Following on from a dismal spell where only two points were collected from a possible twelve for Argyle, came an opportunity against a similarly out of form team in Hartlepool United. Pools had struggled themselves in recent weeks, culminating in a laboured midweek FA Cup performance, where it took extra time to beat part timers Salford City. Taking both side's low performance and lack of confidence into account, on paper this match could potentially be a very important fixture in determining future aspirations in the League 2 table. Looking to the sides and the Green Army welcomed back Luke McCormick in between the sticks after a position on the bench last week against Cambridge United. With Hiram Boateng, Graham Carey and Reuben Reid still nursing injuries the rest of the side remained unchanged, although I was sure that local lad Peter Hartley would relish a return to his old stomping ground! Notable players for Hartlepool included Michael Woods, (who was once a highly regarded prospect that Chelsea snatched from under the noses of Leeds United), playmaker Kai Naismith and the fortunately for Argyle injured striker Billy Paynter. With lots at stake for both sides in terms of both pride and confidence it was time for the Green Army faithful to find out if the near 800 mile round trip would be worth missing a valuable Christmas shopping Saturday!
Referee Graham Salisbury got proceedings underway on a grey and mild afternoon in Hartlepool. the match started at an even tempo with both side showing caution, perhaps with recent results in mind. Possession was shared and it wasn't until the ninth minute that any opening on goal came to fruition. A looped ball from Gregg Wylde found Kelvin Mellor at the far post, but his header under pressure went just wide of Trevor Carson's left post. the game was still very much finely poised and a couple of tentative long range shots from both sides were well claimed by each respective keeper. Firstly Craig Tanner jinked around Pools' centre backs Adam Jackson and Matthew Bates before firing a twenty five yard effort down the throat of Carson. This was followed by a slightly better effort from Hartlepool's Jake Gray from just inside the box that was well held by McCormick, high in the centre of his goal. As the half wore on it became a bit scrappy, indicative of a lack of confidence, with both sides lacking the cutting edge needed to break down their opponents. Woods and Naismith shared hopeful long range efforts for Pools, whilst Wylde and Tanner did similar for Argyle. It wasn't until just five minutes before the break that a real opening of note came to excite the crowd. A free kick from Naismith found Jackson on the edge of the box and his right footed effort fizzed wide of McCormick's post, with the keeper probably beaten. Shortly after Naismith had a long range left footed drive that flashed just wide of McCormick's post yet again. With Hartlepool finishing the stronger there was time for one last long range effort before the break. This time it was Jake Carroll who's left footed shot from twenty five yards just cleared the crossbar. As referee Graham Salisbury brought the half to a close there was a real sense from the travelling Green Army that this match, and with it the three points were there for the taking!
Derek Adams must have worked some of his magic at the interval as Argyle came out for the second half with real purpose. Barely a minute into the second half and Gregg Wylde hit one of his early season left footed drives that whistled just wide of the post. Incidentally Wylde is beginning to show some of his early season promise and bizarrely looks more confident in a failing Argyle team rather than a successful one! This Wylde effort was shortly followed by a Carl McHugh attempt from just outside the box, but his shot was just a bit too high and cleared Carson's crossbar with relative ease. The Green Army were now definitely on top and when Wylde cut inside of full back Scott Harrison it looked like a real opening had came. However once again his drive failed to test Carson and missed narrowly at his near post. Up until now Ryan Brunt had been relatively quiet but he came the closest yet to opening the scoring. Tanner cut inside of Carroll before sending an in swinging ball to the far post, and when Brunt rose it seemed he would power it home. However rather than do this, Brunt seemed to just glance the ball and it dropped agonisingly wide! It really was becoming all Argyle now and Brunt had another effort shortly after. this time picking up the ball in the centre of the Hartlepool half before powering towards goal. This time however his left footed drive was high, wide and handsome! Perhaps learning from the mistakes of last Saturday's match against Cambridge, Adams made the first of three changes. The ineffectual and largely anonymous Jake Jervis was replaced by academy product Tyler Harvey for the final twenty five minutes. As he bedded into the game, Hartlepool showed a bit of resistance and fight for the first time in the half. The architect of this resurgence was midfielder Scott Fenwick who firstly had a long range drive after Curtis Nelson backed off that fortunately was too high again. Barely a minute later and Fenwick really should have given Pools the lead! A in swinging Naismith corner was whipped in, finding Fenwick unmarked in the centre of the box, but his free header failed to trouble McCormick and cleared the crossbar again. This moment served as another wake up call for the Green Army and following the clearance from the resulting goal kick Harvey found himself in space on the right side of the box. His cross come shot just trickling wide of Carson's far post. Brunt then had another left footed sighter, hitting a sharp twenty yard effort that Carson punched away. With the pressure building from Argyle once again it felt the goal was coming. A Tanner corner found Brunt in the box, and his drive was well blocked by Bates. Hartlepool partially cleared the ball to Hartley and he sent a looping ball back towards goal. Nelson headed it down across the edge of the box and into the path of McHugh. He in turn opened his body up before shaping it around Carson and into the bottom corner! 1-0 to Argyle from the first bit of real quality shown! With fourteen minutes left, the question was whether the boys could hang on? Oscar Threlkeld had a chance to sew things up but his shot was well held by Carson. Then came a moment to forget for Mellor! A curling ball in from Bates from the right missed the diving header from Pools substitute Rakish Bingham and was about to fall into the path of the onrushing Fenwick. Mellor blatantly tugged him back and referee Salisbury had no choice but to award the penalty. For me the challenge was a clear red card, although fortunately the referee only deemed it to be worthy of a yellow. Fenwick stepped up himself before sending McCormick the wrong way and placed the ball into the bottom left hand corner for the equaliser. 1-1 and had Argyle thrown away a vital three points. Adams then made his second change with Ben Purrington replacing Wylde and it proved to be inspired! With ninety minutes on the clock, some fine link up play between Harvey and Brunt found Purrington on the left. He looked up before playing a beautifully timed and well measured ball to the far post for the onrushing Mellor to smash across Carson and into the bottom corner for the winner! The villain had become the hero in a great football moment! There was still time for Deane Smalley to get on the pitch in place of Brunt for his first action if the season, but shortly after the final whistle was blown and the match was over!
Well what a match that was. A very much each way game with two teams initially lacking confidence. What was great to see, was the renewed emergence of the side once youth players were introduced. Harvey and Purrington combined for the winning goal and both proved credible additions to the first team. For me this was a vital match in terms of where Argyle's season could go. With other results going the Green Army's way, it means that top position is acquired for Christmas and a feel good factor hopefully grows going into the busy festive schedule. I for one know that my Christmas dinner will be ever more the succulent due to Mellor's last minute heroics! I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope to see some of you at Home Park on Boxing Day for the visit of Yeovil Town!
Best Player - Kelvin Mellor
Attendance - 3534 (237 Argyle)
Next Game - 26/12/2015 Yeovil Town (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 which 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 also feature on
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Today's fan is 42 year old Tim Pike from Hertford
How long have you been an Argyle fan for? 'Every childhood holiday was split between one set of grandparents in Wembury, and the other in Mutley Plain. Despite never living in the city, I have had a lifelong affinity with Plymouth and Argyle. Growing up near London meant that I had to spend my formative years on the terraces at Highbury. In more recent times though, I am increasingly appreciating the real passion and relative affordability of attending lower league games with Argyle. I definitely consider them my first team in recent years, and it's always their results I look for first!'
What's your earliest PAFC memory? 'I couldn't tell you the game, and who we were playing, but being about 8 years old huddled on the Devonport from a freezing sea wind!'
Favourite ever Argyle match and why? 'Always the next one! I live in Hertfordshire and I have a young family, therefore time is limited, so I really relish the grounds that I can make it to, and the days out with Argyle. As I type, I'm really looking forward to the next game that I can attend!'
Best all time Argyle player? 'I will always have a fond affection for the players that have spent their careers at both Argyle and Arsenal. Not necessarily the 'best', but Paul Mariner would spring to mind'
Best current Argyle player? 'For all round attitude, professionalism and work rate - Curtis Nelson'
General feeling around Derek Adams' performance so far? 'You can't deny what a great start this is. It will be a telling mark of a manager how he now goes on to deal with the spate of injuries, and the tough winter months. I have faith in the man. He seems to have instilled a real team ethos and belief in the side'
Season Prediction? '
Despite the ever impending threat from Oxford and Portsmouth I’m going to put my neck out and say we will win the league. If you can’t be an optimist in the present position, when can you be?!'
Prediction for our next match at home to Yeovil Town? 'I'm going for a prediction of 2-0 against Yeovil. There's a bit of momentum and confidence heading back into the side!
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