FA Youth Cup Report | Aston Villa 3-0 Argyle U18s
Argyle Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup journey ended on Friday night, with a 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa in the quarter-final at Villa Park.
Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba’s strike late in the first half, alongside second-half goals from Bradley Burrowes and Cole Brannigan, secured a final-four spot for the Midlands side.
The Greens were forced to field a young side at the historic stadium, due to injuries sustained in recent months and long-term injuries seen throughout the season.
Toby Haley and Sam Lord came into Head Coach Jamie Lowry’s side that beat Everton in the previous round and were both involved early in the tie as Aston Villa attacked down their left flank.
Jimoh-Aloba got the first shot away of the game, from inside the area, and could have tested Dan Holman in the Argyle goal if it was not for a recovering block from the aforementioned Lord.
Rather comically, the opening five minutes were highlighted by stoppages due to a flat ball. Three times the game had to be stopped, and three times ball changes were made, but once play restarted, it was Villa, again, who found themselves on the front foot quickly.
Jensen Ireland was the next player in green to put their body on the line and block an effort from Jimoh-Aloba. Again, the Villa number 10 had nothing to celebrate, with Argyle claiming possession and slowing play down.
Again, Villa’s next attacking threat came through Jimoh-Aloba, but the England youth international had to watch his shot be headed back at him by captain Joel Sullivan. However, continued pressure from the hosts did end up coming to fruition. Two minutes before the half-time whistle, the deadlock was broken.
Jimoh-Aloba picked up the ball inside the area, turned and fired towards goal, with the effort catching out Dan Holman, due to a rogue Villa player in front of the Argyle keeper. The shot, somehow, found its way through Holman’s legs and into the back of the net, sending the near 1,000 fans in attendance cheering.
The second half continued in a very similar fashion to the first, but had a different feel to the game from Argyle, knowing that a goal was now needed to get back into the tie. After dealing with an intense attacking five minutes, Argyle were rewarded an opportunity of their own after Seb Campbell was fouled on the edge of the area.
Cole Fisher's ball into the box was almost met by an attacking Sullivan but the defender could not find the final touch needed on the cross. Argyle looked to recycle possession but could not work the ball back into the area and had to deal with a counterattack from the hosts, which eventually came to nothing.
The Greens continued to battle on the defensive end, but just before the hour-mark Villa added a second through Burrowes. A quick counter from the hosts saw the winger breakthrough and slot home, doubling Villa’s lead.
Lowry turned to his bench, making a triple change, bringing on Sam Hayman, Frankie Maund and James Sharpe. A change of shape accompanied the substitutions and caused some initial problems. A quick throw from Holman found Fletcher Poole in space and, after driving towards the Villa box, Argyle had a throw-in on the right following a deflected cross by the Greens’ number 11.
Haley’s long throw into the box was cleared by Villa at first, but not far enough. The looping header fell at the feet of Sullivan, allowing the defender to sweetly volley towards goal, flying not far over the bar.
A minute later, the hosts had a third. Quick play down the left ended with Cole Brannigan tapping the ball home, before rearing off in celebration to a nearby camera. Both sides made substitutions in the final minutes of the game, and it was Argyle who came closest to scoring the next goal in the tie.
Poole drove across the pitch from right to left and was fouled on the edge of the area. The winger placed the ball, took a breath and curled an outstanding effort at goal, that was met by an equally superb save by Sam Proctor.
The Villa keeper dove acrobatically to his left and got a touch on the effort from Poole, pushing the ball onto the post, halting the Greens' belief of scoring at Villa Park.
After shaking hands, Argyle strolled over to the corner flag, clapping the travelling Green Army and were met with the deserved appreciation following their outstanding efforts in this season’s FA Youth Cup.
Argyle: 40 Dan Holman, 2 Toby Haley, 3 Joe Mwaro (12 Toby Maclean, 90+2), 4 Billy Devlin (14 Sam Hayman, 69), 5 Jensen Ireland, 6 Joel Sullivan (capt), 7 Cole Fisher (17 Frankie Maund, 69), 8 Seb Campbell, 9 Kian Burch (18 James Sharpe, 69), 10 Sam Lord (16 Jared Rendle, 90+2), 11 Fletcher Poole. Substitutes: 15 Jovan Wamani, 23 Leo McCormick (gk).
Booked: Sullivan 53.
Aston Villa: 1 Sam Proctor, 2 Triston Rowe, 3 Rodrigo Fortes (18 Teddie Bloomfield, 61), 4 TJ Carroll, 5 Leon Routh, 6 Aidan Borland (capt), 7 Bradley Burrowes (15 Kielan Quinn, 75), 8 George Hemmings (16 Alfie Lynskey, 69), 9 Mason Cotcher, 10 Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba (12 Ashton McWilliams, 79), 11 Cole Brannigan (14 Trai-Varn Mulley 75). Substitutes: 13 Owen Asemota (gk), 17 Max Jenner.
Goals: Jimoh-Aloba 44, Burrowes 58, Brannigan 73.
Referee: Andrew Humphries.
Attendance: 934
Photo: Aston Villa FC
