Brief Synopsis

Phew, what a game.

From looking a class team at 3-0 we conceded two soft goals to end up hanging on for the deserved win with 10 men.

Hartley gave us the perfect start with a great header from a corner, Northampton were restricted to long range efforts before Kellett
scored what will probably be goal of the season.
He dribbled past one defender, then another, please shoot, another defender beaten before he reached the six yard box and then he finally shot and the ball rifled into the net with what looked like the aid of a block from a defender. What a goal.

We were in total control for much of the second half and added another goal. A long kick from McCormick found Reid who passed to Alessandra to finish another great goal.

We now looked confident and classy, passing the ball around with chants of "ole" from the Argyle fans.

Northampton scored what looked like a consolation goal after Nelson hesitated in the penalty area, it was a soft goal to concede.

Banton messed up a great chance to make it 4-1, he hesitated instead of shooting.

Soon after a 25 yard shot surprisingly went over McCormick and we were left hanging on with Northampton now pushing forward.
Nelson was injured in a dramatic goal mouth scramble and after a long delay courtesy of the medic team slowly ambling onto the pitch, we held on for the win with 10 men.

It's hard to single out any player after a complete team performance like this but Kellett and O'Connor were immense and our other
loan signing Bobby Reid wasn't far behind them.

A definite gameplan was balls into the channels for Reid and Alessandra to run onto.

Nelson did eventually walk off the pitch rather than stretchered off so his arm injury might be ok.

Every player except Banton came to celebrate the win with the fans after the game.

Well played!

A few other points of interest.

Norburn slotted in well for the injured Blizzard, it did mean Bobby Reid moving slightly to the left but it didn't affect the team. Norburn made a great tackle at the expense of a corner and injured himself but didn't stay down and limped into the area to defend the corner. That's the commitment we need.

The injury to Nelson bizarrely may have helped us get the win. Apart from his part in stopping a goal in the goal mouth scramble the delay for Nelson's injury stopped Northampton's attacking momentum.
During that delay McCormick took responsibility and went to every player to remind them to concentrate.

At the final Reuben ran from the dugout to celebrate with McCormick, Hartley and the fans. It was disappointing to see Banton run straight off the pitch leaving the team and even the non playing subs behind on the pitch.
At times we looked a very confident team.

McCormick 7, Nelson 7, Hartley 8, O'Connor 9, Mellor 7, Cox 7, Blizzard 6, B Reid 8, Kellet 8, Alessandra 7, R Reid 7, Norburn 7, Banton 4, Harvey 5.