Academy Report | Argyle Under-18s 3 Stevenage 0

Argyle Under-18s 3
Hatch 4, Endacott 64, Roberts 67

Stevenage 0

Argyle marched confidently into the third round of the EFL Youth Alliance League Cup with this victory, at Harper's Park, over Stevenage.

Goals from Joe Hatch, Jack Endacott and Caleb Roberts saw Darren Way's side safely into the draw for the next round.

Argyle started strongly and through that they could have had a penalty for foul on Freddie Issaka even before Hatch put them in front on four minutes. The Wales Under-17 forward flicked home deftly from a low, left-wing cross. 

The Pilgrims generally bossed possession, but Stevenage had plenty of first-half chances and visibly grew in confidence as half-time approached. A combination of some good saves by Zak Baker in the Argyle goal and some wasteful Stevenage finishing meant the single-goal advantage was maintained going into the break. 

The Young Pilgrims picked up the pace in the second half, and pressure eventually told when Jack Endacott burst forward on the left flank, and his cross-cum-shot found the back of the Stevenage net.

Only minutes later, Caleb Roberts pressured a Stevenage defender who had received a pass from his own goalkeeper, and when the ball fell loose, Roberts accurately placed the ball home.

Argyle continued to heap pressure on their opponents with Hatch denied by a close range save, Issaka firing over the bar and Roberts forcing another fine save from the visiting custodian as the Greens finished the game well on top.

Argyle: Zak Baker, Jack Matthews, Cole Gibbings, Jeffrey Forkuo, Oscar Halls, Harley Sneap (Finley Wilkes), Freddie Issaka, Caleb Roberts, Kieran Edworthy (Lewis Colwell), Joe Hatch (Henry Donovan), Jack Endacott. Substitute not used: James Morley (gk).