Bournemouth 4 Argyle Youth 0

SEVERAL of the regulars in the Argyle squad played at Fulham in the Premier League Cup on Friday evening, meaning a very young side travelled to Bournemouth in the EFL Youth Alliance.

Four under-15s and five under-16s were included in a squad that found themselves a goal down in the first minute, as the Cherries worked the ball down Argyle's right flank before cutting inside and firing a low drive past the Pilgrims’ trialist goalkeeper.

To make matters worse, the visitors were reduced to 10  men on 15 minutes, when Ali Mansaray collected a straight red after allegedly pulling back a Bournemouth striker as he threatened to break clear.

The home side were then awarded a penalty after a quickly-taken free-kick caught out the Argyle defence, leaving the goalkeeper to pull the striker down.

Argyle changed their shape for the second half to counteract their man disadvantage but found themselves 3-0 down on 55 minutes, as the home striker fired past Harry Townsend, who had replaced the trialist, from eight yards.

This young side then defended very well and restricted the Cherries to very few chances until two minutes from time, when a mis-directed clearance allowed Bournemouth to fire home from 12 yards.

Argyle will be hoping to field a more experienced side when they return to Bournemouth next Saturday for a League Cup game.

Argyle: A Trialist (Harry Townsend h-t), Ollie Tomlinson 65, Ali Mansaray, Brandon Pursall, Reuben Collum, Angel Waruih, Carlo Garside, Will Jenkins-Davies, Jeremiah Medine (Jeffrey Forkuo 60), Rubin Wilson, Oscar Massey. Substitutes not used: Jack Endacott, Charlie Elkinson, Ryan Downing.