Injury to Watts overshadows Argyle’s season-ending loss
AWORRYING injury to on-loan Newcastle United defender Kell Watts overshadowed Plymouth Argyle’s 1-0 season-ending League One defeat by Gillingham at Priestfield Stadium yesterday.
The 21-year-old was carried off on a stretcher following a heavy collision with Gillingham striker Vadaine Oliver. The incident came only seconds into the game and Watts received oxygen as part of lengthy attention as he lay on the ground, surrounded by medical staff.
Eventually, Watts was gently placed on to a stretcher, with great care taken not to move his neck ,and carried away off he pitch.
Byron Moore was sent on as a substitute and midfielder Tyrese Fornah moved into central defence alongside 18-year-old Ollie Tomlinson, as the action resumed after a 12-minute delay.
As for the match action, the only goal of the game was scored by Oliver in the 28th minute.
It meant a sixth defeat in the last seven matches of the season for the Pilgrims as they finished in 18th position, but the main concern for them was the health of Watts.
There was a first League start for Tomlinson against Gillingham in the absence of the suspended Jerome Opoku. That was one of two changes to the team from the 3-1 defeat by Sunderland at Home Park the previous weekend.
Midfielder Ben Reeves (pictured below) also made only his sixth League start of the season, with Conor Grant an absentee from the squad.
Apprentices Finley Craske, Ethan Mitchell and Brandon Pursall were all named among the substitutes.
The trio had played for the Pilgrims’ Under-18 XI when they drew 1-1 away to Cheltenham Town on Saturday to clinch the EFL Youth Alliance Merit League One title.
Despite losing Watts in such worrying circumstances so early in the game, it was Argyle who had the first scoring chance of the contest. Then Moore, who had slotted into a rightsided midfield role in a 4-4-2 formation, had a fierce shot parried away by Gillingham goalkeeper Jack Bonham.
There was another good opportunity for the Pilgrims in the 21st minute when a well-struck 25-yard freekick from Reeves was deflected narrowly over the crossbar.
It had been a good start from Argyle, especially given the loss of Watts, but they fell behind in the 28th minute. Jordan Graham played the ball inside for Rob McKenzie to get in a cross which was flicked on by Olly Lee and Oliver scored with a header at the far post.
Argyle had to contend with a number of long throw-ins from Gillingham left-back Conor Ogilvie which were launched deep into their penalty area.
It was a tough challenge for the Pilgrims’ makeshift, inexperienced defence, and the home side had chances to extend their lead from them.
Firstly, the ball reached defender Jack Tucker in the centre of the goalmouth and hit his knee before going inches wide of the far post.
Then, from another Ogilvie long throw-in, the ball was only cleared away as far Gillingham midfielder Kyle Dempsey outside the penalty area, and his rising shot was just too high.
Argyle battled away in difficult circumstances and had plenty of the ball around the home side’s penalty area, but their good build-up play lacked a cutting edge to it.
After a first half overshadowed by the injury to Watts, Gillingham forced a couple of corners at the start of the second period but could not capitalise on them.
Former Argyle loan signing Lee also forced a fine reaction save out of visiting goalkeeper Mike Cooper with a close-range shot, after the ball broke to him inside the box.
Gillingham did most of the attacking but the Pilgrims did have a chance to equalise shortly before the hour mark.
Striker Ryan Hardie ran in behind the Gillingham defence and cut the ball back to Niall Ennis, who flicked the ball towards goal but his shot was blocked by defender Tom O’Connor.
Oliver picked up an injury and was replaced by John Akinde, another powerfully built striker for Tomlinson and Fornah to deal with in Argyle’s rearguard.
Argyle skipper Joe Edwards almost came up with an equaliser when he got on the end of a cross from Danny Mayor, but his close-range header was saved by Bonham.
Seconds later, another cross from the left reached Edwards, who had stayed up, but again he could not find a way past the Gillingham goalkeeper.
The Kent side could not clear their lines, though, and Moore was able to check inside on to his left foot and get in a shot, but he dragged the ball wide of the target.
Argyle manager Ryan Lowe made a double substitution in the 68th minute, with Moore and Ennis making way for Klaidi Lolos and Luke Jephcott. Both sides got into promising scoring positions, but neither could apply the finishing touch.
Lolos fired in one good cross for the Pilgrims but Jephcott could not get the ball under control and it remained 1-0 to Gillingham.
Lowe made another double change in the 88th minute, with goalkeeper Luke McCormick making his 350th – and probably final – appearance for Argyle as a substitute for Cooper.
Craske was also sent on to make his League debut, as he took over in midfield from Mayor.
McCormick made one good stop to deny Tyreke Johnson a second goal for Gillingham in stoppage time.