LEAGUE ONE Plymouth Argyle 1 Portsmouth 0

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Created on Tuesday, 15 March 2022 22:06

Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 March 2022 09:57

Published on Tuesday, 15 March 2022 22:06

Written by ROSS REID at Home Park

Promotion-chasing Plymouth Argyle made it four League One wins in a row by beating play-off rivals Portsmouth 1-0 at Home Park to soar back up to fifth.

Argyle top scorer Ryan Hardie fired the greens ahead from close range after converting Panutche Camara’s cleverly threaded pass on 65 minutes.

Camara and - ultimately - 18 goal Scottish top scorer Hardie benefitted from clever work by Jordan Houghton, who won the ball off Louis Thompson to set up Argyle's crafted winner.

The goal galvanised the Greens and sent the 14,233 Argyle fans in the packed floodlit ground into wild celebrations and the noise level could have lifted the Home Park roof off.

Hardie had penalty appeals turned away minutes later before Camara’s thumping 25 yarder bought the best out of Gavin Bazunu.

As Pompey pressed for a stoppage time winner, sub Adam Randell spotted keeper Bazunu - who had come up for a corner - off his line and attempted an audacious chip from inside his own half, which skipped agonsingly just wide as the Devonport End collectively tried to suck the ball in to the empty goal in front of them.

Earlier in the half outstanding Houghton’s 20 yard rising drive forced another good save from the Pompey keeper on the hour.

Mahleo Romeo goal-line clearance denied home skipper Joe Edwards as the ball pinged around the Portsmouth penalty area, minutes before Argyle’s pressure told.

In the first half? Portsmouth’s Ronan Curtis sent a thumping 25 yard free kick just wide of goal after five minutes.

Bazunu made a good diving save to keep out Luke Jephcott’s angled drive after the striker had been teed up by Hardie following good work by increasingly influential talismanic playmaker Danny Mayor.

Wing back Denver Hume’s curling cross from the left cried out for a Portsmouth finishing touch as it swept across the face of Michael Cooper’s goal on 25 minutes but none was forthcoming.

There was nothing between the teams at half time.

At the conclusion there was just one goal.

But that's all that was required... 

Next up back to back home games against Accrington and Cheltenham, Saturday, Tuesday.

See you there! 

Attendance: 15,604 (1,381 away)

SWSN Star everyone in green 

Schumacher post-match reaction

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