Minstermen dismal as Pilgrims progress

Struggling Plymouth Argyle scored at the end of each half to claim their first win in ten games against a very poor York City outfit at Home Park.

The Pilgrims were certainly given a helping hand with York defender Jamal Fyfield turning Ashley Young's corner into his own net on the stroke of half-time.

Substitute Nick Chadwick was then left unattended to head a late second after goalkeeper Michael Ingham had parried from Young as the visitors pushed forward in the vain hope of an unlikely equaliser.

Both sides struggled during the opening half with little quality on offer for those in attendance. Mark Molesley headed across goal early on for the hosts while Northern Ireland Under-21 international Patrick McLaughlin surged forward and struck wide in reply.

The visitors were once again guilty of conceding a number of free-kicks and Conor Hourihane dragged one such attempt wide before York skipper Chris Smith's misdirected backpass should have seen his side falling behind - only for Paris Cowan-Hall to slice hopelessly wide.

Plymouth were appearing the better of two poor outfits but finding themselves largely restricted to hopeful efforts from long-range while their supporters twice called for penalty decisions in their favour.

The Minstermen gained their first corner just ahead of the half-hour but Michael Potts' delivery came to nothing as they continued to offer precious little going forward.

Then with the opening period drifting towards its close, Young despatched another free-kick over for the home side before his corner moments later was turned into his own net by Fyfield to gift them an interval lead.

The action wasn't about to improve following the restart. Curtis Nelson sent a deflected shot through to Ingham while Andres Gurrieri struck wide as the visitors continued to give the ball away.

York made a double-change with Jamie Reed and Jon Challinor replacing Potts and McLaughlin. Danny Blanchett also came on for Chris Doig after Rhys Griffiths had already driven over for Argyle.

But there was to be no rally from the visitors and Ingham was forced to tip over from Gurrieri as they again failed to hold onto possession. Cowan-Hall was then wide from the subsequent corner.

The Minstermen still hadn't managed a serious attempt on target but could have done so when Ashley Chambers got the ball trapped between his feet from Matty Blair's cross. Reed also had a cross turned behind but there was little purpose in their play and it was again Ingham saving low from Cowan-Hall at the other end.

Plymouth finally secured the points in the final minute when substitute Chadwick headed into an empty net after Ingham had parried from Young - although there was still sufficient time remaining for late bookings for Scott Kerr and Daniel Parslow on a really bad day for the visitors.

Plymouth Argyle: Gilmartin, Blanchard, Purse, Bhasera, Nelson, Hourihane, Young, Gurrieri (Lowry 82), Molesley, Cowan-Hall (Lennox 90), Griffiths (Chadwick 73)

subs (unused): Cole, Richards, Feeney, Harvey

Goals: Fyfield OG (45), Chadwick (90)

York City: Ingham, Parslow, Smith, Doig (Blanchett 68), Fyfield, Kerr, Potts (Reed 58), McLaughlin (Challinor 58), Blair, Walker, Chambers

subs (unused): Musselwhite, McGurk, Allan, Rodman

Ref: T. Robinson (West Sussex)

Att: 5,881 (188 York)

* YORK CITY FC * PLAY-OFF WINNERS 2012 * FA TROPHY WINNERS 2012 * YORK CITY FC * PLAY-OFF WINNERS 2012 * FA TROPHY WINNERS 2012 * YORK CITY FC * PLAY-OFF WINNERS 2012 * FA TROPHY WINNERS 2012 * YORK CITY FC * PLAY-OFF WINNERS 2012 * FA TROPHY WINNERS 2012 *

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