FRIENDLIES Saltash Utd 1 Plymouth Argyle XI 4 Ashes boss Leigh Cooper will take plenty of positives from his side's first half performance on Monday against a talented Argyle side that included first year professionals Ryan Dickson and Luke Summerfield. The Western League Division One side were unlucky to be 2-1 down at the break after matching their visitors for much of the half. But it was a different affair in the second half when tiredness set in as Argyle made the most of their chances. Argyle were dominant in the early stages and were leading in the fifth minute as Clay Bond put in Chris Zebroski to cross low into the danger area. Chris Reski looked to have missed the chance when he miskicked but he recovered his poise to fire past goalkeeper Ian Chatfield from six yards. Chatfield was making his debut after being recommended to Cooper by former Argyle keeper John Sheffield and looked useful despite his lack of height. Chatfield did well to pull off a double save from Dickson before James Alexander's fierce drive brought a good save out of the Argyle keeper James Debbage. Saltash were coming more into the game with Dennis Mason going close before Alexander scored the goal of the game with a cracking drive from the angle of the box that flew into the far top corner of Debbage's goal. Both sides had chances to add to their tally before Argyle regained the lead on the stroke of half time with Zebroski drawing the home defence before slipping the ball to the onrushing Marcus Martin who coolly steered it past Chatfield from six yards. The second half belonged to the visitors and the game was over as a contest as they scored twice in as many minutes on the hour. Tony McKeever, who had impressed all night at right back, put in another fine cross which left Zebroski with the simple task of heading home at the far post. Martin made it 4-1 with a fine solo run that ended with a crisp drive from 20 yards and minutes later he was unlucky as his header came back off the Ashes crossbar but by then the job had been completed and victory in the bag.
