Argyle 0 Newport 0: Match report

EDGY Argyle edged a little nearer the points total that manager John Sheridan believes will see them extend their season beyond May 2 with a second goal-less draw from their last three matches.

On an afternoon when none of the Pilgrims’ rivals for a final Sky Bet League 2 place between positions 3-9 – Newport included – made any significant headway, it was perhaps a case of no harm done, but no real ground gained.

The Argyle manager had plenty of excuses, if he had needed them, to make changes to the Pilgrims’ starting line-up following the previous Tuesday’s disappointing 2-0 defeat at lowly Dagenham & Redbridge.

However, he decided to remain true to the 11 that had begun at the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Stadium (and thank goodness that is the last time this season I will have to type that), which meant a second-time-around home ‘debut’ for midfielder Olly Lee in the wake of Drew Talbot’s sudden departure at the beginning of the week.

Alternatively, Newport made two changes to the side which had knocked back their – and Argyle’s – fading play-off rivals Luton 1-0 at Rodney Parade four days earlier: in came Mark Byrne and Miles Storey, in place of the benched Shaun Jeffers and Kevin Feely.

After seeing off three early Newport corners, the Green Machine slipped into gear and some neat passing moves created a flurry of promising half-chances. Thereafter, though, it spluttered somewhat and the game settled down to an anxious, and occasionally feisty, midfield thrust and parry.

Lee Minshull, the Exiles’ number eight whose physique would easily qualify for his club’s nation’s national sport at the same number, was at the centre of a couple of coming-togethers, firstly with Peter Hartley and then with Curtis Nelson, who could clearly be seen enquiring as to how allowing his opponent to jump into him was considered a foul.

The Pilgrims’ defence – the mainstay of their play-off pursuance – needed to remain alert to give their team-mates the chance to build on the Pilgrims’ incredible 204-15 record: in the 20 previous games in which they had opened the scoring this season, they had won 18 and lost just one, after Aaron Bentley was sent off at home to Oxford.

Carl McHugh, who has been in prime form of late, was unruffled in thumping away a superbly delivered free-kick by Ryan Jackson that was arrowed into the heart of the six-yard box.

Then goalkeeper Luke McCormick’s excellent position helped make light work of a low 20-yard shot by Byrne, who had created the opportunity for himself by robbing the normally solid but slightly off-colour Anthony O’Connor. Maybe Byrne had kryptonite in his sock-top.

The visitors had a decent, if slightly lucky, opportunity to take the lead in the final minutes of the first half when Max Porter’s cross from the left took a deflection over the heads of the Pilgrims’ defenders and fell at the feet of Aaron O’Connor. Fortunately, the out-of-sorts malaise affecting his namesake (the Curse of the O’Connors?) appeared to have spread – or maybe he was surprised about the fortuitous opportunity – and nothing worse than an airshot followed.