REPORT | ARGYLE 4 CHELTENHAM TOWN 2
Argyle 4
Scarr 25
Hardie 28
C. Wright 64
Cosgrove 83
Cheltenham Town 2
Ferry 40
May 69
Argyle consolidated their place at the top of Sky Bet League One with a rousing 4-2 victory over a dangerous Cheltenham Town at Home Park.
The Greens were seemingly in cruise mode when Dan Scarr and Ryan Hardie scored two quickfire goals just before the half-hour but Tyler Perry gave the visitors hope at the half-time break.
Callum Wright notched his first in Green, only for Alfie May to once again keep the Robins in a game that was finally settled by a super goal finished off by substitute Sam Cosgrove with seven minutes left on the clock.
Argyle manager Steven Schumacher handed full home debuts to Callum Wright and Jay Matete, while Tyreik Wright made his first start, and Finn Azaz returned to the line-up for the first time in almost three months.
On a beautiful midwinter day, with a sell-out Home Park rocking, the Greens opened with a surge down the left from Tyreik Wright and his low cross just eluded the darting run of Hardie.
Jordan Houghton prompted the next Pilgrim foray, clipping the ball into the left channel for Callum Wright, who bamboozled the retreating Robins with a magical piece of skill before Bali Mumba’s near-post effort was blocked by ‘keeper Luke Southwood. The subsequent corner was nodded over by Macaulay Gillesphey.
Hardie profited from another swift Argyle break, Mumba shifting the ball wide for the striker to hit a deflected shot inches past the post. After the frenetic opening, Cheltenham settled into a calming pattern of midfield sparring.
Argyle changed all that with a sublime opening goal. Tyreik Wright had two crosses from the left cleared by the visitors but when the ball fell to Houghton 35 yards from goal, he curled a sumptuous cross into the path of Scarr’s back-post run and the powerful centre-back superbly controlled his volley into the roof of the net.
The Home Park roof raised another notch within three minutes, Azaz feeding the ball wide to Hardie, who sauntered inside from the right before planting an assured 20-yard finish into the bottom corner with his left foot.
Cheltenham responded by finding a gap in the penalty area for a Will Goodwin shot on the turn, which was glanced wide by the studs of Mike Cooper. The Greens slipped into a spell of lethargy and were punished by a goal from Perry, neatly tucking the ball into the bottom corner after a low cross by Will Ferry.
Argyle’s brief slumber continued at the start of the second period, as the Robins sensed a chance to pounce. Hardie attempted to restore Pilgrim control with a clever jink in the box but he was halted by an untidy challenge from Caleb Taylor.
A fine recovery tackle from Tyreik Wright stopped a surge into the right channel by former Green Ryan Broom. Argyle cleared the corner but Broom was soon on the run again, cutting the ball back for an almighty scramble that thankfully ended in the arms of Cooper.
Moments later, the two-goal cushion was restored. Azaz, making his last contribution before being replaced by Ben Waine, threaded a wonderful pass through the heart of the Cheltenham defence and Callum Wright calmly steered the ball beyond a stranded Southwood.
A see-saw game dipped back towards the visitors with 20 minutes remaining. A looping pass found May running toward the left side of the penalty area and he measured a confident low finish back across Cooper and into the bottom corner.
Back came the Pilgrims, Mumba flashing in a near-post cross for a Waine volley cushioned into the side-netting. Schumacher made two further changes in the aftermath, Joe Edwards and Sam Cosgrove replacing Tyreik Wright and Hardie.
Argyle sealed an enthralling victory with a fantastic goal and massive credit to Matete, who ran the full length of the pitch, holding off numerous Cheltenham challenges, before slipping a pass to Cosgrove, who curled a nonchalant finish into the far corner.
In a game of fine goals, it was arguably the best of the lot, as Schumacher introduced Nigel Lonwijk and Matt Butcher for the final few minutes, with Mumba and Callum Wright given a well-earned rest.
A thoroughly entertaining afternoon in the January sun and, while far from plain sailing, Argyle had rewarded the magnificent Green Army with three more valuable points.
Argyle: 1 Mike Cooper; 3 Macaulay Gillepshey, 4 Jordan Houghton, 5 James Wilson (capt), 6 Dan Scarr, 9 Ryan Hardie (16 Sam Cosgrove 73), 17 Bali Mumba (21 Nigel Lonwijk 87), 18 Finn Azaz (23 Ben Waine 65), 26 Callum Wright (7 Matt Butcher 87), 28 Jay Matete, 29 Tyreik Wright (8 Joe Edwards 73). Substitutes (not used): 25 Callum Burton (gk), 10 Danny Mayor.
Booked:
Cheltenham Town: 1 Luke Southwood; 2 Sean Long (capt), 5 Charlie Raglan, 9 Will Goodwin, 10 Alfie May, 14 Caleb Taylor, 15 Will Ferry (Ben Williams 82), 23 Elliot Bonds (30 Christian Norton 82), 28 Taylor Perry, 32 Ryan Broom, 36 James Olayinka. Substitutes (not used): 20 Shaun MacDonald (gk), 4 Tom Bradbury, 7 Charlie Brown, 19 George Lloyd, 26 Dylan Barkers.
Booked: Bonds 80
Attendance: 16,097 (323 away)
Referee: Stephen Martin