It was bright but very cold at the Abbey Stadium as the men in amber prepared to take on league leaders Plymouth Argyle. Great credit must go to groundsman Ian Darler and his team for working on the pitch during the week and ensuring the playing surface was as good as ever.
Before events today it was very frustrating to hear from the EFL that the penalty given to FGR last week against us in injury time should not have been awarded. It would be too easy to reverse the result to 1-1 and hand us a point, such is life. For the U’s, Rossi, Lankaster and Smith returned to the starting level against a talented Plymouth side. With such cold conditions and live World Cup football on TV, todays crowd was 5546 which included around 1230 from the West Country, a healthy attendance.
The U’s won the toss and elected to attack the NRE in the first half. Almost from the off, Harvey Knibbs raced down the right wing before being cut down by Butcher. Butcher received an early yellow card. Moments later Knibbs cracked a free kick from 25 yards pushed to safety by visiting keeper Cooper. Harrison Dunk then had a shot saved as the U’s began brightly. Randell had an effort blocked for the visitors shortly after. James Brophy then shot wide after being fed by skipper Paul Digby. Miller of Plymouth was then shown a yellow card for a foul on Williams.
Sam Smith then had a shot blocked as the U’s belied the two different league positions. Plymouth gradually came back into the game displaying some fine passing skills. Following some pressure from the visitors they won a couple of corners with firstly a shot deflected wide then moments later Cosgrove looped a header onto the post before the ball was cleared. Moments later Cosgrove himself received a yellow for a foul on smith. Following more corners from the visitors,Randall had another effort blocked. Play was rather end to end and our highly placed visitors were in the game more. Gillespie’s shot narrowly wide following a cross from a Whittaker free kick. Half Time came at 0-0 with the game now fairly even.
Before the second half started Mayor replaced Miller for Argyle. Then barely a couple of minutes later Harvey Knibbs intercepted a back pass but with the goal at his mercy he fired wide of keeper Cooper and the post, it was a golden opportunity. Whittaker was booked for a lunge at the advancing Brophy being the fourth visitor to be cautioned by referee Sunny Gill. Hardie had an effort blocked before Ben Worman for the U’s also had an effort cleared. Sam Smith was getting caught offside by Plymouth’s well organised defence. Smith then had another effort blocked before Cosgrove shot wide from the edge of the box for Argyle.
Houghton became the fifth Plymouth player booked following a poor challenge on Jack Lankaster. The lively Smith headed a Brophy cross wide before George Williams shot straight at Cooper. Mayor shot wide for Argyle before Whittaker had an effort blocked, the visitors again coming back into the game. Mayor shot wide again before Ennis replaced Cosgrove for the visitors. Sam Smith had another great chance following silky work from Lankaster however his effort brought out a great save from Cooper. Smith had another effort blocked before Hardie had a header saved by Mannion who had a fairly quiet afternoon in the United goal.
Following shouts from the NRE Saikou Janneh and Shilow Tracey replaced Lankaster and Brophy for the home team. Plymouth then replaced Randell and Butcher with Mumba and Scarr. Lloyd Jones fired in an effort following a corner but his effort was blocked. Moments later the game finished at 0-0 and the U’s had shown up really well against such a good side. It had been a fine effort from the home team still missing key players through injury. It’s off to Fleetwood next week before Shrewsbury at home on Boxing Day. The men in amber need to keep this effort up and of course take their chances. This was so much better today.
Richard Stephen