Plymouth Argyle advanced to The FA Cup Second Round with a comfortable 2-0 win over Conference North side AFC Fylde following an efficient display at Home Park, writes Chris Groves.
The Pilgrims dominated possession in the opening stages, with much of their attacking play coming through wing-backs Andy Kellett and Kelvin Mellor, but early opportunities for Marvin Morgan and Ollie Norburn did not find the target.
After 20 minutes, Fylde goalkeeper Ben Hinchcliffe’s pass was intercepted by Reuben Reid, but Plymouth’s top goalscorer was unable to capitalise, shooting just wide of the near post.
Plymouth 2-0 AFC Fylde
The FA Cup
First Round Proper
Saturday 8 November
Home Park
Winning club will receive £18,000
by Chris Groves
The hosts’ opening goal came in the 27th minute, as Norburn’s well-weighted corner was met by centre back Peter Hartley, who headed home from close range.
Hartley came inches away from doubling his, and Argyle’s, tally two minutes later, as his powerful long-range effort was deflected just over the bar. The resulting corner was taken short and Lee Cox forced a smart stop from Hinchcliffe.
The visitors had a huge opportunity to equalise on 33 minutes, as a hurried clearance unlocked the Plymouth defence and put through Jamie Allen, but the forward skewed the shot wide.
Fylde spurned another chance just before the break, launching an attack from a Plymouth corner, but former Manchester United trainee Michael Barnes was denied by a smart save from Luke McCormick.
After the restart, Morgan earned a free-kick for the home team inches outside the box. Tyler Harvey’s resulting shot was spilled by Hinchcliffe, but rolled just beyond a number of incoming green shirts.
The non-League side continued to pose a threat, though, as a smart through ball from Adam Sumner led to a shot from substitute Michael Potts, which needed to be dealt with by a brave block from Curtis Nelson.
Plymouth put the game beyond doubt with 20 minutes to go, once again scoring from a corner delivered by Norburn. Carl McHugh’s clever knock-down was converted by Morgan from no more than a yard out.
Fylde pushed forward in the latter stages but to no avail, as the Greens eased through.
Plymouth (3-5-2): 23 Luke McCormick; 5 Curtis Nelson (C), 16 Carl McHugh, 29 Peter Hartley; 13 Andy Kellett, 4 Lee Cox, 6 Ollie Norburn, 14 Tyler Harvey, 2 Kelvin Mellor; 9 Reuben Reid, 10 Marvin Morgan.
Substitutes: 28 Anthony O’Connor for Mellor (46), 7 Lewis Alessandra for Reid (60), 19 Nathan Thomas for Harvey (73).
Substitutes not used: 1 James Bittner, 11 Dominic Blizzard, 24 River Allen, 25 Aaron Bentley.
Goals: Hartley (27), Morgan (70)
AFC Fylde (4-4-2): 1 Ben Hinchcliffe; 3 Adam Sumner, 4 Josh Langley, 6 Caspar Hughes, 2 Luke Denson; 10 Michael Barnes, 7 Liam Tomsett, 5 Tom Hannigan (C), 8 Danny Rowe (off for Michael Potts, 57); 9 Jamie Allen (off for Danny Lloyd, 65), 11 Richie Allen.
Substitutes: 14 Michael Potts for Rowe (57), 12 Danny Lloyd for Allen (65), 15 Joe Booth for Tomsett (76).
Substitutes not used: 13 Craig Dootson, 16 Tom Eckersley, 17 Dion Charles.
Referee: James Linnington
