STRIKER George Donnelly grabbed an 89th minute equaliser for Argyle reserves in their draw against Southampton at Home Park yesterday afternoon.

Donnelly salvaged a point for the Pilgrims from the Totesport.com Combination clash when he fired home from 12 yards out.

It meant Argyle preserved their unbeaten record in the competition this season. They had won two of their previous three Wales and West Division matches and drawn the other one.

Southampton had taken the lead in the 41st minute with a fine goal from former Republic of Ireland international striker David Connolly.

Saints' boss Alan Pardew made the trip to Home Park to see 32-year-old Connolly, who signed for the League One club at the end of last week.

Southampton had the first chance of the match in the seventh minute when right-back Jack Boyle had a fierce 25-yard drive saved by 'keeper Kyle Letheren.

Argyle striker Ashley Barnes had completed a hat-trick in the reserves' previous game, a 9-1 away rout of Bournemouth.

And he had an early scoring chance against Southampton, when he latched onto a pass from Alan Gow, who was playing on the right side of midfield.

Barnes raced clear of the Saints' defence but his tame shot was easily saved by Bartosz Bialkowski.

Southampton almost took the lead in the 20th minute when on-loan Reading winger Michail Antonio fired into the sidenetting after cutting inside Argyle right-back Ryan Leonard.

Both sides were playing open attacking football, with Gow having the next chance.

It came on the half-hour mark when he played a slick one-two with Barnes and had a powerful angled shot parried away by Bialkowski at the near post.

Donnelly, who recently returned from a one-month loan spell with Luton Town, then went close in the 33rd minute.

He was picked out by a fine pass from midfielder Chris Clark and his low shot went across the face of goal.

Southampton finally opened the scoring four minutes before half-time, with a piece of clinical finishing from Connolly.

Midfielder Kayne McLaggon outpaced Leonard and put in an excellent cross, which Argyle centre-back Ryan Brett could not cut out.

Connolly did the rest as he coolly despatched the ball past Letheren to make it 1-0.

Gow was switched to a central attacking role at the start of the second half, playing alongside Barnes.

It meant Donnelly took over on the left side of midfield, with Joe Mason moving to the right.

There was no shortage of firepower for the Pilgrims but, too often, the final ball let them down.

Saints almost grabbed a second goal in the 57th minute when striker Matthew Paterson forced a good save out of Letheren.

Argyle continued to find the Southampton defence difficult to break down. But they were close to equalising in the 72nd minute when Clark's low 20-yard free-kick was clawed away by Bialkowski.

Apart from that, though, the Polish 'keeper was rarely tested by the home side.

Argyle made a double substitution in the 82nd minute, with striker Liam Head and midfielder Sean Kinsella replacing Barnes and Clark respectively.

And, with time running out, the Pilgrims grabbed their last-gasp equaliser.

Head played the ball into the penalty area and Donnelly swivelled and shot past Bialkowski.

Argyle manager Paul Sturrock was pleased with the performance of Donnelly, who made only three substitute appearances for Luton while he was on loan to them.

Sturrock said: "A lot of the players needed the game. That was George Donnelly's first full 90 minutes of the season.

"He had a month out of the start of the season with a hamstring injury and then he went to Luton and finished up playing on the wing and in a different system.

"So we brought him back and I thought he did very well today.

"It was a good game and there were some decent performances.

"Nobody let themselves down and their attitude was excellent."

Argyle: Kyle Letheren; Ryan Leonard, Krisztian Timar, Ryan Brett, David McNamee; Alan Gow, Yoann Folly, Chris Clark (Sean Kinsella 82 mins), Joe Mason; George Donnelly, Ashley Barnes (Liam Head 82 mins).

Substitutes (not used): Oliver Chenoweth (gk), Jordan Trott.

Southampton: Bartosz Bialkowski; Jack Boyle, Olly Lancashire, Aaron Martin, Lee Holmes; Michail Antonio, Tom Dunford, Callum McNish, Kayne McLaggon (Garyn Preen 70 mins); Matthew Paterson, David Connolly (Jordace Holder-Spooner 80 mins).

Substitutes (not used): Sam Argent, Jack Dovey (gk), Ben Reeves.

Referee: Kevin Johnson (Somerset)

Goals – Argyle: Donnelly 89 mins; Southampton: Connolly 41 mins