Plymouth Argyle 2-0 Morecambe
Sky Bet League One
Home Park
Saturday 5 March
Kick-Off: 3:00pm
Attendance: 12,225 (122 Shrimps)
Two first-half goes from Plymouth Argyle sealed the three points for the home side, but the Shrimps will be ruing missed chances.
Conor Grant opened the scoring on the 14th minute with a far-post header before Ryan Hardie also found the back of the net with a headed effort.
The first chance of the game fell the way of the hosts, as a short corner from Grant was returned to him before he whipped a delightful cross towards the back post in the direction of Argyle captain Joe Edwards.
The midfielder who found himself with a lot of space to work with, decided to take the shot on the volley, which forced a tremendous save from birthday boy, Trevor Carson.
On the 14th minute of the game, the Green Army pulled ahead.
A ball into the box by Ryan Broom was perfect for Grant, who had the jump on Ryan Cooney to head the ball past Carson.
Two minutes later, the Shrimps had a great chance to pull level, a ball over the top by Shane McLoughlin found Cole Stockton, his flick on found Dylan Connolly on the run, but the striker could not squeeze the ball past the advancing Michael Cooper.
Just as the half-an-hour mark the Shrimps came close again, this time Stockton took the game by the scruff off the neck by taking on two Arygle men before drilling across the box, unfortunately nobody was there to apply the finish.
Eight minutes before the break, Stockton was at it again. Again he broke the back-line and this time drilled an effort, looking for the far corner of Cooper’s goal, but it was just off-target and millimetres away from finding the studs of Alfie McCalmont.
Against the run of play, Argyle doubled their lead.
A cross in from the left by Mayor was flicked on by the head of Hardie, who looked to be in an offside position, nodded home past Carson.
Half-time: Plymouth Argyle 2-0 Morecambe
After the break it was the Shrimps had the first meaningful effort on target, Adam Phillips picked the ball up about 25-yards out front goal and decided to take the shot on himself but Cooper made another solid save to deny the on-loan Burnley man.
Just after the hour mark Argyle had a chance of their own, a ball into the box found Hardie, who did well to bring the ball down before turning and firing over the top and into the home support.
The Shrimps should have pulled a goal back on the 71st minute, another driving run by Connolly saw him feed Jon Obika, who was introduced on the hour mark, but the forward’s left-footed effort flew over the bar.
Seven minutes later Derek Adams’ side had another chance to pull a goal back, a cross in from the right by Phillips was met on the head by O’Connor who was up from an earlier corner, bt it was Cooper in the Argyle goal that would win the battle once again.
Full-time: Plymouth Argyle 2-0 Morecambe
Plymouth Argyle: Cooper, Bolton, Gillesphey, Houghton (Randell 83’), Wilson, Broom, Edwards (C), Hardie (Garrick 80’), Mayor, Grant, Jephcott (Ennis 66’).
Subs not used: Burton, Sessegnon, Camara, Crichlow.
Goals: Grant 14’, Hardie 43’.
Bookings: None.
Red cards: None.
Morecambe: Carson, Cooney, Bedeau, O’Connor (C), Bennett, Gibson, McCalmont, McLoughlin, Phillips, Stockton (Obika 60’), Connolly (Ayunga 89’).
Subs not used: Smith, Fane, Gnahoua, Duffus.
Goals: None.
Bookings: Connolly 34’, O’Connor 59’.
Red cards: None.