Randell's delight at being Argyle's late hero

ACADEMY GRADUATE SEALS THE WIN WITH STOPPAGE TIME GOAL

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

THE script simply could not have been written any better for Adam Randell, the hometown hero who marked his 100th appearance for Plymouth Argyle with a storybook ending by getting a last-gasp winning goal to beat Stoke City 2-1 in the Championship.

It was the eighth time the 23-year-old midfielder from Plymstock had scored for the Pilgrims but the first occasion at Home Park, and it came in front of a packed Devonport End in the seventh minute of added time. No wonder he was serenaded with ‘He’s one of our own’ by the adoring Green Army after the final whistle.

The academy graduate was still smiling broadly when he met the media after the match, and that probably continued long into the evening. “It feels absolutely amazing

Adam Randell strikes Argyle’s winner against Stoke City and I really hope I can do it again because it was just the best feeling.

“I was amazed at the sound when it went in and I just went over and did a massive knee slide, and thankfully the lads all came with me. I had a couple of them rugby tackle me from behind!”

When it was mentioned to Randell it was his first goal at Home Park, he replied: “Finally”, before adding; “I have managed to drag it out this long until roughly 50 games it must be that I have played here. I’m absolutely over the moon.”

Argyle finished the game strongly as their second-half substitutes, including Randell, made a positive impact. Another of them, Callum Wright, was heavily involved in the build-up to their last-gasp goal.

Wright broke into the Stoke penalty area and had a low shot pushed away by goalkeeper Jack Bonham, but only as far as Luke Cundle whose shot was blocked by Ciaran Clark.