Hello and welcome to the first edition of The Argyle Briefing.
This is The Argyle Angle’s weekly round-up of the news and results from across the club. You’ll find out how the first team, under-18s and women’s team fared in their matches, there’s a recap of any news you may have missed, and there are a few links to other content in the Argyle ecosystem.
Hope you like it, and have a great week.
Argyle advance to round two
The first team are safely through to the second round of the FA Cup after eventually overcoming semi-professional outfit Alvechurch, who ply their trade in the seventh-tier Southern League Premier Central, at Home Park on Saturday.
Match recap: After a goalless first 45 minutes, the Pilgrims finally came to the party in the second half. Will Evans scored his first two goals at Home Park, Michael Baidoo bagged his first Argyle goal and Ronan Curtis rounded off the scoring.
What it means: Cleverley’s boys avoided a third successive defeat in the first round, having lost to Grimsby in 2022 and Wycombe last year. Their second round tie will be played on the weekend of Saturday 5 December.
Possible second round opponents
AFC Fylde, Barnet, Barnsley, Barrow, Blackpool, Bradford, Bristol Rovers, Burton, Carlisle, Cheltenham, Chesterfield, Colchester, Crewe, Dover, Exeter, Guiseley, Kidderminster, Leicester, Leyton Orient, Luton, Mansfield, MK Dons, Newport, Port Vale, Rochdale, Rotherham, Salisbury, Shrewsbury, Stevenage, Wigan, Wycombe, York.
Notts County, Reading, Grimsby, Stockport, Wimborne, Oldham, Plymouth Parkway/Berkhamsted.
News In Brief
🏆 The under-18s will face St Ives Town at Home Park on Tuesday 24 November (kick-off 7pm) in the second round of the FA Youth Cup. (Read more on pafc.co.uk)
📺 Argyle’s League One fixtures at home to Cambridge United and Leicester City in the New Year have been moved after being selected for Sky Sports television coverage. (Read more on pafc.co.uk)
🦉 Tickets for Argyle’s trip to Sheffield Wednesday in League One this weekend will go on general sale at midday. (Read more on pafc.co.uk)
🔊 Pilgrims Podcast provided their take on Argyle’s FA Cup win over Alvechurch. (Listen on Spotify)
🗣️ Green and White Podcast did another live debrief of Argyle’s victory last night. (Watch on YouTube)
🤕 Tom Cleverley admitted he was ‘a little bit concerned’ about a calf injury suffered by defender Julio Pleguezuelo. (Chris Errington, Plymouth Live)
💪 The Argyle chief was also glad the ‘incredible’ workrate of striker Will Evans got the reward of two goals in the win against Alvechurch. (Chris Errington, Plymouth Live)
Under-18s through to last eight
A few hours before assisting Baidoo for his first Argyle goal, Jared Rendle was helping the under-18s beat Swindon Town 2-1 to clinch their place in the Professional Development League Cup quarter-finals.
Match recap: After falling behind a couple of minutes into the second half, goals from Tashall Sandhu and Billy Devlin secured the win for the young Pilgrims.
What it means: The win means Argyle have topped Group A and reached the quarter-finals for the first time.
Women finally get their win
It’s been a tough old season for Argyle’s women thus far, but Matt Green’s side have their first win of their Women’s National League South campaign at the tenth attempt after overcoming Hashtag United at Home Park yesterday afternoon.
Match recap: Millie Pullen’s penalty proved the difference with the forwardconverting from the spot in the 15th minute after Shana Dolbel was brought down by Emel Huseyin.
What it means: Argyle are still at the foot of the Women’s National League South table, four adrift of Swindon Town who also won yesterday, but they have their first points on the board and they’re now within five points of safety.
Women’s National League South
⚪️ 8. Real Bedford — 10 pts (-6)
⚪️ 9. Hashtag — 8 pts (-8)
⚪️ 10. Cheltenham — 8 pts (-11)
🔴 11. Swindon — 7 pts (-12)
🔴 12. Argyle — 3 pts (-35)🟢 Automatic promotion 🟡 Play-offs 🔴 Relegation
Coming up this week
Tune into TNT Sports tonight to find out who Argyle will face in the second round of the FA Cup. The draw is taking place prior to Plymouth Parkway’s first round tie against Berkhamsted, which begins at 7.30pm.
Then, attention switches to the Jersey Mike’s Trophy on Tuesday evening with Cleverley’s side hosting Swindon Town in their final group game (kick-off 7pm). The Pilgrims are already through to the knockouts, but a point will see them top the group.
We’ve got a Devon derby on Thursday morning as the under-18s make the short trip to Exeter City in the EFL Youth Alliance South (kick-off 11am). Argyle go into that one as league leaders, with the Grecians four points behind in third.
The senior team are back in League One action on Saturday when they visit Hillsborough to take on Sheffield Wednesday. There was a chance this could have been postponed for international call-ups, but this one is going ahead at 3pm.
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Matt Friday
Founder, The Argyle Angle