2014-15 in Review - Top Five Goals

It seems a shame for Olly Lee, who so often in his 15-game loan spell looked a prominent goal threat, that his two goals for the club were in vain. 

The first, at Hartlepool, was a late goal to reduce a 3-1 deficit to 3-2, and the second, a pearler scored in front of the Green Army at Fratton Park, was Argyle’s only strike in a 2-1 defeat to Pompey. 

What a goal it was, though. Just a minute after Portsmouth had gone 2-0 up, a left-wing cross was headed out by a Pompey defender straight to Olly, stood on the edge of the D. He met it, first-time, on the volley, and whistled it past Paul Jones. Despite a late flurry, Argyle could not draw level, and thus Olly’s goal was slightly lost in the disappointment of losing the game. A cleaner strike, though, you could not swish to see. 

For a young lad born in Plymouth, raised by Argyle, to get the first goal of a season for his hometown club is a special occurrence. For it to be against rivals Exeter City is a dream come true. 

It happened for Tyler Harvey; not only that, it happened 14 minutes into the game from a gorgeous direct free-kick. A foul was awarded after Jason Banton had been felled on the left side, just outside the area.  Harvey stepped up –a lone and with no decoy – before placing the ball past Christy Pym. There was very little run-up or fancy business; just a true strike off of a single step. 

Argyle would go on to win by three goals to nil, with goals from Reuben Reid and Curtis Nelson, but Tyler’s was the pick of the bunch – and one of the finest of the season. 

If you are going to score a rare goal, then making it a winner, in front of the Sky Sports cameras, in front of your own fans, is a decent way to do it. 

The fact that the goal was a blinder, too, doesn’t hurt. 

Alex Bray’s Argyle career only lasted about 12 minutes, as the on-loan Swansea winger’s substitute appearance was cut short because of a serious knee injury, but in the time he was on the field he played his part in Argyle’s victory. 

Bray’s advancement down the right flank set the stage for Reuben Reid to pull to Lee Cox, who in turn played the ball to Blizzard standing on the edge of the penalty area. There was still plenty for the midfielder to do, but combining speed of thought with fleetness of foot, Dom evaded a frenzy of flailing legs to wriggle free, and at the only possible time, flick goalwards with his right foot. 

The goal was the only one on that sunny day in Bedfordshire, and the only one of Dom’s season. But what a beauty – and what a result. 

It is one thing to score the only goal of your season in such style on TV...but how about scoring the first - and so far only - goal of your career in a huge game, with a big crowd, with a truly stunning strike. 

Argyle had just conceded an equalising goal to Tranmere Rovers at Home Park in the penultimate fixture of the season – a game the Pilgrims really needed to win. Step forward Tareiq – literally. 

A misplaced pass by Lewis Alessandra looked to have ended a promising looking move, but Holmes-Dennis won the ball back, took a step forward, and rifled home from 25 yards. Not only a super strike, but a crucial goal that got Argyle rolling in a game they would go on to win. 

It is just so hard to imagine a left wing-back wearing the number 13 shirt to score such an amazing goal, isn’t it?

When Andy Kellett opted to sign for Manchester United rather than Argyle (selfish fool) there were plenty of United fans keen to get a look at the young Bolton lad they had just signed up, to get a flavour of what he was about. 

When asked, we were happy to point people towards  clips of Andy’s incredible goal at Northampton in December – a goal that has now been watched by 325,000 people on YouTube, and counting. 

With good cause, too. Left wing-back Kellett received the ball, wide on his flank, and took flight. Quickly accelerating, he carved through the Cobblers backline. As he entered the area and looked to shoot, the subtlest of feints took him past a final defender, before he flicked the ball nonchalantly with the outside of his left boot, past the goalkeeper. 

It was so good that Northampton fans around the ground applauded, and that is saying something considering it made them go 2-0 down. 

It has been a big season in many ways for Andy, and his time in green and white (and yellow) may not be his most significant stretch, but there cannot have been a better 10 seconds than that which saw pick up the ball on the flank to the time the net was bulging at Sixfields.