REPORT | ARGYLE 2 BRISTOL ROVERS 0
Argyle 2
Ennis 51
Gillesphey 56
Bristol Rovers 0
Argyle took full advantage of playing with an extra man for more than an hour to confidently sweep past Bristol Rovers with a crucial 2-0 victory under the Home Park lights.
Antony Evans gave his side an almighty task by picking up two bookings inside the opening 26 minutes and the Pilgrims broke through the Rovers’ wall with a sensational Niall Ennis overhead kick early in the second period.
Macaulay Gillesphey made sure of the three points with a glancing header just five minutes later and the Greens now know that a win at home to Burton Albion on Saturday will seal promotion to the Championship.
Argyle manager Steven Schumacher made three changes from the weekend win over Cambridge United, with James Wilson, Matt Butcher and Ennis coming in for Nigel Lonwijk, Jordan Houghton and Ryan Hardie.
Given the significance of the game, there was an understandable tension in a tight opening to the night, with Evans attracting the ire of the Green Army with a cynical trip on Bali Mumba that earned him a booking.
Callum Wright steered a header wide before dominant work from Dan Scarr in the defending box cleared a Rovers corner. Danny Mayor then warmed the hands of goalkeeper James Belshaw after smart approach play from Ennis and Mumba.
The earlier yellow card for Evans took on monumental proportions on 26 minutes, as he was given his marching orders for another ragged challenge on Mayor, forcing the Gas into a swift reshuffle.
Argyle reacted with a further increase in tempo and Mumba, the recently crowned Young Player of the Season in Sky Bet League One, turned his man in magical Cruyff fashion before a tight-angle shot was charged down by Belshaw.
Mumba forced another save from the increasingly stretched visiting custodian before a lovely run inside from Wright ended with a shot sent sailing inches over.
Finn Azaz replaced Mayor at the interval and he soon delivered a pinpoint cross for Callum Wright but his header flashed past the post.
The opening goal, when it came, was an absolute cracker from Ennis. Wilson clipped in a lovely cross from the right, Ennis cushioned the ball beautifully on his chest and then guided a wonderful overhead kick into the bottom corner.
It was a fitting goal for the occasion and the atmosphere inside a bouncing Home Park, but Rovers did respond with a rare foray and a strike from James Gibbons that whistled narrowly off target.
The Greens were soon back in the ascendancy, Belshaw tipping over a lovely strike from Wright. The corner fell to Joe Edwards, who hit an equally sweet strike on the volley but Belshaw was again in the right place for Rovers.
Argyle would not be denied their decisive second, and a swinging corner from Butcher was met at the near post by Gillesphey, who glanced a lovely header beyond a stranded Belshaw.
Hardie for Ennis was the next Argyle change, while Rovers also introduced Ryan Loft and James Connolly in an attacking switch, despite the numerical disadvantage.
It also meant Argyle had even more space to exploit, as the Greens enjoyed a spell of keep-ball to frustrate their visitors and delight the Green Army in equal measure.
Houghton and Jay Matete replaced Butcher and Wright for the final 20 minutes, as the Pilgrims continued to work with superb diligence, closing down Rovers with excellent intensity.
A low cross from the left picked out a darting run from Edwards but the skipper, seeking his third goal in three games, was unable to make a clean contact with his left foot and Rovers scrambled clear.
Houghton snuffed out a dangerous break from Loft with an expertly timed challenge. Sam Cosgrove came on for Mumba in the closing stages, as Argyle calmly saw out the remainder of the game.
The Pilgrims are now five points clear of third-placed Sheffield Wednesday but the message from Schumacher and his coaching staff will undoubtedly be that the job is not yet done.
Argyle: 25 Callum Burton; 3 Macaulay Gillesphey, 5 James Wilson, 6 Dan Scarr, 7 Matt Butcher (4 Jordan Houghton 72), 8 Joe Edwards (capt), 10 Danny Mayor (18 Finn Azaz H-T), 11 Niall Ennis (9 Ryan Hardie 62), 17 Bali Mumba (16 Sam Cosgrove 85), 20 Adam Randell, 26 Callum Wright (28 Jay Matete 72). Substitutes (not used): 32 Adam Parkes (gk), 21 Nigel Lonwijk.
Booked: Matete 81
Bristol Rovers: 1 James Belshaw; 3 Lewis Gordon, 5 Jarell Quansah, 8 Grant Ward, 9 John Marquis (19 Harry Anderson 74), 10 Aaron Collins (28 James Gibbons H-T), 17 Lewis Gibson (18 Ryan Loft 60), 21 Antony Evans, 22 Lamare Bogarde, 30 Luca Hoole (2 James Connolly 60), 40 James Coburn (6 Sam Finley 33). Substitutes (not used): 31 Jed Ward (gk), 7 Scott Sinclair.
Booked: Evans 13, Loft 86
Sent-off: Evans 26
Attendance: 16,254 (409 away)
Referee: Craig Hicks