Having been lucky to take all three points on Tuesday night, Argyle put in a performance that should have made the victory far easier than it eventually turned out be be.
For the second match in a row Argyle played the 'wrong' way in the first half i.e. towards the Devonport end and it seemed to work; lots of free flowing passing football and numerous half chances that we failed to convert. Crawley offered little in response other to fall over at the slightest touch and hoodwink the ref into awarding free kicks and giving out yellow cards. Just as the crowd were getting restless and looking forward to half time, Reid was put through and coolly slotted past the keeper to give the greens a deserved lead. Personally I thought he looked offside and by the Crawley reaction so did they, but fortunately the flag stayed down. The start of the second half was more of the same and Argyle set up camp in the Crawley half and won a succession of corners -surely it would only be a matter of time before we scored again. However we started to slow things down, sit back and 'manage' the one nil lead. Inevitably Crawley came back into it and got a equalizer following a disputed free kick. Luke saved well but the ball rebounded off the bar and he had no chance with the follow up effort. Looked like Argyle's chance to end the day top of the league had gone, but in the 89th min Boateng popped up to sidefoot into the net after their keeper failed to hold a Carey freekick. 2-1 and richly deserved, could easily have been 4 or 5.
Reid was bizarrely given the sponsors motm- he was better today but other than the goal didn't do a huge amount other than miss a couple of other really good opportunities. Boateng was my MOTM again but everyone played well.
The ref somehow managed to book 6 players including Sawyer and Mchugh which I think means they have a one match ban under the totting up process (5 yellows before Nov) I presume they can serve this in the paint Pot match v exeter on Tuesday.
All in all an excellent day in glorious Devon sunshine 'we are top of the league...'.
For the second match in a row Argyle played the 'wrong' way in the first half i.e. towards the Devonport end and it seemed to work; lots of free flowing passing football and numerous half chances that we failed to convert. Crawley offered little in response other to fall over at the slightest touch and hoodwink the ref into awarding free kicks and giving out yellow cards. Just as the crowd were getting restless and looking forward to half time, Reid was put through and coolly slotted past the keeper to give the greens a deserved lead. Personally I thought he looked offside and by the Crawley reaction so did they, but fortunately the flag stayed down. The start of the second half was more of the same and Argyle set up camp in the Crawley half and won a succession of corners -surely it would only be a matter of time before we scored again. However we started to slow things down, sit back and 'manage' the one nil lead. Inevitably Crawley came back into it and got a equalizer following a disputed free kick. Luke saved well but the ball rebounded off the bar and he had no chance with the follow up effort. Looked like Argyle's chance to end the day top of the league had gone, but in the 89th min Boateng popped up to sidefoot into the net after their keeper failed to hold a Carey freekick. 2-1 and richly deserved, could easily have been 4 or 5.
Reid was bizarrely given the sponsors motm- he was better today but other than the goal didn't do a huge amount other than miss a couple of other really good opportunities. Boateng was my MOTM again but everyone played well.
The ref somehow managed to book 6 players including Sawyer and Mchugh which I think means they have a one match ban under the totting up process (5 yellows before Nov) I presume they can serve this in the paint Pot match v exeter on Tuesday.
All in all an excellent day in glorious Devon sunshine 'we are top of the league...'.