Second Half goal from Zak Vyner gives Plymouth the points
Town: Craig MacGillivray, Max Lowe, Ben Godfrey (Stefan Payne 67), Mat Sadler, Abu Ogogo, Carlton Morris (Lenell John-Lewis 67), Nathan Thomas, James Bolton, Jon Nolan, Aristote Nsiala, Alex Rodman (Shaun Whalley 67)
Subs: Shaun Rowley, Omar Beckles, Shaun Whalley, Lenell John-Lewis, Bryn Morris, Abo Eisa, Stefan Payne
Subs: Kyle Letheren, Yann Songo’o, Lionel Ainsworth, Simon Church, Mosses Makasi, Joel Grant, Aaron Taylor- Sinclair
Referee: Ben Toner
Assistants: Iain Siddall and Ian Dudley
Fourth Official: Steven Copeland
Attendance: 7036 (995)
The Town were on course to record their fourth consecutive win after going one nil up early in the game from a Carlton Morris goal but a disappointed Shrews side conceded 2 goals giving the visiting Plymouth side all 3 points.
Team news: Paul Hurst makes two changes to the side which beat Bristol Rovers last weeken. Omar Beckles and Shaun Whalley are left out in favour of Max Lowe and Alex Rodman, who was so influential off the bench last weekend.
First-Half:
Their was early concern for Town in the first minute as Abu Ogogo received treatment following on from a challenge, but the Shrews captain got back onto his feet to resume the game.
Town broke the deadlock early on with some sublime passing around the box by Alex Rodman and Max Lowe, Rodman slipped in a pass behind the defensive line and Lowe fired the ball across goal creating a great chance on the edge of the six yard box for Carlton Morris who fired home past Remi Matthews, giving The Shrews the lead in the sixth minute.
Town were nearly in on goal again on the 14th minute after some impressive play in the midfield by goal scorer Morris, he slipped the ball through to captain Ogogo but the captain couldn’t find a through ball past the Plymouth defence.
Plymouth Argyle had their first chance of the game in the 16th minute, A free kick 25 yards out struck by Plymouth number 10 Graham Carey didn’t beat the wall and the following corner didn’t produce a goal.
Plymouth were awarded a penalty by referee Ben Toner in the 19th minute as Mat Sadler was deemed to have fouled Antoni Sarcevic. Craig MacGilivray stepped up and made a superb save from Graham Carey to keep Town in the lead.
Town nearly doubled their lead in the 23rd minute, a fine save at the near post by Remi Matthews denied the Shrews a two goal cushion and Alex Rodman a goal, after some neat play between Max Lowe and Rodman on the left..
The lead wasn’t to last as Plymouth managed to capitalise on a defensive mistake and level the score line in the 27th minute, a slip from Mat Sadler gave Plymouth number six Jamie Ness a clear shot on goal. Ness fired the ball hard and low into the right hand corner giving the keeper no chance.
Town nearly restored the lead in the 39th minute. James Bolton went on an impressive run but couldn’t beat the Plymouth keeper with a shot from outside the box.
After open, end-to-end first half both teams went into the half time break with the score line remaining level.
Half-Time: 1-1
Second-Half:
The first half got underway and both teams struggled to keep possession of the ball. The first real chance for either team came for Plymouth in the 55th minute as a cross was fired into the box but Sonny Bradley couldn’t keep the ball down and struck the ball over the bar.
A 62nd minute corner for Plymouth proved too much to handle for the Town defence, a goal mouth scramble for the ball was eventually prodded home into the bottom right hand corner by Zak Vyner, giving Plymouth the lead.
Town almost replied minutes later after a superb cross into the box, Nathan Thomas headed the ball towards goal from seven yards out but the keeper remained strong and parried the ball away from goal.
The second half was lacking any real goalmouth action, in the 75th minute Jon Nolan had a chance to put the ball into a packed box but he couldn’t beat the advancing defender.
In the 82nd minute, Town’s frustrations were starting to grow as Stefan Payne received a yellow card for a late challenge on Oscar Threlkeld.
A late chance fell for Lenell John-Lewis in the 89th minute to make the scores level, Some nice passing around the box found the ball fall to Lewis, but the substitute couldn’t find the back of the net and struck the ball straight at the keeper.
Town continued to pump balls forwards but the inform Plymouth side held out to take all 3 points.
Full-Time: 1-2