Academy Report | Exeter City 2 Argyle 3

Argyle Under-18s won their latest Devon Derby by the odd goal in five as they beat Exeter City 3-2 and kept up the pressure at the top of the Youth Alliance League.

The game, played at Exwick Sports Hub, saw Argyle go 2-0 up by half-time, with goals from Freddie Issaka and Oscar Halls. City pulled one back via Sonny Cox, but Will Jenkins Davies restored the Greens’ two-goal advantage. City scored again 13 minutes from time, but Argyle saw the game out.

Issaka got the scoring going on 12 minutes, deftly flicking home Jenkins Davies’ left-wing at the near post, having sauntered into some space in the six-yard area.

Caleb Roberts had the best chance to make it two as Argyle kept up the pressure, although Exeter had a good spell around the middle of the half where they forced Argyle to defend well to preserve their lead.

Just when City thought they may be about to nick an equaliser before half-time, Argyle found a second, again from a set-piece. Another Jenkins-Davies delivery, this time a low right-wing free-kick into the area, was too much for the hosts to defend. Jack Matthews turned the ball goalwards, with Oscar Halls making sure on the goal-line.

Goalkeeper Zak Baker made a superb save soon after the restart, but Exeter kept knocking on the door and got back into the game via half-time sub Sonny Cox, who broke in behind the Pilgrims’ defence and scored with a low drive from the edge of the box.

This livened Argyle up, and after Issaka and Joe Hatch had opportunities to make it 3-1, it was Jenkins Davies who restored the two-goal advantage.

After Finley Wilkes won the ball back deep inside Argyle’s own half, Jenkins Davies played the ball to Hatch, to drove upfield. As he reached the area, Hatch laid off to Jenkins Davies, who had continued his run, and steered home beautifully with his left-foot.

With just under a quarter of an hour left, a low free-kick from Exeter’s right deceived everyone and found the net, making the closes stages of the game a little twitchy, but Argyle stood firm.

The win means Argyle draw level on points with Bournemouth at the top of the table, with the Cherries taking on third-placed Portsmouth on Saturday to attempt to restore their advantage. They will, though, have played one game more than Argyle at that point, with the young Pilgrims having five remaining games.

Argyle: Zak Baker, Lewis Colwell, Cole Gibbings, Finley Wilkes, Oscar Halls (capt), Jack Matthews, Will Jenkins Davies, Caleb Roberts, Harry Donovan (Joe Hatch 55), Freddie Issaka (Cole Fisher 86), Jack Endacott. Sub not used: James Morley (gk).