Shrewsbury Town 1 Plymouth 2 - Report and pictures

Paul Hurst’s men were unable to take advantage of a coupon-busting day at the top of the division, as Wigan and Blackburn both squandered points.

But despite taking an early lead through Carlton Morris’ tap-in, Town could not profit and were pegged back by the resurgent south coast outfit.

Craig MacGillivray’s penalty save from star Graham Carey at 1-0 was not enough to keep Argyle at bay. They equalised shortly before half hour before snatching what proved to be the winner after an hour.

Plymouth achieved what only Bradford had managed so far this season in downing Town in the league in Shropshire.

A pulsating first-half was not quite matched in the second period as Town new boy Nathan Thomas was the only one to test Remi Matthews in Plymouth’s goal before sub Lenell John-Lewis’ soft late effort.

Derek Adams men looked the more threatening before and after the break and made their pressure tell leaving Town, for once this fine season, without an answer.

Leaders Wigan were beaten at Southend while Blackburn, after being 2-0 down at Ewood Park against Oldham, secured a draw.

It handed Town the opportunity to stamp their mark at the top and, despite briefly sitting top of the pile while leading, were subjected to just a second league defeat on home turf.

Analysis

There were two changes to the Town team that made it back-to-back wins on the road with a late show at Bristol Rovers.

Out went Omar Beckles for Derby loanee Max Lowe. Beckles, having filled in superbly on the left side of defence for a number of months - was hinted as a potential ‘weakness’ by Argyle chief Adams in the build-up.

Town’s other change was a recall for Alex Rodman. The winger, who came from the bench to superbly set-up Shrews’ winner at Bristol, came in for Shaun Whalley, with new signing Nathan Thomas keeping his place on the opposite flank.

Shrewsbury were after a first win against the Pilgrims in five attempts, dating back to January 2002. Despite a horror start to this season, which saw them bottom in October, Adams’ men had enjoyed a remarkable renaissance and climbed to 11th after just one defeat in 11 games.

The Meadow surface appeared sandy after the harsh Shropshire weather since the turn of the year. Town have, at times recently, been forced to train on the stadium pitch due to a deluge of rain at Sundorne Castle leading to standing water.

An early blow to the head for skipper Abu Ogogo did little to put the hosts off their stride.There was an intake of breath at the Meadow as the captain remained down, but after a couple of minute’s treatment with Chris Skitt, he was up and back at it.

Early injuries, at times, can mean a broken and low-key start to games. This one was the complete opposite.

The hosts were ahead just six minutes in. A stunning break, started by Jon Nolan carrying the ball from midfield with fine poise and balance.

He sent it out to Rodman and the winger used a disguise ball to feed the onrushing Lowe, who reached the byline to cross, Nolan helped it on and there was Morris to gratefully accept his eighth goal of the season.

A nervous look went to the offside flag but the assistant kept it down and Morris’ eighth goal of the season stood.

Shrewsbury looked confident and in the mood during each attack. The hosts linked the play well and did their job in halting in-form Argyle’s momentum.

The visitors clearly packed ability in the match-winner Graham Carey and the talented Ness, as well as former Coventry man Ruben Lameiras. Powerful frontman Ryan Taylor was also making himself a thorn in Shrews’ side.

Long shot specialist Carey had already had a free-kick denied by a Town wall before he was offered an opportunity from much closer.

Taylor held it up well and flicked the ball to former Shrewsbury man Antoni Sarcevic, whose burst into the box was alleged to have been halted by Mat Sadler. Busy referee Ben Toner pointed to the spot.

Up stepped the talented Carey on 20 minutes, with nine goals this season, but MacGillivray superbly denied him a tenth with an outstanding save down to his left. The goalkeeper got right into the corner to claw it away.

The Meadow erupted as if a goal was scored. Plymouth were improving but every Town challenge was passionately cheered.

Rodman was denied after more free-flowing Shrewsbury football before Argyle made no mistake in front of goal seven minutes after MacGillivray’s save.

It was route one that undid Hurst’s men. A long punt helped on cleverley by Lamieras and on rushed Scottish midfielder Ness to calmly slot in his first goal for the Pilgrims.

The wind that was behind Shrews’ strong start was knocked out of the sails and Adams’ men cranked up the tempo. The 4-3-3 system, with runners from midfield and attack, was keeping the Town defence busy.

Sarcevic sent a dipping volley well wide to ironic cheers before Ness went much closer with a rasping half-volley of his own that flashed wide. Town were pegged back and unable to fashion further openings other than a tame James Bolton strike.

The half-time break came at a welcome time for Shrews as Plymouth were enjoying a head of steam, but the restart did little to halt their momentum. The Pilgrims, backed by a superb, vociferous following of almost 1,000, shot out of the blocks and fashioned more attacking positions.

Their pressure was constant. Waves off attacks forged chances for Sonny Bradley from a corner as Lameiras then sent a ball agonizingly across the defence.

It looked a matter of time before the pressure told and pandemonium erupted in the away end on 62 minutes as Bristol City loanee Vyner bundled over the line from a flicked on corner.

Town looked to get the ball out to new boy Thomas on the left flank and on a number of occasion he showed good footwork to beat his defenders but was unable to get a telling ball into Argyle’s box.

Hurst wasted little time in reacting and made a rare triple change, summoning Stefan Payne, Lenell John-Lewis and Whalley.

But Shrewsbury struggled to forge their own head of steam as a broken period of fouls and niggles curtailed any build-up of chances. Bradley and Plymouth threatened again as the defender headed at MacGillivray.

Town only had a tame John-Lewis effort to get excited about as their frustration was summed up by the inability to get the ball into the box late on.

Key moments

6 - GOAL TOWN!!! A superb opener started by Jon Nolan, helped on to Alex Rodman before Max Lowe sent a cross along the box that Nolan flicked on and Carlton Morris helped home.

20 - Plymouth penalty. Mat Sadler’s trip on Antoni Sarcevic. Up steps Argyle dangerman Graham Carey, but what a superb save from Craig MacGillivray, who gets down to his left to keep it out brilliantly.

23 - Alex Rodman denied after another fine Town break involving Nolan, the winger and Town’s left-back Lowe.

27 - Goal Plymouth. Jamie Ness nets after charging on to a Ruben Lameiras flick to send a low finish comfortably beyond MacGillivray.

30 - Sarvevic send a long-range dipping volley well wide.

37 - Abu Ogogo clears from just in front of MacGillivray after Ryan Taylor connected with a Lamieras cross.

39 - James Bolton takes a high Sadler free-kick down well and cuts inside the box on his weaker left foot but shoots low at Remi Matthews.

40 - Goalscorer Ness sends a rocket of a half-volley yards wide of MacGillivray’s right-hand post.

56 - Sonny Bradley helps a corner over at the back post as pressure increases.

62 - Goal Plymouth. A retaken Carey corner is helped on and Zak Vyner scrambles in at the back post.

65 - Thomas got his head on a fine Nolan cross from the left but he was thwarted by the feet of Remi Matthews.

89 - Chance for sub Lenell John-Lewis but he can only shoot tameley at Matthews.

Teams

Shrewsbury Town (4-1-4-1):

MacGillivray; Bolton, Nsiala, Sadler, Lowe; Godfrey (John-Lewis, 68); Thomas, Nolan, Ogogo ©, Rodman (Whalley, 68); C Morris (Payne, 68)

Subs not used: Rowley (gk), Beckles, B Morris, Eisa.

Plymouth Argyle (4-3-3):

Matthews; Threlkeld, Bradley, Vyner, Sawyer ©; Ness, Sarcevic, Fox (Songo’o, 69); Carey, Lameiras (Ainsworth, 77), Taylor

Subs not used: Letheren (gk), Church, Masaki. Grant, Taylor-Sinclair.

Referee: Ben Toner

Attendance: 7,036 (995 Plymouth fans)

Star man - Jon Nolan. Fine first-half. Tried to make things happen.

Position in the table - 2nd (61 points from 30 games)