Hair-raising Rubes

SATURDAY’S Dockyard Derby was anything but a close shave...

...as Reuben Reid’s double in Argyle’s 3-0 Sky Bet League 2 victory over Portsmouth proved the perfect something for the Green Army’s weekend.

Reuben netted his tenth goal of the season in the sixth minute of the Sky League 2 match, converting a penalty, and added number 11 on the half-hour, after strike partner Lewi Alessandra had also netted, to give the Pilgrims a comfortable win.

It won him his second successive man of the match award from broadcasters Sky Sports, who televised the drubbing live, and a visit to the barber’s.

“I can get my hair cut now,” said Reuben, afterwards. “I said, when I got to five goals, that I wouldn’t cut it until I got to ten. It’ll go back to what I normally have. That should help me out as well.”

Reuben overcame some kidology by Pompey goalkeeper Paul Jones to fire home his third successful spot-kick, for a second successive league penalty conversion. Jones stood pointedly to one side of his goal but Reuben said: “I had it in my mind already, the side I was going to go.

“I changed my mind at Burton last week but that was a completely different scenario. Today, even if he stood in the corner, I was going to hit it in that corner. I think that’s the best thing to do – you have it in your mind, going up there, and you don’t change.”

Referee Andy Madley awarded the spot-kick when Lewi was fouled by Nick Shorey, following Kelvin Mellor pass.

“We had good build-up play,” said Reuben. “I’ve played the ball into Kelvin at the start, held it up, and he’s played it into Lewi. He’s got ahead of his marker, and once you’re in front of the ball and your man, any contact and you can go down.”

Reuben’s second goal owed much to Kelvin Mellor’s supply, which came after the Pilgrims’ wing-back had turned Shorey inside out.

“He’s  a really skilful player and I don’t know how many times he wanted to chop the guy,” said Reuben, “but I think about five of us were waiting for the pull-back for a good few seconds – it felt like ages. He eventually pulled it back and I’ve hit it well, kept my head over the ball and it’s gone in.

“As soon it leaves your foot, you think it’s got a chance and you just want it to creep in. Thankfully, it was a good feeling when it hit the post and went in.”