Sweet victory! Trotman's late winner ends Argyle's goal drought

Mansfield Town 0

Plymouth Argyle 1

Neal Trotman 90+3

Sky Bet Football League 2, Saturday 26 October 2013, One Call Stadium

It took 249 minutes but finally Argyle found the back of the net - in injury time - to take all three points away from Nottinghamshire. For so long it looked like Argyle's goaless and winless run would continue, but Neal Trotman's 93rd minute header had the travelling fans in paroxysms of delight. 

The result will come as a mighty relief to John Sheridan too, who under increasing pressure, has stuck to his belief that the players had what was required to fulfill the club's ambitions for the season, despite the frustratingly barren run. It is only one game; one result - but it should provide some collective confidence and a platform to build upon.

The Pilgrims were tested by a strong physical game from their hosts. Mansfield pressed hard in the first half; the Greens withstanding considerable early pressure and gradually increasing their possession towards the break and into the second.

Sheridan switched to a 3-4-3 formation from his recent favoured 3-5-2, making three changes to the side that lined up against Newport on Tuesday.

Veteran Guy Branston was recalled to the centre of defence alongside Max Blanchard and Neal Trotman. Each played their part in resisting Mansfield's direct approach and it was Trotman who found the late winner, rising to head home Conor Hourihane's free-kick; just reward for a battling display.

Argyle climb one place to 18th in the table on 15 points. Let's hope it's only the beginning of the ascension.

Mansfield Town (3-5-2): 33 Liam Mitchell; 2 Ritchie Sutton, 5 John McCombe, 27 George Pilkington; 17 Lee Beevers, 26 Jack Blake, 18 Ben Hutchinson (20 Lindon Meikle 83), 23 Jamie McGuire, 30 Colin Daniel; 9 Matt Rhead (24 Calvin Andrew 67), 11 Sam Clucas (36 Ollie Palmer 77). Substitutes (not used): 3 Paul Black, 8 Keiran Murtagh, 10 Lee Stevenson, 13 Anthony Powell.

Booked: Hutchinson 37, Blake 68.

Plymouth Argyle (3-4-3): 23 Luke McCormick; 4 Maxime Blanchard, 16 Neal Trotman, 5 Guy Branston; 2 Durrell Berry, 17 Curtis Nelson, 6 Conor Hourihane (capt), 28 Jamie Reckord (19 Paul Hayes 84); 7 Lewis Alessandra (18 Tyler Harvey 84), 9 Reuben Reid, 8 Rommy Boco (27 Andres Gurrieri 75). Substitutes (not used): 1 Jake Cole, 14 Luke Young, 15 Paul Wotton, 20 Hamza Bencherif.

Referee: Gary Sutton.

Attendance: 3,379 (460 away)

For a full match report, visit http://www.pafc.co.uk