Bristol Rovers 1 Argyle 4
ALEX Fletcher scored twice and there were further goals from Oscar Threlkeld and Luke Jephcott, as Argyle extended their unbeaten status in the Central League with a powerful performance at Bristol Rovers.
The Pilgrims now have five victories and a draw from Central League fixtures this season and a competition that has proven very useful in providing game-time to young professionals, and those looking to break into the first XI at Home Park.
Lloyd Jones made his first outing in the famous green shirt since re-joining the club in a loan deal from Luton Town and got 90 welcome minutes under his belt ahead of the weekend visit of Portsmouth in Sky Bet League One.
Argyle were in the ascendancy after just 11 minutes at the Rovers’ training ground, when Fletcher found space in the home box to calmly convert the opening goal following a neat cross from Jephcott.
Rovers battled back into the game and drew level via a sweet finish from Deon Moore, firing into the roof of the net to give Argyle custodian Michael Cooper no chance. Parity, however, lasted just two minutes, as Threlkeld restored the Argyle advantage.
There was an element of luck to the goal, as the shot took a wicked deflection on its way past goalkeeper Sam Slocombe, but the decisive third from the Pilgrims was full of incisive quality.
Lionel Ainsworth was the instigator, surging down the flank before floating over a delightful cross for Fletcher to meet with a thumping header on the stroke of half-time.
Jephcott hit the woodwork for Argyle in a dominant spell but Rovers did come back with a couple of squandered chances at the other end. Ainsworth forced Slocombe into a decent block with a crisp drive from the edge of the box and the game was over from Argyle’s next attack.
Jephcott was the man to take his chance, steering home a super finish from 20 yards. The Pilgrims comfortably navigated the final 15 minutes to record another impressive three points in their Central League success story.
Argyle: Michael Cooper; Joe Riley, Tafari Moore, Adam Randall (Michael Peck 83), Scott Wootton, Lloyd Jones, Lionel Ainsworth, Oscar Threlkeld, Alex Fletcher, Tom Purrington, Luke Jephcott. Substitutes (not used): Rio Garside, Aaron Goulty, Harry Townsend (GK).