Sunday Independent:
A playwright specialising in keeping his audience in suspense until the
last act couldn’t have written a more dramatic script for the final
scene.
The
curtain was just about to fall when Tommy Tynan, the striker Newport
covet so much, was left completely on his own to decide the fate of this
FA Cup tie against his previous club.
The
tension was spilling over into the third minute of injury time as Tynan
- jeered by Argyle fans in the second half - calmly prepared to take a
penalty that would give his side a late reprieve.
A
miss . . . and Newport would have been given the chance of a lucrative
fourth-round tie - and the extra funds they need to buy Tynan back.
A
goal . . . and lucky Plymouth would live to fight again at Somerton
Park.
For
once, a little inside knowledge proved a dangerous thing because
goalkeeper Mark Kendall - remembering Tynan’s many spot-kicks for his
team - gambled on him shooting to his left.
But
the striker sent the ‘keeper the wrong way by driving the ball in the
opposite corner and afterwards Tynan admitted: ‘I thought Mark would
remember and go to his left. He had obviously made up his mind first and
I’m glad I changed direction.’
No
one on the field was more relieved to see the ball go in than John
Uzzell, whose 84th-minute blunder appeared to erase Argyle’s interest
in the Cup for another year.
His
crazy back pass completely stranded Geoff Crudgington and danger man
John Aldridge just couldn’t believe his luck. He cantered on and
almost had time to stop and apologise before making sure.
The
error was as unprofessional as Argyle’s 11th minute giveaway - with
Aldridge again the grateful recipient. This time Andy Rogers dwelled on
the ball too long inside his own penalty area and was punished when
Neville Chamberlain lifted a centre high over Crudgington’s head.
There, predictably, at the far post Aldridge was waiting to tap it in.
Aldridge’s
20th and 21st goals of the season must count among his easiest double
yet. Only a goal-line clearance by Gordon Nisbet prevented the tall
striker from claiming a hat trick and chalking up five goals against
Argyle’s suspect defence in 11 days!
There
were mistakes galore from both sides. But it was real blood and thunder
Cup-tie soccer. Only those horrendous errors spoiled it for Argyle, who
will now have their work cut out to survive the replay.
But
thank Tynan for that small mercy. Given all the circumstances I can’t
image what most Argyle fans would have said if the poor man had missed!
Argyle
- Crudgington: Nisbet, Uzzell, Harrison, Smith,
Cooper, Hodges, Phillips, Tynan, Staniforth, Rogers. Sub: Pearson.
Newport
- Kendall: Jones, Relish, Reid, Boyle, Matthewson, Micallef, Aldridge, Chamberlain,
Carter, Lewis. Sub: Woodruff.
Scorers:
Argyle - Hodges.
Tynan (pen): Newport - Aldridge 12.
Referee:
Mr.
D. Reeves (Uxbridge)
Attendance:
6,789.