Truro City 0 Argyle 2 - Report

Spencer 69, Ajaha 73

by Haden Tye

ARGYLE took another step towards the beginning of the season with a hard-fought 2-0 win against Truro City, who made sure that the Pilgrims were made to sweat for their victory. 

After a goalless, but not soulless, first half, Argyle took the game by the scruff of the neck in five crucial second half minutes. Half-time substitutes Jimmy Spencer and David Ajaha scored eye-catching goals in quick succession to earn a two-goal lead that was never relinquished. 

Derek Adams changed his formation from the 3-4-1-2 that he had played three days earlier, when the Pilgrims had drawn 1-1 with Torquay. The Pilgrims switched to a more attacking 4-3-3, in which Argyle ended the game at Plainmoor. Derek opted for a front three of Louis Rooney, David Goodwillie and Jake Jervis, who captained the Pilgrims.

A humid summer evening made for a fiercely challenging contest between a resolute Truro side, featuring many players that had been at Argyle at some point in their career and the Pilgrims, who play Tuesday and Wednesday in a bid to get in shape for the season. 

Jervis went close for Argyle after just 15 minutes, with the only real goalscoring opportunity of the half, but his effort trickled just wide after a save from the legs of Tom McHale in the Truro net. Another well worked move from the Pilgrims on the stroke of half-time resulted in an effort for Argyle's trialist, who slashed over the bar from just outside the box. 

Argyle made several substitutions at half-time, but the second-half continued in similar style to the first. Whilst the Pilgrims had several blocked shots in Truro's penalty area, Niall Thompson came closest for Truro with a shot that was blocked by Ben Purrington in Argyle's six-yard box. 

An Argyle counter attack saw Jimmy Spencer split the Truro defence with a pass to Jervis, who curled towards the bottom right corner only for McHale to make a good diving save. Moments later, though, Argyle's pressure was rewarded. Gary Miller whipped a ball over the top of the Truro defence that Spencer watched onto his right boot and volleyed across his body into the bottom left hand corner of the goal away from the clutches of McHale.

Argyle's class began to show. Graham Carey controlled on the centre spot and searched for Spencer behind the Truro defence. The Argyle number nine could not hold it, but the loose ball was seized upon by David Ijaha, who beat his man and found Jervis to his right. The Argyle captain for the night whipped in a return ball that Ijaha met with his head and found the top left of the Truro net for Argyle's second.

Truro almost replied with around ten minutes to play, as Rory Fallon connected to a cross from a free-kick with a right footed volley, but it was hit straight at Vincent Dorel in the Argyle goal. The Pilgrims held on for the victory rather convincingly as their fitness eventually ensured their superiority. 

It was a difficult evening for Argyle at times, but their expertise ensured that Derek's men deservedly surpassed another checkpoint on the gaffer's meticulous pre-season plan. 

Argyle (4-3-3); 21 Vincent Dorel; 18 Oscar Threlkeld (2 Gary Miller 45), 5 Nauris Bulvitis (4 Yann Songo'o half-time), 15 Sonny Bradley (17 Jordan Bentley half-time), 16 Ben Purrington; 6 Connor Smith (22 David Ijaha half-time) 19 Trialist A (3 Gary Sawyer 78), 11 Ryan Donaldson; 20 Louis Rooney (10 Graham Carey 62) , 14 Jake Jervis (capt), 7 David Goodwillie (9 Jimmy Spencer half-time). Substitutes (not used): 23 Luke McCormick.

Truro City (4-4-2): 1 Tom McHale (13 Jordan Kelly 84); 2 Shane White, 6 Arran Pugh (capt), 5 Aaron Bentley, 3 Jamie Richards; 11 Cody Cooke, 8 River Allen (15 Fletcher Williams 72), 4 Ben Adelsbury, 7 Ryan Brett (16 Charlie Hardcastle 79); 10 Rory Fallon (18 Connor Rush 84), 9 Niall Thompson (14 Les Afful 69). Substitutes (not used): 12 Ollie Knowles, 17 Hadyn Greening.