ZAK THE KNIFE BLUNTS SHREWS
SHREWSBURY failed to halt the Pilgrims’ progress as goals from Jamie Ness and Zak Vyner, both their first for the club, gave Plymouth a deserved victory.
Derek Adams’ side were bottom of League One in November but this win sees the Pilgrims, with just one defeat in their last 12 matches, now only five points off the play-offs.
Not that Adams is getting carried away.
“It’s great for the fans that they can talk about play-offs but I have to be realistic,” he said.
“We have come a long way in a short time. How far? We came here believing we could win, believing we have more quality in our side than Shrewsbury.
“The big difference is, we can now call on the services of Ness, Vyner, (Ryan) Taylor, (Ruben) Lameiras and (Antoni) Sarcevic, players who, at this stage of the season, are fresh and full of energy.”
Jon Nolan was the architectin-chief of Shrewsbury’s opener on six minutes. The former Chesterfield man’s surging run took him through the heart of the Argyle midfield.
Nolan found the overlapping Alex Rodman who, in turn, found Max Lowe. The Derby loanee’s low cross was touched on by Nolan to the far post where Carlton Morris was lurking to convert.
The Pilgrims missed a glorious opportunity to restore parity on 18 minutes when Mat Sadler was adjudged to have tripped Antoni Sarcevic.
With press photographers gathered behind the Shrewsbury goal like gulls perched on a sea wall, Graham Carey’s spotkick was superbly saved by Craig MacGillivray.
Undaunted, Plymouth continued to press. They were rewarded on 26 minutes when Ruben Lameiras slipped the ball to Ness. The home defence hesitated but Ness didn’t, firing low to MacGillivary’s left.
Ness then saw his 25-yard half-volley flash narrowly wide while, at the other end, Remi Matthews saved from James Bolton.
Plymouth began the second half in a rapacious mood, Sonny Bradley and Ryan Taylor both going close.
Just before the hour, Rodman blocked Oscar Threlkeld’s piledriver whilst Taylor was unlucky when his low drive flashed inches wide.
The Pilgrims’ pressure paid off just after the hour.
A corner from the right evaded a thicket of legs but not Vyner, who side-footed home at the far post.
The goal prompted a triple substitution by the home side but the nearest Shrewsbury came to salvaging a point was substitute Lenell John-Lewis’ effort, which was held by Matthews.
“We were second best,” admitted Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst.
“After dominating early, we struggled to get going. “We didn’t win enough second balls or headers, which is unusual for us.”