in turn fell over the top of the striker, landing on his neck with what appeared his full weight. Home Park held it's breath and could it be yet another player off to the treatment rom? Fortunately Walton rose to his feet to applause from the fans and the match continued. Respite wasn't to last long however and some head tennis between Sammy Moore and Palmer found Simpson on the edge of the box. A superb first touch took him past McHugh before his second produced a fantastic right volley cross volley that flew past Walton and into the top corner of the net. Less than five minutes on the clock and already the beginning of a mountain to climb! To be fair to Argyle, they responded very well to this setback. Just two minutes later and it was Carey who came close to equalising, dinking around the O's captain Sean Clohessey before hitting a curling left foot effort that beat Orient stopper Alex Cisak, but also the frame of the goal. Again though indecisive defending nearly let it Orient for second. Jack Payne picked up the ball at the midway point of the Argyle half, and with Croll and Curtis Nelson backing off, he hit a right foot shot that fizzed just past Walton's near post. This produced an antagonised reaction from Walton who berated his defenders to push up and close down and it appeared to finally bear fruit. The Green Army then took a stranglehold on possession for the remainder of the first period. Carey won a free kick on the left, which Jervis managed to get a head to, but again it was wide of Cisak's near post. Shortly after, McHugh found space on the edge of the box, bit his drive was brilliantly blocked by Cole Kpekawa. More attacks came, and it was apparent that some of the Orient players were already appearing to waste time with only twenty minutes on the clock. Another chance, this time from Threlkeld slotting a perfect through ball into Jervis on the left. He fired a left foot shot that bet Cisak but also agonisingly the far post as well. With the pressure mounting, another big game changing decision came and went for the Green Army. Carey played the ball back to Threlkeld, who in turn let the ball run across his body. In came Simpson with a rash and ill timed two footed tackle that took Threlkeld out (injuring him in the process), and leaving him crumpled on the floor. It looked a nasty one and on another day could have been a red card, but on this occasion, referee Woolmer decided only a yellow was sufficient. On came Josh Simpson in place of Threlkeld and the match resumed. It was still the same intensity from Argyle and further opportunities came. A left foot shot from outside the area from Gregg Wylde flew just over, as well as another great block from a Carey smash, this time from Jean-Yves Mvoto. As the pressure grew and grew it seemed only a matter of time before the equaliser would come. It was Simpson who had the golden opportunity, but he fluffed his lines. Great play from Nelson and then a wonderful through ball from Kelvin Mellor released him in on goal on the right. But a kind of rushed swipe at the ball sent it high, wide and handsome. There was still time fir another Wylde left foot attempt, but again it was close, nut still wide of the goal. As the half time whistle sounded, although behind there was much room for optimism heading into the second period!
After a warm cup of half time Bovril and a famous Argyle pasty it was back to the action. But rather than continue in the same vein as the first half, it appeared that the roles had reversed. It was now Orient who seemed to have all the energy and the Green Army who looked laboured. An early John Marquis effort was easily saved by Walton, but it proved a precursor for the half that was to follow. Carey had another close effort with his left foot from a similar area to where he scored his screamer against Morecambe, but again it was just wide. This slight bit of respite proved to be our last for some time as the O's began to dominate both possession and the tempo of the game. The Orient were finding more and more time and space in the Argyle half as the defence stopped pressing. Moore found time to dig out a strike from twenty yards that flew over, and it began to feel a bit like a training session for the team from east London! Shortly after Payne had an effort from a similar distance that was well gathered by Walton. This was followed by another two great saves from Walton, both low to his left. The first a instinctive parry from a flash right foot Marquis volley, before a couple of minutes later doing similar from a Pritchard effort. Mvoto then found himself in space from a corner, but put his header over the bar when he really should of hit the target. The crowd were getting restless, and with the prospect of Argyle's fourth defeat in five games looming, Derek Adams made his second change. Wylde came off in place of Ryan Brunt, presumably to give an outlet for the beleaguered defence and to hold the ball up to relieve the constant stream of pressure from the O's! This did seem to work to a degree and the match became somewhat more balnced. Although now with the Green Army pressing for an equaliser, and combined with tired legs, there were still openings to be found for Orient. From a set piece it was Marquis, who had been a thorn in the side of Argyle the whole second half, who found himself in space. His left footed strike from the left was thankfully mistimed and sliced over. A minute later and on the break, it was the same man Marquis again who found himself in a shooting position in the centre of the goal. This time Nelson did very well to block his goal bound effort. Then in a rather bizarre twist, the Green Army found their equalising goal. McHugh was fouled on the right hand side about thirty yards from goal. In what was Carey territory, it was surprisingly Craig Tanner who took responsibility, sending in a curing left foot ball into the box. Ironically it was the miniature in stature Carey who won the ball, heading it across to Croll. He chested it down like a striker before lashing a left volley seemingly destined for the bottom right hand corner. Cisak dived and threw out a hand, parrying it fantastically to his left. Nelson then ran onto the loose ball and kind of scuffed a miskicked right footed effort back across goal, that beat Cisak and two defenders before nesting in the far corner. Unbelievably it was 1-1 and the Green Army had done it. With nine minutes left on the clock, this gave Argyle another resurgence and the match swung again in their favour, albeit only for a moment. Moments after the equaliser, the Green Army had a chance for all three points when Brunt headed down for the onrushing Tanner. He smashed the ball low and hard with his right foot, but it ricocheted off an unknowing Orient leg and away. In typical Adams style, Argyle pressed on, leaving the inevitable gaps in defence! The ever present Marquis still had time for a hat trick of winning opportunities before the game was out. His first, a right footed effort from just outside the box was well claimed by Walton to his left. Next an in swinging free kick found his head, but the ball dropped just wide of Walton's left hand post. And finally in injury time, another right footed effort from just outside the box flew over. The final whistle was blown to what was quite an extraordinary and bizarre night of football at Home Park
What a strange game football is sometimes. Argyle dominated the first half but lost it, Orient the second half and lost it! All in all a draw was probably a fair result, but there are worrying inconsistencies around Argyle's game management. Admittedly, there have been numerous injuries and new personnel entering the side, but I also see a lack of maturity at the moment. With Hiram Boateng returning to Crystal Palace from his loan spell, Lee Cox joining Stevenage on loan and Threlkeld now injured, we look very light in the centre of midfield. Having said that, we still sit top of the league (mainly due to our rival's failings!) and we do have an away game at lowly Dagenham and Redbridge to follow. My feeling is that although we are not performing to our finest we are still performing ok, and if that is our lowest margin then we can be confident of a promotion season. I am a 'glass half full' kind of guy, but I say keep backing Adams and we will be in League 1 next year!
Best Player - Christian Walton
Attendance - 6469
Next Game - 28/11/2015 Dagenham and Redbridge (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 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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Today's fan is 35 year old Al Holbeach from Plymouth
How long have you been an Argyle fan for? 'I have been a fan for 25 years'
What's your earliest PAFC memory? 'I remember watching Adrian Littlejohn. Can't remember anything in particular, but he was a class player'
Favourite ever Argyle match and why? 'Has to be the Playoff final when Ronnie Mauge scored the winner!'
Best all time Argyle player? 'Mickey Evans'
Best current Argyle player? 'Graham Carey'
General feeling around Derek Adams' performance so far? 'Derek Adams has been a godsend for this club. I think he is doing great!'
Season Prediction? 'I think we will go up via the playoffs if I'm honest'
Prediction for our next match away to Dagenham and Redbridge? '2-0 to Argyle. We are a better team than them and they have only won once in ten games!'
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