Under 18s Report | AFC Wimbledon 2 Argyle 3
Argyle’s Under-18s made a dramatic late comeback against AFC Wimbledon to win 3-2 in the Merit League on Saturday afternoon.
Tegan Finn continued his fine form and returned to the scoresheet, netting midway through the first half. Caleb Roberts then made it two goals in two games when he levelled the game in the 69th minute.
Roberts also had a large part to play in the winner; it was his cross that Harry Hedges diverted into his own net, making it 3-2 to the young Pilgrims.
Jamie Lowry made just one change to the team that won emphatically against Swindon Town at Harper’s Park last time out. Freddie Issaka missed out, owing to his first-team commitments. He featured on the bench against Stoke City that same afternoon.
His replacement was Fletcher Poole, the lively winger featuring in a front three alongside Joe Hatch and Finn.
Behind them was the midfield three of Roberts, Josh Bernard, and Cole Fisher. It was also an unchanged back-four: Joel Sullivan and captain Lewis Colwell the full-backs. Jack Matthews once again partnered Cole Gibbings in central defence, Dan Holman behind them in goal.
Argyle started the game really well, the hosts struggled to deal with the Greens’ aggressive press. Finn cameclose to giving the Pilgrims the lead within the first ten minutes after forcing an error from the Dons’ backline.
However, it was Wimbledon that opened the scoring, against the run of play.
Hedges picked the ball up in midfield and broke away from Fisher before threading a pass between Matthews and Colwell for Kai Mackenzie to latch onto. The forward shifted the ball from his right foot to his left and guided it beyond Holman and into the bottom-left corner.
It took only eight minutes for Argyle to respond, making it 1-1 in the 24th minute. Sullivan launched a ball up the pitch which Hatch held-up well before distributing wide to Finn. He cut inside past Emah Sampson and curled a spectacular effort over the outstretched arm of Ethan McGrath and into the top-left corner.
Having just scored, the Greens seemed to let their guard down and found themselves trailing once more just four minutes later.
Finley Woods received the ball on the edge of the penalty area, and it was all too easy for him to set the ball and take on a shot which nestled into the back of the net.
Finn was at the centre of everything good that Argyle did in the first half. He came close to equalising when he dashed down the line and hammered a shot toward the near post which was just wide. He also set up a chance for Roberts who scuffed his effort from a good area.
The second half began and was fairly comfortable for Wimbledon in the early stages, this was until Argyle brought themselves level and the game flipped on its head.
It was a moment of magic from Roberts, a player that has provided for his team in times of need many times this season. He received the ball on the wing and made it to the bye-line, beating Kes Young and thrashing the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
With this goal came a shift in momentum; the Pilgrims were now in the ascendency and pushing for the winner.
It became a very open game, with Lowry’s side throwing bodies forward as much as they could, and Wimbledon still looking a threat on the break.
The elusive winner eventually came three minutes from time. Similar to when he scored his goal, Roberts danced away from the Dons’ defenders and made it to the line.
This time he opted not to shoot but to cut the ball back into the six-yard box where there was a cluster of green shirts waiting in anticipation.
Hedges’ attempted clearance was miscued and ended up looping into the back of his own net. Hatch did just enough on the line to prevent a Wimbledon defender from clearing the ball and with that Argyle were in the lead.
Despite having only led for just three minutes in the entire game, it was a well-deserved win for the Greens, four in a row now in Merit League One.
Lowry’s side continue their crusade for the top spot when they face Oxford United this Tuesday.
Argyle: Dan Holman, Lewis Colwell ©, Joel Sullivan, Cole Fisher (Fin Wilkes 57’), Jack Matthews, Cole Gibbings, Fletcher Poole (Lewis Thomas 57’), Caleb Roberts, Joe Hatch, Tegan Finn, Josh Bernard. Substitutes not used: Jensen Ireland.
