LEAGUE TWO PLAY-OFF SEMI FINALS – PLYMOUTH VS WYCOMBE AND STEVENAGE VS SOUTHEND
SATURDAY 9TH MAY
Plymouth Argyle 2-3 Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe have the upper hand as they prepare for Thursday night’s second leg following a victory at Home Park.
It could have been all the more comfortable however for the Chairboys, who led 3-0 early in the second half.
But Plymouth, who finished thirteen points behind Wycombe, scored twice late on the give themselves a chance when the sides meet at Adams Park.
The game was only ten minutes old when Pilgrims keeper Luke McCormick spilled Alfie Mawson’s header into the path of Chairboys top scorer Paul Hayes, who slotted home to give the visitors the lead.
Soon after, Wycombe were two goals up, as Steven Craig’s controversial assist to Aaron Holloway led to the former striking home and doubling the Chairboys advantage. The ball appeared to strike Craig on the arm, before laying off to Holloway, but the referee allowed play to continue.
Early in the second half, the 813 travelling fans were treated to another goal, as Craig added to his earlier assist by getting himself on the scoresheet.
The crowd of over 14,000 prepared for the worst as the last ten minutes drew nearer, but Charlton loanee Zak Ansah struck home a 30 yard effort past keeper Alex Lynch – who was making his full debut for the injured Matt Ingram – to reduce to deficit.
Then with under five minutes remaining, substitute Jason Banton clipped home another goal to give the Pilgrims a fighting chance in the return leg at Adams Park.
The tie is in the balance for the second leg, and it could go either way, as Plymouth won there 2-0 earlier this season.
SUNDAY 10TH MAY
Stevenage vs Southend United
It’s all square as the sides prepare for the second leg at Roots Hall, with both sides taking the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Broadhall Way.
The first half was, in typical Stevenage fashion, a hard fought and physical game.
The physicality caused the game to be stopped in the first half for eight minutes, when Stevenage captain Bira Dembele and Southend midfielder Michael Timlin clashed heads. Timlin was taken off, and ended up receiving fifteen stitches as a result of a nasty gash on his head, whilst Dembele continued until half time, where he was then replaced.
Neither side had many opportunities in the opening 45, as Boro forward Chris Beardsley saw his tame effort easily saved by Southend keeper Daniel Bentley. Shrimpers’ Adam Barrett’s header went wide before David Worrall’s effort was saved by Boro keeper Chris Day.
But early in the second half, Parrett produced that moment of quality that the game was crying out for. Stevenage midfielder Charlie Lee layed the ball off to Parrett, who bent it delicately past Bentley from some thirty yards, to give the hosts the lead.
Stevenage had that crucial advantage, but not for long. Soon after, Southend United’s top scorer Barry Corr headed in a Stephen McLaughlin cross, but unfortunately for Boro man Andy Bond, it bounced off him and into the net past Day.
With the game petering out, they were only half chances. The best fell to Shrimpers winger Worrall who, even in the closing stages was still full of energy, saw his volley creep just wide past Day’s post.
But it finished level, with it all to play for when the sides return to Roots Hall on Thursday. Southend have an impressive home record, and beat Stevenage there earlier on in the season.
