Argyle v Yeovil, PL Under-23 League

Argyle 2
Lolos 34, Sangster 78

Yeovil Town 0

A YOUNG Argyle side progressed to the group stages of the Premier League Under-23 Cup with a fine victory over their Westcountry neighbours at Home Park.

Klaidi Lolos gave the Pilgrims the lead towards the end of the first half but all results remained a possibility until Cameron Sangster added a second with 12 minutes to play.

Argyle will now face defending champions Everton, Fulham and Watford - home and away - in the next stage of the competition.

Yeovil, strings being pulled by Gabby Rogers, son of former Argyle midfielder Andy Rogers, looked handy early on but, as the first half progressed, so did the Pilgrims' control and menace.

Lolos's tight control of a ball played into his feet allowed him to turn his marker and fire off a shot that clattered the crossbar with a helpful touch, unseen by the officials, of goalkeeper Kacper Kowalczyk.

It was a precursor to the game's opening goal. For once, Rogers' touch deserted him and Alfie Wotton was able to find Reuben Collum in space on the left. This time, the ball was ahead of Lolos, who beat Kowalczyk to the pass, nicked it around him and shot low across a back-tracking defender.

Mike Cooper, in the Argyle goal, had enjoyed a relatively free evening up until that point, but was twice called upon to make important saves before the break - first when, following a corner, Wright crashed a loose ball goalwards; then when Rogers shot powerfully from an acute angle.

Cooper was again to the fore as Yeovil began the second half at a gallop. He bravely dived at the feet of Devon Arnold to snuff out a Town breakout, and then, as the ball broke favourably for the visitors, immediately had to do the same to thwart Alfie Sturdy.

Argyle were unfazed by the incursion, and came close to doubling their lead when Adam Randell twice dropped a shoulder in a run on goal before offloading to Sangster, who was denied by the tightness of the angle.

The tie was put to bed 12 minutes from time, when one of Argyle's increasingly frequent attacks, led by Rubin Wilson, saw a Yeovil defender deflect the ball on to his own crossbar. As everyone stood watching, Sangster stole in to tuck it home unimpeded.

One more save by Cooper, from Arnold, ensured that the Pilgrims' progressed with a clean sheet.

Argyle (3-5-2): 31 Mike Cooper; 26 Michael Peck, 14 Ollie Tomlinson, 15 Alfie Wotton (16 Brandon Pursall 90); 2 Jarvis Cleal, 7 Jude Boyd, 20 Adam Randell (capt), 28 Cameron Sangster, 3 Reuben Collum; 9 Rubin Wilson, 19 Klaidi Lolos (29 Luke Jephcott 74). Substitutes (not used): 13 Tyler Coombes (gk), 17 Angel Wariuh, 22 Rhys Shirley.

Booked: Lolos 37

Yeovil Town (4-3-3): 1 Kacper Kowalczyk; 2 Dykan Abora-Poku, 18 Sam Wright, 5 Tai Fleming (capt), 20 George Calverley; 17 Toby Stephens, 15 Declan Rose, 10 Daniel Nield; 16 Gabby Rogers (9 Ben Hughes 78), 14 Devon Arnold, 11 Alfie Sturdy (19 Alfie Lloyd 63). Substitutes (not used): 21 Ezray Omba, 22 Adam Heaton.

Booked: Fleming 89.

Referee: Devon Campbell.

Attendance: 297.