Preview | Under-18s vs Portsmouth (H)

Argyle’s Under-18s are in action on Tuesday afternoon, as they meet Portsmouth in their penultimate game of the season, with a chance to win a second league title of the season.   

Jamie Lowry’s young Pilgrims, who won the South West division of the Youth Alliance League in dramatic style against Swindon Town earlier in the season, are one point away from winning the follow-up Merit League One, too.  

The Greens are second in the league, level on points with Leyton Orient, but the London side have completed their fixtures for the campaign.  

Two points adrift, and with a nine-goal inferior goal difference, are Portsmouth, whose trip to Devon is their final game of the season.  

A draw or a win for Argyle would see them become champions. Should Portsmouth be victorious, they would finish their season a point ahead of Argyle’s current total, leaving the Greens likely needing only a draw from their final game, against Sutton United, on Friday.  

“It's in our hands like it was in terms of the last league campaign against Swindon,” said Lowry.  

“It’s credit to the lads as they've had a really good second half of the season, putting themselves in pole position. It would be fantastic [to win the league]. In terms of the club's reputation as well, it would be a super proud moment for the players, for the club, to be able to go and have two campaigns, two kind of separate league campaigns, and finish the league in top position for both.  

“The traveling, the hard work they do, they put in the time and effort. How hard they work is all credit to them and all the staff as well. The staff work tirelessly for the players and the players know that.  

“They've got personality and character, which we talk about a lot in terms of being a footballer. Having that personality and character that you need to be able to go and play in front of 16,000 at Home Park. To come from behind, to deal with tough moments in football, to deal with defeats, the whole part of being a footballer, which is difficult at times.  

“They're a really strong group with that. They've got some really strong leaders in there that drive the team forward and they've been a credit to themselves.  

“I hope they go and get the job done. If things don't work out here in terms of becoming a professional footballer, [you can still] take away memories which will be part of the club forever, no matter what happens. 

“It's really important they have those special occasions, those special moments. They've already had that once this season, and hopefully it will happen again.”