Brief Synopsis!!!

We did what we needed to by the sounds of it. Commiserations to Tranmere and their fans, just seen Shrewsbury fans running unto the pitch to celebrate promotion as Cheltenham are relegated. Football can be cruel, as we know from the last few seasons.

Cheers P&C

Thanks for the synopsis P&C, a good read.
But yeah, commiserations to Tranmere - always a soft spot for them, Cheltenham too.
Bigger soft spot for Hartlepool - how well have they done these last few weeks?

We've only gone and done it!

Barring a footballing miracle in the last game we are now in the play-offs.

It was a nervy battle and credit to Tranmere for having a right go at us, ultimately the search for goals cost them the game at the other end with Argyle punishing them at the back.
All three Argyle goals had a hint of fortune in the lead up to each goal and well done to Reuben for notching 20 goals in consecutive seasons!

It wasn't pretty but we did play well and had to contend with a revitalised Tranmere team who played better than a lot of visitors to Home Park this season, although they did lack a cutting edge up front. Jason Koumas (how old is he now?) ran the show for them and caused us a few problems.

We had the perfect start when Blizzard was brought down in the area after just seven minutes, it didn't look like a penalty to me but we'll take it! Reuben rolled in goal number 20 with ease, sending the keeper the wrong way.

Tranmere wouldn't lay down and only a brilliant block from Hartley followed by McCormick saving the deflection kept Argyle in the lead.

We fell asleep at a short corner routine straight from the Tranmere training ground and Power powered home a shot from the edge of the area.

The Green nerves were settled soon after when Alessandra mis-controlled a clearance, just as the fans started to moan the ball fell kindly to Holmes-Dennis who thumped in a 25-yarder. The play-offs were back on!

We did a professional job at the start of the second half, one thing that this team does well is keep their shape and the players did just that to thwart Tranmere.

Tranmere were now playing with just three defenders and were pushing up a high line. Credit to Sheridan because he realised this and brought on the pacy Ansah who played on the shoulder of the last defender, the winning goal would come from this tactic.

We had a scare when McCormick was beaten but luckily the excellent McHugh was on the goal line to head the ball away.

Tranmere were loading high balls into our penalty area but Nelson, McHugh and Hartley were magnificent, heading away at every opportunity.

Ansah missed a sitter from six yards out after a good cross from Mellor.

With Tranmere now really pushing up (desperate times) one long good ball from Argyle would kill the game and sure enough Ansah beat the offside trap, I thought he was offside, crossed to the unmarked Alessandra who tapped the ball in. 3-1.

Soon after the fourth biggest cheer of the game echoed around Home Park when news filtered through that 10-man Southend had taken the lead against Luton. We were in the play-offs!

But this is Argyle and things are never easy. In the 89th minute Tranmere grabbed a late goal through Odejayi and with five minutes of injury time the nerves were shredded around the stadium.

Usually there is a late scare in injury time, there wasn't in this game and we saw out the win. Play-offs here we come!

It must have been difficult for the players to not only overcome their own nerves but also to face a team who had nothing to lose and were constantly on the attack.
Our defence isn't one of the best in the Football League for no reason and today, despite the two goals conceded, it was the defence and McCormick who saw us over the line.
Mellor was also back to his best.

Well played, well battled!

A shame about Tranmere but relegation is decided over a season and not one game. Their fans and players lost "it" towards the end which is understandable.

McCormick 7, Nelson 8, McHugh 8, Hartley 8, Mellor 7, Holmes-Dennis 7, O'Connor 7, B Reid 6, Blizzard 6, Alessandra 7, R Reid 7, Ansah 7, Harvey ?, Banton ?

Better. Not great, but better. I'll take that.

McCormick - 7
Nelson - 6
McHugh - 8
Hartley - 6
Mellor - 5
Holmes-Dennis - 7
O'Connor - 7
Blizzard - 6
B.Reid - 7
Alessandra - 7
R.Reid - 6

:scarf:

We will have to play a lot better if we're to progress but job done. Again we played far too much of the game without the ball and were 10 yards too deep from minute 46.

No stand out performances but Hartley just about gets MoM from me as we needed his aerial dominance. Concerned about Reid's fitness/ injury and McHugh who again seemed to be struggling at the end.

Luke 7
Nelson 7
McHugh 7
Hartley 8
Mellor 6
Holmes-Dennis 6
AOC 5
Blizzard 7
B.Reid 7
R.Reid 7
Lewi 7

Subs
Ansah 6
Banton 5
Harvey 6

Hard fought win against a team who gave it everything.

Phew!

themightykeithfear":1cjm63wm said:

so are we agreed it looks like bury in the playoffs first game at home on 9 or 10 may? will tickets be ok to get for those coming down for the weekend ?

Click to expand...

Bit premature there.

Morecambe v Southend
Northampton v Wycombe
Tranmere v Bury

Morecambe can be a really awkward fixture - ask Wycombe.

At least, unless we capitulate we should be able to enjoy day out at Shrewsbury.

A decent all round display but we don't make it easy for ourselves.

Great atmosphere inside home park.

Luke McCormick - 8 - A very deserving player of the season.

Kelvin Mellor - 7 - Much better from him, played with confidence.

Curtis Nelson - 8 - Really good performance, solid and measured.

Carl McHugh - 7 - Mostly solid.

Peter Hartley - 5 - A few too many defensive lapses and his distribution also not great. Not exactly 'poor though', average.

Holmes-Dennis - 7 - Like Kelvin, a much better display.

Anthony O'Connor - 7 - A decent display.

Dominic Blizzard - 5 - Worked hard, but on the whole he was average.

Bobby Reid - 7 - Lively and creative.

Reuben Reid - 5 - Simply has to be rested next week, he was dead after 30 mins. A five and not a four due to a very good penalty.

Lewis Alessandra - 9 - Caused them problems all afternoon, lovely finish.

Subs:

Banton - Unfair to give mark as he barely touched the ball.

Ansah - 4 - A good ball for Lewi's goal but otherwise, he just doesn't look that of a good player, far too weak and to me it didn't seem like he was giving it 100%.

Harvey - 6 - Strange substitution but did well during his time on the pitch.

really enjoyable game, lewi mom, thd much better and good team performance overall rating- 8/10. Good crowd but thought there would be more and tranmere fans were a credit to themselves. Bring on anyone for the playoffs (except bury).

What a good feeling this is.

Several beers tonight I think.

Why's it so quiet here tonight? I don't understand, really I don't..... :stir:

Come on you Greens!! :greensmile:

McCormick 8; Mellor 8, Nelson 7, McHugh 8, Hartley 7, Holmes-Dennis 7; B. Reid 7, O'Connor 7, Blizzard 7; Alessandra 8, R. Reid 8.

Argyle crowd loud and very evident some supporters back after a long time as not sure where thy were seated but all most welcome.
Argyle played well against a team fighting for there lives, good game with every player deserving credit , im not going to nit pick as we chased every ball.
Felt for Tranmere but the way our players hugged the opposition at the end restores my faith in football, it could've been us a few seasons ago.
So play offs beckons. ouch

COYG