Skelmersdale United 0

Argyle 2
Fallon 18, Paterson 79

Having survived the journey from Hell to get their pre-season tour underway, the Pilgrims safely negotiated their fourth friendly of the week.

Rory Fallon's second goal in four days set the Pilgrims on their way and substitute Jim Paterson's late low drive from 20 yards sealed a win that was slender in its margin of victory, but never as close as the score suggested.

The Greens had something of an excuse for not performing at 100%. They had arrived late in the north west the evening before after a nightmarish and epic motorway trip in conditions more suited to surfing, than driving.

If the weather forecast for Scotland for the next seven days is correct, they had better get used to the wet.

The match saw first pre-season outings at front, middle and back, for newly-signed striker Bradley Wright-Phillips, new dad of twins Karl Duguid, and old faithful goalkeeper Romain Larrieu.

The Pilgrims also showed a number of other notable differences to their matches earlier in the week against Truro City and Torquay United.

For a start, manager Paul Sturrock opted to play one 11, rather than two, and, although he stuck to the diamond formation that had served at Treyew Road and Plainmoor, this time Steve Maclean was at its apex.

A previous occupant of that role, Craig Noone, an alumni of the Skelmersdale and Ormskirk Stadium, was handed the captain's armband on his return to the scene of past glories.

Georgie Donnelly, another ex-Skem man, was unable to play because of a hamstring injury that has ended his pre-season almost before it began, but he did have the honour of performing the pre-match coin-toss.

MacLean's break led to the Pilgrims' goal, his near-post shot forcing a right-wing corner which bobbled all the way to Fallon for an economic finish.

The game was pretty standard pre-season fare, with the Greens still yet to truly find their competitive stride - that will be honed and polished in Scotland.

Unibond Division One Skem were game opposition and came close to embarrassing Argyle early in the second half. The red face, though, belonged to the home forward who managed to hit the crossbar of a totally undefended goal from about ten yards. Ronnie Rosenthal, who used to ply his trade a few miles from Skelmersdale, would have sympathised.

Wright-Phillips, who showed up well, was withdrawn on the hour, complaining of feeling stiff, and Ryan Leonard, the only fully fit right-back in the party, was also given a breather.

It was one of the replacements, Paterson, who ensured that the Greens, who stayed admirably strong until the end, had no problems in remaining undefeated since returning to action last Monday.

Ashley Barnes, too, came into the fray as Luggy exposed more lungs and legs to conditioning that will get far more intense in the week ahead.

To Stirling and beyond...

Rick Cowdery

Argyle (4-4-2): Romain Larrieu; Ryan Leonard (Chris Clark 61); Mathias Kouo-Doumbe, Marcel Seip, Damien McCrory; Craig Noone (capt), Luke Summerfield, Karl Duguid, Steve MacLean; Bradley Wright-Phillips (Jim Paterson 61), Rory Fallon (Ashley Barnes 70).