ARGYLE CLINCH TITLE AHEAD OF CHAMPIONSHIP RETURN

 Plymouth Argyle will be returning to the Championship as League One champions after beating Port Vale 3-1 at Vale Park. 

The Pilgrims had already clinched promotion against Burton Albion at Home Park in their final home game, but their victory over the Valiants ensures that they will mark their return to the second tier for the first time since 2010 as champions. 

James Plant gave the hosts an early lead before home grown midfielder Adam Randell equalised for Argyle on 34 minutes. 

Four minutes later, skipper Joe Edwards put the Pilgrims in front for the first time in the encounter and in the second half substitute Finn Azaz found the target in the 61st minute - which put the outcome of the game beyond doubt, and clinched the title for Argyle. 

It was the end of an incredible journey back to the Championship for the Pilgrims, who went into Administration within a year after being relegated from the division during the 2010-11 campaign; this ws a time when then manager Peter Reid stepped in to pay the club's heating bill at one point and he even made the 1986 FA Cup runners-up which he received during his time with Everton available for auction. 

Upon entering Administration, the ensuing ten point deduction saw them relegated for a second successive season and Reid departed Home Park in September 2011 and was replaced by Carl Fletcher. All of these events occurred during the Administration process and the players were forced to defer their wages in full, alongwith the club's non-playing staff, and at one stage the players were prepared to go on strike if their salaries, or at least part of them, weren't paid. 

Shortly afterwards, the Pilgrims exited Administration following a takeover by local businessman James Brent. The early years of Brent's ownership proved to be quite rocky, as they remained in League Two courtesy of a 1-1 draw with Oxford United in their penultimate home game of the 2011-12 campaign. Then in the subsequent 2012-13 season, they survived on the final day of the campaign after Barnet lost. By this time Fletcher had been replaced as manager by former Sheffield Wednesday and Republic of Ireland midfielder John Sheridan. 

Under Sheridan, the Pilgrims gradually improved, finishing 10th in the 2013-14 season and they made the play-offs in the 2014-15 campaign - where they were beaten by Wycombe Wanderers at the semi-final stage. 

In the summer of 2015, there was yet another managerial change at Home Park as Sheridan left the club and was replaced by Scotsman Derek Adams, whose appointment heralded the first period of sustained success since the Paul Sturrock era. Adams' first season in charge in 2015-16 saw them reach the League Two play-offs again, but this time they were beaten in the final by AFC Wimbledon. 

However, despite overseeing a big turnover of players in close season, Argyle went one better under Adams in 2016-17 and won promotion from League Two as runners-up. This was then followed by a seventh place finish in League One in 2017-18, after the Pilgrims had found themselves in the relegation zone at the half way stage. 

Unfortunately, the Pilgrims were relegated back to League Two in the 2018-19 campaign, which saw Adams dismissed by new owner Simon Hallett, who took over from Brent in January 2018, and Ryan Lowe was installed as his successor. 

Lowe's guidance saw Argyle bounce back at the first attempt in a Covid-19 hit 2019-20 season, as the Pilgrims ended up winning promotion via PPG (Points Per Game). 

The Pilgrims then re-established themselves in League One before Lowe was enticed away from Home Park by Preston North End and his assistant Steven Schumacher was promoted from within as his replacement. Schumacher continued Lowe's good work and they missed out on the play-offs on the final day of the 2021-22 campaign, following a shock 5-0 home defeat to Milton Keynes Dons. 

Nevertheless, Argyle bounced back in superb fashion by winning the League One title with 101 points, just a point shy of their club record points total for a season, which they gained in 2001-02 when they won the Division Three title under Paul Sturrock, and reached the final of the EFL Trophy for the first time, where they were beaten by Bolton Wanderers. 

The Pilgrims' last three spells in the second tier have lasted for two years (1975 to 1977), and six years twice (1986 to 1992 and 2004 to 2010) - so there is another chapter set to be written by Schumacher and Argyle.

A SOUTH WEST MINI LEAGUE

Roll up, roll up for the South West mini league that will be taking place within National League South in the 2023-24 campaign. 

Truro City's promotion through the Southern Premier South play-offs now means that the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire will all be represented. 

The White Tigers, managed by former Plymouth Argyle skipper Paul Wotton, will be the duchy's sole representative, despite playing their home games at Plymouth Parkway's Bolitho Park.

Torquay United and Yeovil Town will be marking their returns to sixth tier after relegations from the National League. However, both clubs have won promotion from this level before; the Gulls won the National League South under Gary Johnson in 2018-19 and will be looking to repeat that feat. The Glovers won the Isthmian League title (long before the establishment of National Leagues North and South) in 1996-97 when former Spurs defender Graham Roberts was in charge.

Yeovil won't be Somerset's only representative in the division as they will be joined by Bath City and Weston Super Mare, who won the Southern League Premier South title last season. The former are one time rivals of the Glovers, as are Dorset side Weymouth, who completed a great escape to remain in the division under the guidance of Bobby Wilkinson.

Slightly further afield in Wiltshire, Chippenham Town will be competing as the county's second team behind Swindon Town. 

All in all, it's probably the most 'South West' friendly make up of the division since it was founded in 2005.

SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS WREXHAM

1. Mark Halstead's penalty save. 

The majority of Gulls' fans would probably have feared the worst when Southampton loanee Nico Lawrence was adjudged Sam Dalby's fifth minute cross and Wrexham's leading scorer Paul Mullin stepped up to take the subsequent spot-kick. 

However, United keeper Mark Halstead correctly guessed the direction of Mullin's strike and turned it behind for a corner to deny Mullin what would have been his 48th goal of the season in all competitions. 

Halstead then on to make a string of saves throughout the course of the match and the Plainmoor faithful will be hoping that he remains at Plainmoor, as United attempt to win promotion from National League South at the first attempt.

2. Frank Nouble's goal and link up play

Frank Nouble’s third goal of the season looked like it might prove to be his most crucial when he turned home a cross from United’s leading scorer Aaron Jarvis on 53 minutes to give the Gulls lead.

Since his arrival on deadline day, Nouble has developed a good understanding with Jarvis and the duo had combined earlier in the game on 12 minutes when Jarvis’ cross from the left picked out Nouble, who nodded the ball straight into the arms of Wrexham keeper Ben Foster.

It would be a plus if either of those remained with the Gulls in National League South, but it would be a massive bonus.

3. Gary Johnson to remain as Gulls manager.

In his post-match interview, Torquay United manager Gary Johnson revealed that he is set to stay as Gulls manager in the 2023-24 season, as United aim to repeat their success of the 2018-19 campaign when they won National League South at the first attempt.

Whilst the Gulls struggled in the early part of the season, their form over the last eight games has seen them win five of their last eight league games – which is play-off form.

The great question remains is how would they have done over the course of the entire campaign if Johnson had had the group of players that he finished the season with from the start?

However, the challenge now facing Johnson is to keep as many of those players with the club as they aim to win a second National League South title.

4. Shaun Donnellan – United’s overlapping centre back.

Originally signed to provide cover in midfield, Shaun Donnellan had played in a variety of positions for the Gulls this season, from centre midfield to centre back to right back and even right wing-back on occasions.

However, in recent games he has established himself as a centre back and has emerged as one of the new innovations in the game as an ‘over lapping centre back.’

Over the course of the match, Donnellan made a number of marauding runs, producing the kind of crosses that wing-backs would be expected to make.

After making the position his own over the course of the campaign, he looks set to retain it in the 2023-24 season.

5.  A number of local derbies to look forward to.

Had United managed to stay up then the nearest thing that they would have had to a local derby would have been Eastleigh. As it stands, the Gulls will be facing Yeovil Town (who were also relegated from the National League), Bath City, Chippenham Town, Taunton Town, Weston Super Mare, Weymouth and potentially Truro City as well if they can make it through their Southern Premier South play-off final with Bracknell Town.

These trips are great news for the fans, but as ever they are more fun if you are winning them.

5. What now for Wrexham?

Wrexham have inevitably attracted plenty of headlines since Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhinney completed their takeover of the club.

With their substantial financial backing, which has enabled them to bring in the likes of Paul Mullin, Ollie Palmer, Elliot Lee, Ben Tozer, Ben Foster etc, the Red Dragons have now won the National League with a record 111 points.

The challenge now facing Wrexham and their manager Phil Parkinson is to win back to back promotions, which would see the North Wales club reach League One – a division that they haven’t played in since the 2004-05 campaign. If themselves and Notts County – should the Magpies seal a return to the EFL through the play-offs – can both challenge for a second successive promotion then the argument for introducing three up, three down between League Two and the National League would not doubt be strengthened.

Another factor that also reflects how strong a division the National League is is the fact for the first time ever four ex-league clubs have been relegated from it (the Gulls, Yeovil, Scunthorpe United and Maidstone United).

 

ARGYLE ON THE BRINK OF CHAMPIONSHIP RETURN

Should Plymouth Argyle beat Burton Albion in their final home game of the 2022-23 campaign then they will mark their return to the Championship for the first time since 2010 after beating Bristol Rovers. 

A overhead kick from Niall Ennis sent the Pilgrims on their way against a Rovers side who were reduced to ten men after Antony Evans received two yellow cards. Centre back Macauley Gillesphey then headed home a corner from Matt Butcher to help put the result beyond doubt. 

The result caps a memorable week for Argyle as Norwich City loanee Bali Mumba was named as the League One young player of the year for 2022-23, and then was also named in the League One team of the season alongside goalkeeper Michael Cooper. 

Clinching promotion would also see manager Steven Schumacher join a managerial which includes Tony Waiters (1974-75), Dave Smith (1985-86) and Paul Sturrock (2003-04) who have all led the Pilgrims to promotion from the third tier since the end of regionalisation. 

THE GULLS' REACH NEEDS TO EXCEED THEIR GRASP

As Torquay United head north to face Altrincham in their penultimate National League, they will be looking to reach for three points to bring their National League survival hopes back within their grasp. 

After their thumping 5-1 midweek defeat to play-off hopefuls Chesterfield at the Technique Stadium, the Gulls, currently on 46 points, trail York City and Maidenhead United, who are both on 49, by three points. 

United's defeat to the Spireites also brought United's five-match winning run to an end, which had seen them secure wins over Boreham Wood (1-0), Scunthorpe United (1-0), Eastleigh (2-0), Maidenhead (3-1) and York (3-2).

Another win for the Gulls at Moss Lane, coupled with defeats for York and Maidenhead against Aldershot Town and Barnet respectively, would mean that they would need a point against possible champions elect Wrexham on the final day to stand a chance of completing a 'great escape.' The Hollywood backed Red Dragons could go to Plainmoor as champions

The squad travel to Altrincham on a Thursday, a late earlier than normal. It was a plan used by Paul Buckle before United faced Ebbsfleet United in the 2008 FA Trophy final, which the Gulls lost 1-0. However, that occasion came after they saw their play-off hopes ended by a local derby defeat to Exeter City. 

Nevertheless, Gulls manager Gary Johnson and his assistant Aaron Downes would have planned this in advance and considered the pros and cons before deciding on it. Much of this time will no doubt be used to get at least one, if not both, of their experienced midfield duo Asa Hall and Tom Lapslie fit.  

In their last meeting with Alty, United famously 4-4 with Dylan Crowe scoring a late equaliser with virtually the last kick of the match that was screened live on BT Sport. If United can repeat the scoreline for, but reduce their scoreline after then the journey back to South Devon will undoubtably be a happy one.

 

BUTCHER SCORES WINNER IN EL PASTYCO

If Cheltenham Town versus Forest Green Rovers is 'El Glousico' and Port Vale versus Stoke City is 'El Ceramico' then Plymouth Argyle versus Exeter City is 'El Pastyco'. 

The two sides have faced each other every year since 2010, and the latest installment produced a fixture that could potentially be a destiny defining one for the Pilgrims and their promotion prospects in the 2022-23 campaign.

Matt Butcher wrote his name into Argyle folklore with the only goal of the game in the 70th minute with a shot that took a deflection off the Grecians former Pilgrims defender Will Aimson, following a short corner routine. The result also sees Argyle boss Steven Schumacher complete the double over his opposite number Gary Caldwell.

It was a result that sees the Pilgrims gain ground on fellow promotion challengers Sheffield Wednesday, who lost 3-2 to Burton Albion, and return to the summit of League One. 

Should Argyle achieve their ultimate aim and win promotion then the Devon derby with Exeter will be off their agenda and both sides will need to cast their net further in search for their nearest local fixture to Bristol. Nigel Pearson's Bristol City in the case of the Pilgrims and Joey Barton's Bristol Rovers in the case of the Grecians.

SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS YORK CITY

1. Aaron Jarvis' hat-trick. 

When Aaron Jarvis netted a hat-trick for Torquay United in the Gulls' 6-1 win over Aldershot Town last October, he became the sixth player to hit a treble for United under Gary Johnson (Jamie Reid, Saikou Janneh, Jake Andrews, Danny Wright and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans are the others). 

However, after finding the back of the net three times against York City, Jarvis has now become the only player to manage the feat under Johnson's reign. For his goal, he headed home a cross from Kieron Evans on 14 minutes; he then turned home a cross from Lewis Collins in the 21st minutes and in the 57th minute he converted from the spot after he was obstructed by Minstermen defender Max Kouogun. 

His efforts take his tally for the season in all competitions to 18 and he also had the double distinction of winning the club's player of the season prize. 

In addition to this, he also becomes the first player to score two hat-tricks in a season for the Gulls since Robin Stubbs in the 1965-66 campaign. 

2. Mark Halstead's saves. 

At the other end of the pitch, United keeper Mark Halstead made a number of important saves to keep York City at bay. 

Amongst the vital stops the former Blackpool man made were to deny a header from Max Kouogun and a one-handed stop which denied Ryan Fallowfield with an effort from distance. With the latter, the rebound fell to Shaq Forde who hit the post and Max Kouogun who had a shot which was cleared off the line by Dean Moxey. 

3. Jack Stobbs has adapted well to the wing-back role. 

Although he was signed as a winger, Oldham Athletic loanee Jack Stobbs has proved himself adept when deployed as a wing-back. As well as pushing forward to support the attack, Stobbs also diligently tracked back and he started the move which led to Jarvis' scoring United's second as he fed Lewis Collins down the right hand side, which enabled Collins to produce the vital cross that found United's leading scorer. 

4. Five wins in a row. 

United's victory over York was also their fifth win in a row, which is the first time that the Gulls have won five successive league games since April 2, 2021 to April 20, 2021. This sequence included wins over Woking and Wrexham (1-0), Weymouth (2-1), Sutton (1-0) and Woking (2-1). 

5. Shades of Barnet in 2001. 

It is worth noting that 3-2 wins over relegation rivals are nothing new for Torquay United. Many fans who worth there will no doubt remember the final day decider at Underhill against Barnet in 2001, when United beat the Bees 3-2 to retain their Football League status. On that occasion the Gulls raced into a 3-0 lead and half-time, but two second half goals set up a nervy finish - which Adam Crookes' late strike helped to set up. 

6. The gap is now down to two points. 

After the latest round of fixtures, the Gulls currently have 46 points and remain two points behind Aldershot Town, who won 2-1 against already relegated Scunthorpe United to move on to 48 points. 

York's defeat at Plainmoor keeps them on 49 points, level with Maidenhead United followed up their Easter Monday defeat to the Gulls with another loss against Oldham Athletic.