Argyle 3 Bristol Rovers 0

A STRONG Argyle side comfortably swept aside Bristol Rovers on Tuesday afternoon at Home Park in their second Central League game of the campaign.

However, a convincing 3-0 win was marred by injuries to youngsters Harry Hodges and Cameron Sangster 

Winger Gregg Wylde opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark after Ryan Law’s pass across the face was put on a plate for the Scottish winger.

Ten minutes after the interval, Argyle doubled their advantage when Alex Fletcher met a great corner-kick delivery from Conor Grant.

Wylde then grabbed his second of the afternoon shortly afterwards, beating his man for pace and coolly slotting home to add gloss to the score-line.

With the boys coasting, it allowed first-team coach Kevin Nancekevil to make a flurry of substitutions: first-teamers Antoni Sarcevic, Jamie Ness and Niall Canavan had much needed minutes in the tank after their respective injuries. Sangster, Mike Peck and Dan Rooney also came on.

Goalkeeper Michael Cooper was virtually a spectator until the closing stages after being called into action twice in quick succession to keep his clean sheet.

Nance was pleased with the performance but understandably saddened by the injuries.

“That was the downside to the afternoon,” he said. “They both had to come off, so we will wait to see what the medical department say.

“Sangster’s looked bad – hopefully it’s not but until the physios get back to us and let us know where we are with it, that’s it.”

In terms of the display, he could have no complaints with his players in a game they controlled from first to last whistle; and was especially pleased to see a quartet of players – Niall Canavan, Conor Grant, Jamie Ness and Antoni Sarcevic – exit the treatment room and enter the field of play.

He said: “It is the second game back, so it all adds to their sharpness and match-fitness. We were delighted with their work-rate and application.

“I’m really pleased. We dominated the first half from start to finish; the application and attitude of the boys was first class. We scored three good goals and kept a clean sheet, so it was a really positive afternoon.”

Argyle (4-4-3): Michael Cooper; Harry Hodges (Alex Battle), Niall Canavan (Mike Peck), Jordan Bentley, Ryan Law; Conor Grant, Jamie Ness (Cameron Sangster), Antoni Sarcevic (Dan Rooney); Alex Fletcher, Calum Dyson, Gregg Wylde.  Substitute (not used): Harry Townsend (gk).