REPORT | MORECAMBE 1 ARGYLE 3
Morecambe 1
Weir 3
Argyle 3
Mayor 63
Waine 87
Matete 90
Two substitutes, introduced before the hour at a sunny Morecambe, arguably scored two of the most important goals in Argyle’s thrilling league campaign.
The Greens trailed for 60 minutes, after Jensen Weir had struck early for the hosts, but Danny Mayor changed the momentum with a fantastic leveller for the Pilgrims and then Ben Waine, who had come on at the same time, grabbed a dramatic winner three minutes from time.
Just to add some extra gloss after a tough week, two more substitutes combined for an exquisite third, Callum Wright threading a delightful pass into space for Jay Matete to slam home in stoppage time.
A massive three points for Argyle, ensuring Easter Sunday would be enjoyed at the top of the division.
Argyle manager Steven Schumacher made five changes from the Wembley defeat to Bolton, with Tyreik Wright, Sam Cosgrove, Mickel Miller, Matt Butcher and Brendan Galloway replacing Mayor, Bali Mumba, Matete, Callum Wright and Macaulay Gillesphey.
Morecambe, under the stewardship of former Pilgrim boss Derek Adams, started the day four points from safety and the hosts survived an early scare, Miller floating a deep cross toward Joe Edwards, who was just thwarted by goalkeeper Connor Ripley palming the ball clear.
The corner was met by James Wilson, superbly saved by Ripley, and ten seconds later the ball was in the Argyle net. Morecambe broke with impressive speed and Weir had a clear run on goal, slotting a neat finish beyond Burton and in off the far post.
It was a horrible start in the Easter sunshine for Argyle and the Shrimps were understandably buoyed by the goal, creating another opening for Weir, who thankfully shot high and wide on this occasion.
Gradually, the Greens regrouped with a spell of prolonged possession and Cosgrove had a shot charged down after the ball squirmed loose from a corner. The problem for Argyle was the belief Morecambe had taken from the goal and the home side were doing a fine job of disrupting any consistent rhythm in the Pilgrim play.
Argyle were able to throw plenty of crosses into the Morecambe box, with Tyreik Wright’s set-piece delivery particularly useful. While the hosts repelled the aerial bombardment, they were increasingly camped in their own box as the first half drew to a close.
One cross from Miller picked out Edwards for a header deflected narrowly wide before Dan Scarr had to clear from almost under his bar after a sublime touch and cross by the lively Dan Crowley. The interval arrived with a 22-yard drive from Wilson skidding a fraction wide.
Edwards fizzed a low strike into the arms of Ripley two minutes after the restart before smart play on the left from Miller led to a cutback that was stabbed goalwards by a sliding Ryan Hardie but then hacked clear.
Miller had a 20-yard shot blocked by the hosts but Morecambe recovered to conjure room for Cole Stockton to test the handling of Burton with a low drive from a similar position. Argyle turned to Mayor and Waine for some fresh impetus, replacing Butcher and Cosgrove.
It proved to be an inspired decision, as Mayor delivered the moment of magic Argyle needed to ignite their afternoon, dancing inside from the left and curling a beautiful finish into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area.
Ripley rescued his team from conceding a second moments later, expertly tipping over a glancing near-post header from Hardie, as Argyle cranked up the pressure on their hosts.
Callum Wright and Mumba were introduced for Edwards and Miller, with the Greens desperately seeking a winner to maintain their small cushion in the Sky Bet League One automatic promotion places.
The Shrimps, however, were equally desperate in their fight for survival, testing the Pilgrim defence with successive corners. Argyle answered the question and also escaped a searing drive from Donald Love past the top corner, as Matete replaced Jordan Houghton.
In a frantic finale, Matete immediately got involved by pinching the ball on the left and weighted a perfect pass for Waine to steer a composed finish beyond Ripley, sending the wonderful Green Army into joyous delirium.
Matete then fired a tremendous low finish past Ripley to seal the win and Argyle can now look forward to another crucial game, with Lincoln City the visitors on Easter Monday.
Morecambe: 1 Connor Ripley; 2 Donald Love, 4 Liam Gibson, 5 Farrend Rawson, 6 Ryan Delaney, 8 Dan Crowley (17 Caleb Watts 70), 9 Cole Stockton, 15 Jensen Weir, 22 Josh Austerfield, 23 Pape Souare (25 Adam Mayor 90), 29 Dynel Simeu (18 Oumar Niasse 90). Substitutes (not used): 12 Adam Smith (gk), 7 Jake Taylor, 14 Arthur Gnahoua,, 21 Ryan Cooney.
Booked: Rawson 30, Delaney 74
Argyle: 25 Callum Burton; 4 Jordan Houghton (28 Jay Matete 83), 5 James Wilson, 6 Dan Scarr, 7 Matt Butcher (10 Danny Mayor 57), 8 Joe Edwards (capt) (17 Bali Mumba 76), 9 Ryan Hardie, 14 Mickel Miller (26 Callum Wright 76), 16 Sam Cosgrove (23 Ben Waine 57), 22 Brendan Galloway, 29 Tyreik Wright. Substitutes (not used): 32 Adam Parkes (gk), 21 Nigel Lonwijk.
Booked: Edwards 59, Matete 90
Attendance: 4,904 (est. 1,050 away).
Referee: Marc Edwards