Argyle 2
Sawyer 52, Leonard 75

by Shaun Murphy

Goals from Sam Sawyer and Ryan Leonard were not enough to salvage anything for a youthful Argyle side as they went down 3-2 to Torquay United in the totesport.com Combination at Plainmoor.

Despite being 2-0 down at one stage, Argyle showed great courage to force a way back into the match, only to be let down by an unfortunate penalty decision with eight minutes remaining, which was duly dispatched by ex-Pilgrim Martin Gritton. Joe Oastler and Ashley Yeoma had earlier given the Gulls a double advantage.

The Greens started with an experienced front pairing of Rory Patterson and Rory Fallon in an otherwise youthful looking line-up, which included young Jack Stephens and Curtis Nelson paired together in central defence against the well-travelled Gritton.

In a scrappy opening few minutes it was the home side who managed the first effort on goal. A sharp turn and shot on the edge of the box from Gritton was saved comfortably by Ollie Chenoweth in the Argyle goal.

It was Argyle who nearly opened the scoring after 17 minutes, however. A clever through-ball by Leonard was missed by Rowe-Turner in the home defence and latched on to by Patterson, only for his effort to be saved by the onrushing Danny Potter.

Chenoweth was called into action again minutes later, making a smart save from Lloyd Macklin after Nicky Wroe's pass sent the winger clear on goal. Argyle, meanwhile, were beginning to look dangerous every time they went forward, with the two Rory's starting to link up well in attack.

Another missed interception saw Patterson handed the best chance yet to break the deadlock, but his effort was palmed to safety by Potter. Straight down the other end and a timely block by Stephens from Gritton thwarted the home side as the match began to open up.

The experienced front man wasn't having it all his own way, with Argyle's youthful central defensive pairing giving as good as they had against the ex-Argyle striker.

Despite this, it was the home side who took the lead on 35 minutes when Joe Mason unfortunately sliced a clearance a Wroe corner into the path of Joe Oastler for an easy finish.

To their credit, Argyle reacted in the right manner and Patterson was again unfortunate not to score after finding himself in behind the home defence once again, only to drive the ball wide. The Northern Ireland international was getting himself into some promising positions and could count himself unlucky not to have scored in the opening 45 minutes.

A long range drive from Wayne Carlisle was then spectacularly tipped over by Chenoweth in the final action of a pulsating opening 45 minutes in which the Pilgrims could count themselves unlucky to be behind.

Argyle made a change at the beginning of the second half, switching Sam Sawyer into the heart of the defence in a swap for Fallon, who was clearly suffering the effects of his hernia operation.

Chenoweth was called into action as the game restarted, saving well from Romone Rose as Torquay pressed for a second goal.

With 52 minutes gone it was 2-0 to the home side, Ashley Yeoman connecting to a cutback from Macklin to sidefoot the ball home from 12 yards.

It was harsh on Argyle to find themselves two goals down, and the bench responded by bringing on Matt Rickard for Luke Young in a bid to bolster the attack.

It was almost 3-0 on 60 minutes but the impressive Chenoweth again did well to keep the ball out from close range after a diving header from Macklin following Gritton's knockdown.

Argyle showed great character to get themselves back into the match on 62 minutes. A long throw caused chaos in the home side's penalty area and was flicked on by Sawyer into the net to hand us a lifeline.

Now only a goal behind, Argyle were more than matching their opponents as they started to press forward for an equalizer, though this unfortunately left holes at the back for the home side to exploit. With the next goal crucial for both sides, Macklin and Rose again went close for Torquay.

It wasn't to be, and a breakaway goal from Argyle levelled the match. Mason dispossessed Saul Halpin deep in the Torquay half and ran the full length of the pitch before scuttling a shot goalwards. Potter did well to parry the ball wide but Ryan Leonard was on hand to steer in the equaliser from a difficult angle.

Referee Richard Martin then intervened, with some help from his assistant, to award Torquay a very soft penalty after an innocuous looking challenge by Jake Baker on Oastler. Sympathy was scarce from Gritton, as he stroked home the winner from 12 yards.

The final result was harsh on Argyle, who can take solace from the fact they had more than matched a Torquay side boasting some established names in their line-up.

Torquay United (4-3-3): 16 Danny Potter; 15 Wayne Carlisle, 25 Ed Palmer, 2 Lathaniel Rowe-Turner, 17 Saul Halpin; 14 Lloyd Macklin, 11 Nicky Wroe, 4 Joe Oastler; 9 Romone Rose, 8 Martin Gritton, 24 Ashley Yeoman. Substitues (not used): 7 Joe Parrish, 10 Ray Spear, 12 Scott Taylor.

Booked: Macklin 81

Argyle (4-4-2): 1 Ollie Chenoweth; 2 Ryan Leonard (captain), 4 Jack Stephens, 5 Curtis Nelson, 3 Jamie Richards (16 Connor Clifford 60); 10 Joe Mason, 6 Anton Peterlin, 7 Luke Young (15 Matt Rickard 65), 11 Jake Baker; 8 Rory Patterson, 9 Rory Fallon (17 Sam Sawyer h-t). Substitutes (not used): 12 Jack Ord (gk), 14 Jed Harper-Penman.

Booked: Clifford 72

Referee: Richard Martin