Duty Calls

CURTIS Nelson answered the call of duty to keep Argyle two points clear at the top of Sky Bet League 2 with his first goal of the season.

The Pilgrims’ skipper was asked by manager Derek Adams to start chipping in with some goals before coming up with a late equaliser in Argyle’s 1-1 home draw against a robust Leyton Orient on Tuesday night.

The Pilgrims had trailed for most of the game to Jay Simpson’s fourth-minute strike, after which the Londoners thwarted Argyle’s best attempts to level. 

“It was a good point in the end,” said Curtis. “Obviously, they came down here with a game-plan. It was very obvious that, from the beginning, they set out to waste a bit of time and play the ugly game. It was very frustrating. They did it quite well. 

“It was more frustrating because we were 1-0 down and trying to get that goal. Had it been the other way round, I’m pretty sure we would have done something similar.”

The Pilgrims persistence paid dividends ten minutes from time, when Nelse turned in a loose ball after his centre-back partner Luke Croll had a shot saved by O’s goalkeeper Alex Cisak.

“I was following [the ball] in, really,” he said. “I have seen the goalkeeper coming across and thought ‘I can’t turn out and go away so I’ll have a shot’, and it went underneath [Cisak] and went in. It doesn’t matter how they go in, it went in.”

Argyle’s own-loan Cornish goalkeeper Christian Walton had helped keep Argyle within sight of their visitors, making several good saves. Walton, who has returned to Home Park from Brighton, is the third goalkeeper used by the Pilgrims this season after regular custodian Luke McCormick injured his groin.

Curtis said: “It’s weird, having had Luke there for the last how many games last season and this season; Bitts [James Bittner] came in against York and did a great job for us; and now Christian’s in there. It’s part of football – you have got to adjust with whoever you’re playing with.

“I knew him from when he was here before, and a lot of the young lads do, so he’s fitted straight in. He’s been really good in the changing-room with us and, even on the pitch, he’s easy to talk to.”