Plymouth Argyle 3 : 0 Portsmouth - Reid inspires Plymouth win

Posted Saturday, November 15, 2014 by PA

Plymouth's in-form strike pair put Portsmouth to the sword with three goals inside 25 first-half minutes as they cruised to a 3-0 win.

Reuben Reid reached double figures for the season with a brace either side of Lewis Alessandra's smart finish as they extended their unbeaten League Two run to seven matches in comprehensive fashion.

It took just six minutes for the deadlock to be broken in the dockyard derby, Nicky Shorey was deemed to have tripped Alessandra and Reid stepped up to send Paul Jones the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Pompey searched for an instant response with Danny Hollands firing straight at Luke McCormick before the shotstopper kept out Ricky Holmes' drive from a tight angle with his feet.

Argyle were causing their visitors all sorts of problems down the right and Kelvin Mellor was allowed to roam into the box in the 21st minute before rolling a pass into the path of Alessandra to double their lead.

Nine minutes later it was three and right wing-back Mellor, back in the side after overcoming a hamstring injury, was heavily involved once more.

He galloped past Shorey before side stepping the former Reading man and pulling the ball back for top scorer Reid to gleefully smash across goal.

Andy Awford's men were a lick of paint away from conceding a fourth in the 71st minute when Lee Cox's long-range effort rattled off Jones' crossbar.

A minute later only the reactions of the onrushing Jones denied substitute Deane Smalley before the former Oxford man's weaving run ended with a thumping shot against a post as Argyle sauntered to victory.