MacLean on target as Greens claim narrow win over Hereford

IT REMAINS unclear what future, if any, striker Steve MacLean has with Argyle.

But that has not stopped him getting among the goals this pre-season.

MacLean netted in the Pilgrims' 2-0 win at Truro City on July 10, and was also on target in their victory over Hereford at Edgar Street last night.

He scored the decisive goal in the 60th minute of an uninspiring game.

MacLean spent the final three months of last season on loan to Aberdeen, and has had his squad number changed from 9 to 32.

That has led to speculation he will leave Home Park shortly – and possibly even before the start of the League One campaign next Saturday.

But, for the time being at least, MacLean remains on the payroll and has been in good form.

It will be fascinating to see what happens to him in the coming days and weeks.

Argyle were playing for the first time since returning from their training camp in the Netherlands last Friday.

Their side included Birmingham City goalkeeper Colin Doyle as a trialist.

Doyle, 25, is the third choice shot-stopper at the Premier League club, behind Ben Foster and Maik Taylor.

Pilgrims' boss Peter Reid wants to add a second 'keeper to his squad to provide competition for Romain Larrieu.

And Doyle, capped once by the Republic of Ireland at senior international level, took up the offer from Reid to play against Hereford.

Doyle has made 28 starts and three substitute appearances for Birmingham.

He came off the bench for the Blues when they drew 1-1 with Argyle at St Andrews in April 2009.

Doyle took over from Taylor after he was sent-off for a foul on Jamie Mackie.

The Cork-born 'keeper has previously had loan spells with Chester City, Nottingham Forest and Millwall.

Argyle striker Rory Fallon made his first appearance of the pre-season against Hereford, after played for New Zealand at the World Cup earlier this summer.

He had only returned to training with the rest of the Pilgrims' squad on Monday.

Defenders Onismor Bhasera and Marcel Seip also started for Argyle, after missing out on the trip to the Netherlands.

Seip, who had stayed in Plymouth for the birth of his first child, played at right-back.

Midfielder Anton Peterlin was also in the starting line-up, having completed his move to Argyle earlier in the day.

Peterlin, 23, signed a one-year contract with the Pilgrims after impressing on trial.

Argyle were without the injured Karl Duguid and Carl Fletcher so Kari Arnason was the stand-in skipper.

Arnason was partnered in the centre of defence by Bondz N'Gala.

Doyle's first involvement in the match was to confidently catch a right-wing cross in the sixth minute, under pressure from Hereford striker Sean Canham.

Peterlin had a chance to open the scoring when he started and finished an attacking move.

Seip's cross into the penalty area picked out Peterlin, whose mistimed shot was easily saved by Adam Bartlett.

Moments later, Doyle made a superb low stop to deny Hereford's Mathieu Manset.

Manset was actually flagged for offside, but Doyle was not to know that at the time.

Argyle had another opportunity to take the lead in the 14th minute.

Striker Rory Patterson tried to lob the ball over the on-rushing Bartlett, but the Bulls' keeper grabbed it at the second attempt.

After a lively start the action became increasingly scrappy, with Argyle unable to impose themselves.

Their retention of the ball was poor and there was no cohesion about the Pilgrims.

Patterson did have a snapshot saved low to his left by Bartlett in the 40th minute, but otherwise it was all very tame.

There was not much for Reid to be encouraged about at half-time.

Reid made five substitutions at the start of the second period, including trialist left-back Lee Molyneux.

Also sent on were central defender Krisztian Timar, midfield duo Craig Noone and Luke Summerfield and MacLean.

Making way for them were Seip, Chris Clark, Damien Johnson, Fallon and Patterson.

Yannick Bolasie moved from the left wing into Argyle's attack with MacLean.

And MacLean almost broke the deadlock for the Pilgrims in the 53rd minute.

Bhasera, now playing on the left-side of midfield, provided an excellent deep cross which was met by MacLean.

However, his downward header was kicked away by Bartlett at his near post.

MacLean was not to be denied a goal, and he put the Pilgrims into the lead in the 60th minute.

Bhasera made a driving run at the heart of the Bulls' defence and then had a fierce shot beaten away by Bartlett.

MacLean was waiting to pounce, though, and headed the loose ball past Bartlett and into the net.

Hereford almost equalised seven minutes later when defender Janos Kovacs had a powerful header tipped over the crossbar by Doyle.

Inexplicably, referee Phil Gibbs failed to spot Doyle's touch on the ball and did not give a corner.

There were two further Argyle substitutions in the 80th minute, as Jim Paterson and Bradley Wright-Phillips replaced Arnason and Bolasie respectively.

Canham spurned a good chance for Hereford moments later, heading wide of the far post from close range.

That was a rare opportunity for the League Two hosts, who worked hard but lacked the creativity to unlock the Argyle defence and the match ended 1-0.

The Pilgrims had shown an improvement in the second half, with Bhasera particularly impressive in his new role, and that will have given Reid some satisfaction.

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE (4-4-2): Colin Doyle; Marcel Seip (Krisztian Timar h/t), Bondz N'Gala, Kari Arnason (Jim Paterson 80 mins), Onismor Bhasera; Chris Clark (Craig Noone h/t), Anton Peterlin, Damien Johnson (Luke Summerfield h/t), Yannick Bolasie (Bradley Wright-Phillips 80 mins); Rory Patterson (Lee Molyneux h/t), Rory Fallon (Steve MacLean h/t).

Substitute (not used): Romain Larrieu.

HEREFORD UNITED (4-3-3): Adam Bartlett; Ryan Green (Tyler Weir 67 mins), Janos Kovacs (Richard Rose 82 mins), Michael Townsend, Ryan Valentine (Samba Kanoute 67 mins); Sam Gwynne (Daniel Stratford 69 mins), Kenny Lunt, James McQuilkin; Stuart Fleetwood, Sean Canham, Mathieu Manset (Sam Malsom 77 mins).

REFEREE: Phil Gibbs (West Midlands)

ATTENDANCE: 1,343 (127 away)

GOALS: Hereford: None; Argyle: MacLean 60 mins

YELLOW CARDS: Hereford: None; Argyle: None

ARGYLE STAR MAN: Onismor Bhasera: Moved to the left-side of midfield for the second half and gave the Pilgrims some attacking impetus.

NEXT MATCH: Tomorrow, away to Queens Park Rangers, pre-season friendly (7.45pm)