Pilgrims clinch vital victory as rivals slip-up

PLYMOUTH Argyle returned to the top of League One after a gutsy second half fightback to beat Morecambe 3-1 at the Mazuma Stadium

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

The pressure was well and truly on as the Pilgrims, bidding to bounce back from their 4-0 Papa Johns Trophy final defeat by Bolton Wanderers at Wembley, trailed 1-0 at half-time.

Jensen Weir gave relegation-threatened Morecambe an early lead with a breakaway goal and they held onto their advantage until Danny Mayor equalised in the 63rd minute with his first goal of the season.

Mayor was one of five second half substitutes used by manager Steven Schumacher, and two of the others went on to score for Argyle.

First, striker Ben Waine slotted home in the 86th minute and then midfielder Jay Matete wrapped up the eighth away league win of the campaign.

With Sheffield Wednesday drawing 1-1 at Oxford United, Argyle went to the top of the table by two points, while Ipswich Town moved up to second spot after a 4-0 home win against Wycombe Wanderers.

Schumacher made five changes to his side following the Papa Johns Trophy final defeat, with on-loan Birmingham City striker Sam Cosgrove one of them as he was paired with Ryan Hardie.

Also coming into the side were Matt Butcher, Brendan Galloway, Mickel Miller and Tyreik Wright, who made his first appearance since a 0-0 draw at home to Fleetwood Town on February 18.

The quartet of Mayor, Matete, Bali Mumba and Callum Wright all dropped down to the substitutes bench and Macaulay Gillesphey was not in the squad at all.

New Zealand international striker Waine was named among the substitutes after being ruled out of the last couple of games due to an ankle injury.

With Cosgrove and Hardie up front, it was Wright who played in a number 10’ role behind as Argyle lined up in a 3-5-2 formation for the first game of their Easter doubleheader.

On a bright, sunny Good Friday by the Lancashire seaside, Argyle forced a couple of early corners, and from the second one defender James Wilson had an attempt on goal blocked by goalkeeper Connor Ripley.