Argyle returned to winning ways at Home Park as they opened March with a 2-0 win against Charlton Athletic.
Ryan Hardie grabbed the opening goal nine minutes into the second half after charging down an attempted clearance from defender Lucas Ness and then slotting the ball past goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer.
The win was wrapped up by an 87th minute strike from Niall Ennis after a cut-back by Callum Wright, who was starting to show the promise which had persuaded Steven Schumacher to sign him from Blackpool at the start of January.
Read More: Steven Schumacher explains Danny Mayor departure from Argyle
Argyle had their third Sky-televised League One game of the season next, against Derby County at Home Park, and like the previous two they came out on top in a thriller.
Derby, who still harboured outside hopes of automatic promotion at the time, deservedly led 1-0 at half-time after a goal from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who beat the Pilgrims’ offside trap before putting the ball past Callum Burton and into the net.
However, the Pilgrims played with an increased tempo in the second half and Derby could not cope with that.
Wright equalised with a deflected, looping shot before Hardie netted from the penalty spot after a controversial decision by referee Charles Breakspear following a challenge on Finn Azaz by Harvey White.
It was a result which moved Argyle level on points with league leaders Sheffield Wednesday, but the Owls had a better goal difference and two games in hand on them.
Argyle faced another crunch clash against fourth-placed Barnsley at a snowy Oakwell the following weekend.
After a goal-less first half, Ryan Hardie had a great opportunity to open the scoring at the start of the second period but he fluffed his lines in a one-on-one with Barnsley goalkeeper Harry Isted.
Buoyed by that let-off, in-form Barnsley went on to win 3-0, meaning the Pilgrims had conceded eight times in two away league games and giving cause for concern over whether their results on the road could cost them their hopes of automatic promotion.
Argyle had home comforts for their next game against bottom-of-the-table Forest Green Rovers and predictably ran out comfortable winners by a 2-0 scoreline.
Defender James Bolton made his first start of the season after recovering from a long-term foot injury and opened the scoring with a header from a Jordan Houghton corner.
Bali Mumba then extended the Pilgrims’ lead early in the second half with a well-placed, far post header after an excellent cross from defender James Wilson who had advanced down the right.
Tuesday, March 21 proved to be an important night at the top of the table as Argyle made the long trip to Accrington Stanley and ground out a 2-0 win after goals from Matt Butcher, against his former club, and substitute Conor Grant, on his return from a long-term thigh injury.
The Pilgrims returned to the top of the table, two points clear of Wednesday, who lost 4-2 away to South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley on the same evening.
Wednesday still had a couple of games in hand on Argyle but it was all getting very tight at the top with third-placed Ipswich Town closing in on both of the top two.
The less said about Argyle’s 4-0 Papa Johns Trophy final drubbing by Bolton Wanderers at Wembley on Sunday, April 2 the better.
Suffice it to say, the magnificent 39,000-strong Green Army in a crowd of almost 80,000 – the highest attendance for any game in Europe that weekend – had nothing to cheer about once the game began.
It was crucial that Argyle bounced back from that bitter disappointment when they returned to league action, which had always been their priority for the season, away to Morecambe on Good Friday.
It seemed as though the Pilgrims were suffering from a post-Wembley hangover when they fell behind inside three minutes to a breakaway goal from Jensen Weir.
The scoreline remained 1-0 until less than 30 minutes were remaining when a superb first goal of the season from Danny Mayor sparked yet another come-from-behind win for Argyle.
Mayor was one of the three second half substitutes to score, with Ben Waine putting the Pilgrims ahead in the 86th minute and then Jay Matete making sure of the vital victory deep into added time.
That was followed by just a second home league defeat of the season for Argyle as they lost 2-0 to Lincoln City on Easter Monday and promotion nerves were beginning to creep into the watching Green Army.
However, the players stayed calm and continued to stick to the gameplans set for them by Steven Schumacher, starting with the 1-0 Devon derby win away to Exeter City.
The Exeter PA announcer welcomed Argyle before the game to ‘Devon’s premier football venue’ but the Pilgrims had the last laugh after Matt Butcher’s deflected goal in the 70th minute.
Argyle were again on the road three days later and they trailed Shrewsbury Town after Killian Phillips opened the scoring early in the second half.
Plymouth Argyle League One champions special edition being printed by The Herald
It has been a wonderful, historic season for Plymouth Argyle as they have clinched promotion to the Championship in stunning style.
Steven Schumacher led the Pilgrims to the League One title with a remarkable record of 31 wins and 101 points from their 46 games.
There were so many highs during the campaign, and you will be able to relive them with a 40-page standalone publication which will be printed by The Herald.
Featuring memorable photos from all of the major moments during the season, Argyle Are Champions will detail the story from start to finish.
CLICK HERE to pre-order your copy and get it delivered straight to your door, alternatively it will be available to purchase in all local retailers/newsagents from Thursday, May 18, 2023.
Captain Joe Edwards chose a good time to get his first goal of the season when he headed home a Niall Ennis cross in the 68th minute and then, in the fifth minute of added time, Callum Wright secured a dramatic 2-1 win with a stooping header from a Macaulay Gillesphey delivery.
Back on track after two successive away wins and with three consecutive home games coming up, Argyle were top of the table, now ahead of Ipswich by a point, with Wednesday two back after a sudden dip of form for them.
Argyle had won 18 of their first 20 home league games in the season and knew that three more would probably clinch automatic promotion for them.
The pressure was on but they responded superbly, first beating relegation-threatened Cambridge United 3-1 and then Bristol Rovers 2- in midweek.
That meant a win against Burton Albion in their final home game of the season on April 29 would see the Pilgrims promoted to the Championship and they achieved that with a 1-0 victory after a goal from Niall Ennis on the stroke of half-time.
Argyle had one last task as they went into May – to hold off the challenge of second-placed Ipswich and become league champions.
They did just that by coming from behind yet again to win 3-1 away to Port Vale after goals from Adam Randell, Edwards and Finn Azaz.
When the final whistle went, that sparked wild scenes of celebration among the players and the 4,000-strong travelling Green Army. An incredible season had ended on the highest of highs, with the Pilgrims racking up 101 points and 31 wins from their 46 games.
For more Argyle content that you cannot get anywhere else, sign up for Chris Errington’s weekly Inside Home Park newsletter HERE
Argyle Season Review January/February: Five new arrivals in nine days
Revealed: The Argyle budget which they won League One with
Argyle Season Review November/December: Pilgrims end year on winning run
Argyle January transfer target leaving Cambridge
Steven Schumacher addresses Argyle futures of five key players