Off the back of consecutive cup defeats in the FA Cup and Johnstones Paint Trophy respectively, came a welcome return to league action. Many questions about our lack lustre defensive showings recently had the chance to be answered at Bootham Crescent, the home of York City. On paper the signs looked promising, with the Minstermen languishing one place above the relegation zone, and Argyle five points clear at the top. But as we know with football, anything can happen and if you take the Green Army's two recent cup defeats, as well as it being new York manager Jackie McNamara's first home game in charge, the stakes were high for both clubs! Looking at the teams and the Minstermen boasted within their ranks former Hartlepool stopper Scott Flinders, as well as ex Argyle player Luke Summerfield and former youth hot prospect Josh Carson. Argyle kept the same starting line up from Tuesday's JPT defeat against Millwall, but for one notable change. With Luke McCormick injuring himself in the warm up, James Bittner made not only his first ever start for the Green Army, but his first ever Football League start after 4991 days as a professional. This was a fact that garnered national press attention, so eyes would be on him to perform and impress. Another key feature was Oscar Threlkeld's retention of his spot in the centre of midfield, to make his own first Argyle league start. Would these two first time starters impress or flatter to deceive? We were about to find out!
Referee Richard Clark got the match under way and even though the Green Army followers were getting drenched by the rain in the uncovered terracing, they were still in very good voice! After recent disappointments for Argyle, the fans were looking for a fast start, and that is exactly what they got! Quick and incisive passing was putting York on the back foot early, and there was a real energy throughout the side. Gregg Wylde started the first opening when he picked the ball up in the middle of the Minstermen's half. He played a smart ball out wide on the left to Jake Jervis, who in turn fed the ball through the inside channel and into who else but Graham Carey. His quick first time left foot drive beat Flinders and flashed across the goal just zipping wide of the far post. These incisive openings would become a feature of the opening period and it wasn't long before the Green Army were in again. This time on the right hand side and the ball was picked up by Craig Tanner. He cut inside of York left back Femi Ilesanmi before sending an in swinging left foot cross to the far post and towards the incoming Carey. Minstermen centre back Eddie Nolan got there just in time, but his partial clearance only fell into the path of Jervis on the edge of the box. His first time volley flashed low and hard, only for Flinders to pull off an impressive save low to his left to keep the score line at 0-0. The pressure was mounting and both Wylde and Tanner were causing problems on each wing. The next chance came from a piece of individual brilliance from Tanner. Picking the ball up on the right, he skipped trough the middle of a double challenge of both Ilesanmi and Rhys Turner both jinking inside of Michael Collins and firing a left footed effort just wide of Flinders near post. A few moments later and Tanner again caused problems, jinking past challenges before feeding in Carey on the right hand side of the six yard box. He let the ball run across his body before hitting a first time effort with his left foot that was again well parried by Flinders. The ball came straight back to Carey but this time his effort was well blocked by George Swan and it floated harmlessly over the bar! Argyle were becoming so dominant that the goal seemed inevitable and it duly came. Gary Sawyer picked the ball up before playing the ball out wide to Carey on the left. He got the ball out of his feet before sending a beautiful in swinging ball to the near post. Jervis got in between two York defenders and cleverly chested the ball towards Flinders' near post. Again Flinders got a hand to it, but this time there was too much on it and the ball went under him and in the net. 1-0 and no more than the Green Army deserved. After the goal came a slight period of calm with the Minstermen having slightly more possession but failing to create much other than a couple of crosses that Bittner unconvincingly punched away. Just before half time, Argyle got the second goal that their dominance deserved. Carey started the move by playing a left footed pass out wide to the left and into Wylde. He bamboozled Nolan and took the ball to the bye line before pulling it back with his left foot into the path of the on rushing Carey. He struck it first time with his left foot and it went straight in done the centre of the goal and into the net. The ball not near the corner, there was definitely a question mark that Flinders should of done better. Shortly after the half time whistle was blown and it was certainly the Green Army's most dominant first half display of the season to date.
The second half began and Argyle had further opportunities to extend their lead. Carey again central to proceedings, he first cut inside from the right to make space for his left foot effort that was palmed away by Flinders for a corner. From the resulting corner, a quick one two between Wylde and Carey gave Carey another chance. This time from a seeming crossing position he bent a lovely left foot effort that curled over the beaten Flinders but also agonisingly off the point where the cross bar and far post meet. A few minutes later and it was Jervis who was fed in on the left hand side of the six yard box by Wylde. With Flinders closing the angle, Jervis tried a first time right foot dink that went just wide of the near post. The third goal failed to materialise however and this no doubt gave York the confidence they needed to push forward. Derek Adams made the first of his three changes with eleven minutes remaining with Josh Simpson replacing Carl McHugh and this seemed to disrupt the flow of the Green Army. A corner was won on the left hand side and was taken by the Minstermen's James Berrett. He whipped an in swinger into the six yard box. Again Bittner anxiously went for the punch but this time it was mistimed and the ball looped into the air, before dropping just over the crossbar and onto the left stanchion of his goal. Another change was made with Tanner being replaced by Ryan Brunt with nine minutes left on the clock and he proved a good outlet and runner as the pressure from York mounted. Soon after and the Minstermen had another chance with Berrett playing the ball out wide on the right to Ben Godfrey. He cut inside of Peter Hartley before drilling a shot towards the near post. It was a solid shot that Bittner was equal to, getting down quickly to ironic cheers and chants of 'Bittner for England' from the Argyle faithful! The danger was not over however, as due to an earlier head injury to the Minstermen's Dave Winfield, there was to be ten minutes of added time! Adams' made his final change in the fifth minute of injury time with Lee Cox replacing Wylde, but there was still for York to have the final word. Vadaine Oliver had the ball on the right had side of the box, and he shimmied on the ball before dinking a ball into the path of Godfrey. he controlled the ball on his chest before blasting a right foot volley past Bittner and into the corner of the net. 2-1 but being the ninety ninth minute there was no time for the Minstermen to fully recover. Shortly after the final whistle blew and the sodden Green Army travellers would be returning with three valuable points!
Well what a response after two disappointing cup defeats. For the first time since the early days of the season, I noticed a feeling of worry amongst the travelling Green Army regarding today's match. Personally I was confident of a return to form, both given our impressive league results coned with the fact that York City played very much reflectively of their lowly position in the table. The first half (as well as the majority of the second half) display was as confident and dominating as I have seen all season. Of course the Minstermen were very poor and would be one of my bets for relegation fodder, unless McNamara can turn things around and quickly. Taking that into account, greater challenges lay ahead and against teams that can test Bittner further I think he may struggle. On the positive side, we did win comfortably and took a deserved three points from a groubd we hadn't won at in over fifty years previously. That coupled with Portsmouth's failure to win on Sunday ta home to Wimbledon, means that Argyle are now nine points clear of finishing outside the automatic promotion positions. With consecutive home matches coming up against out of form Exeter City and Leyton Orient, followed by a trip to bottom of the league Dagenham and Redbridge, for me the future looks very bright indeed!
Best Player - Graham Carey
Attendance - 3654 (721 Argyle)
Next Game - 21/11/2015 Exeter City (h) (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
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Today's fan is 25 year old Beverley Oliver from Plymouth
How long have you been an Argyle fan for? 'I grew up with my parents supporting Argyle, so all my life really! I got my first season ticket when I was 8 years old and have had the same seat ever since! But even before I started gong to games, I still remember being at home with my Nan on a Saturday and checking the teletext every so often, just to see if Argyle had scored yet!'
What's your earliest PAFC memory? 'Brighton at the Withdean Stadium. Everyone was standing and I was so small I couldn't see what was going on. Suddenly everyone started jumping up and down snd I just followed suit'
Favourite ever Argyle match and why? 'Probably will have to be the 2-0 win over QPR. Great day with great memories. I still remember the feeling of joy when the final whistle went'
Best all time Argyle player? 'Super Luke McCormick'
Best current Argyle player? 'Reuben Reid'
General feeling around Derek Adams' performance so far? 'I'm really happy. After years of heartbreak and worrying, things are finally starting to look really positive from the start of a season. This is our year!'
Season Prediction? 'Top 3 finish'
Prediction for our next match at home to Exeter City? '3-1 to Argyle. Due to Exeter's poor form at the moment and our good performances in the league. also the confidence boost we have at the moment should make for a great game'
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