Argyle’s good winning streak came to an end after a 3-1 defeat against Swindon Town in the Papa John’s Trophy at Home Park.
Argyle are now at the bottom of the table with zero points after two games in this competition. Their chances of qualifying for the next round have shrunk after Arsenal U-21 won 4-3, with a last-minute goal, against Newport County.
The first half started on a high after a disallowed goal for Argyle due to an offside on the 10th minute. The first goal of the game would arrive relatively quickly, Macaulay Gillespey, Argyle’s centre back, scored an own goal after a shot cross from Harry Parsons.
The equaliser did not take long to arrive as on the 24th minute after a cross from Gillespey, hoping to redeem himself after the own goal, to Kieran Agard who tapped it inside the box to make it 1-1.
Chances kept coming and Agard, unluckily, missed an open goal which could have meant the second one of the night for Argyle in the 36th minute.
After only one minute of extra time, Sam Allison, blew the whistle calling half-time.
The second half started really slowly. Neither of the teams were showing their best level. Argyle made a sub right at the start of the period, with the 30-year-old, Danny Mayor giving up his place to the 17-year-old academy graduate, Will Jenkins-Davies.
Both teams, 15 minutes into second half, started making subs.
And 30 minutes in, Swindon’s winger, Mitchell-Lawson, scored from the inside of the box. A great pass from the goalkeeper, Lewis Ward, ended up being an assist as it led the winger to counterattack by making a fantastic run down the right.
Ten minutes later came Swindon’s third of the night. Harry Mckirdy, who had been subbed on during the second half, tapped it inside the box after a pass from Mitchell-Lawson just at the edge of the box.
Swindon kept creating opportunities while Argyle were hoping to not concede another goal. Two late goals from the Pilgrims were needed to force the penalties.
But the game ended after four minutes of extra time, with a 3-1 result as Argyle lost three valuable points for the competition and Swindon Town sitting at the top of the group table with six points.