Argyle 0
Swansea 1
Dobbie pen 70
ARGYLE slipped to a 1-0 defeat in the Combination clash with Swansea after Stephen Dobbie converted a late penalty for the visitors.
Both sides had chances to score throughout an interesting encounter in difficult conditions but Dobbie was the only one to break the resistance of two in-form goalkeepers.
Réda Johnson made his first Argyle appearance since limping off in September's Coca-Cola Championship defeat to West Bromwich Albion.
The returning Johnson was joined in defence by first-year professionals Ryan Leonard and Ryan Brett, and Hungarian Krisztián Timár, with Welshman Kyle Letheren between the sticks in a side that featured nine professionals.
Chris Clark, Jim Paterson, highly-rated second year apprentice Sean Kinsella and Craig Noone lined-up in the middle, supplying Liam Head and George Donnelly in attack.
Noone was the first to take prominence in attack, drifting inside full-back Albert Serran and curling an ambitious right-footer beyond the top corner.
The next foray was a move made in Skelmersdale that could have been designed on the sands of the Copacabana. Noone dazzled Serran into a blur and swung over a beautiful cross for another former Skemmer, Donnelly, whose downward header was turned wide by Swansea 'keeper William Lumley.
Noone's subsequent corner found the head of Johnson, who should have done better from an unmarked position at the far post.
Swansea responded with a surge forward of their own and Letheren needed quick feet to close down the angles on former Liverpool forward Besian Idrizaj. Letheren was again on the mark minutes later to turn away a long-range free-kick from Dobbie.
On the half-hour mark, Letheren again denied Dobbie after Swansea pounced on a Timár slip to breach the Argyle backline. Leonard then prevented a goal-bound effort with a fine challenge on the edge of the penalty area. It was the final act of a first 45 minutes somewhat hindered by the blustery conditions at Home Park.
Donnelly ignored the wind in the opening moments of the second period to exchange passes with Kinsella and fire an instant shot on the run that Lumley diverted wide with his outstretched left hand.
Idrizaj went straight up the other end and escaped the attentions of Brett before stinging the hands of Letheren with a powerful near-post drive. Seconds later Letheren again came out on top of his personal duel with Idrizaj with a solid low save to his right.
The Greens then had a wonderful chance to open the scoring after a quick throw by Letheren released Paterson, who instantly found Donnelly galloping down the right, but, after bearing down on goal with admirable pace, the Scouse striker dragged his shot wide.
Head Coach Paul Mariner soon made a couple of significant changes, withdrawing Noone and Johnson for apprentices Jake Baker and Jordan Trott, presumably with thoughts of the weekend trip to Leicester City on his mind.
Brett switched to centre-back and promptly came within an inch of scoring one of the best goals you could ever wish to see. He was easily 35-yards from goal and, lacking in options, when the youngster pinged an incredible drive that cannoned back off the crossbar.
Unfortunately, Brett revelled in his moment for too long and gifted Swansea a glorious chance after Letheren had saved well from Idrizaj. The ball bounced off Brett's shins and into the path of Adam Orme, who, amazingly, steered his shot over from 10-yards with Letheren on the floor and the goal gaping.
Argyle then conceded a painfully poor penalty. Timár reacted far too slowly to an innocuous ball over the top and Chad Bond squeezed himself in between Leonard and Letheren, who both sent the winger tumbling for an obvious spot-kick. Dobbie stepped up to crash an unstoppable penalty beyond Letheren.
The chance to equalise fell to Kinsella on 85 minutes who steered his volley wide from close-range after being expertly supplied by fine wing-play from Baker. It was a miss Argyle would regret, as the Swans held on for victory.
Argyle (4-4-2): 23 Kyle Letheren; 2 Ryan Leonard, 5 Krisztián Timár, 6 Réda Johnson (15 Jordan Trott 64), 3 Ryan Brett; 7 Chris Clark, 4 Jim Paterson, 8 Sean Kinsella, 11 Craig Noone (14 Jake Baker 54); 9 Liam Head (16 Matt Rickard 78), 10 George Donnelly. Substitutes (not used): 13 Ben Gerring, 21 Ollie Chenoweth (gk).
Swansea City (4-4-2): 1 William Lumley; 2 Albert Serran, 5 Radanfah Abu Bakr, 6 Matthew Collins, 3 Marcos Painter; 7 Adam Orme (12 Dainel Sheeham 76), 4 Matthew Dempsey, 8 Stephen Dobbie, 11 Chad Bond, 9 Besian Idrizaj, 10 Steve Berry (15 Scott Evans 22). Substitutes (not used): 14 Daniel Alfei, 16 Lee Lucas, 17 Anthony Finselbach.
Booked: Serran 62, Lumley 87
Referee: Richard Martin (Somerset)
