Under-18s Report | Argyle 2 Sutton United 1
Argyle’s Under-18s capped off an excellent season with a late 2-1 comeback win against Sutton United at Harper’s Park on Friday afternoon.
It was a Tegan Finn goal that brought Argyle level after the Greens fell behind at the beginning of the second half courtesy of Khyan Edwards.
Argyle’s winning goal came from an unlikely scorer, Cole Fisher netting his first in the last game of the season.
Jamie Lowry made two changes to the team that beat Portsmouth 3-2 last time out, a game in which the Pilgrims secured the Merit League One title.
Joe Hatch missed out after limping off injured early on, in came Seb Campbell to lead the line fresh off scoring twice, after replacing Hatch against Pompey.
The other change saw Josh Bernard return to the side in his usual spot in midfield, Sam Lord the player making way for him.
It was a slow start for the Greens. Sutton striker Vinnie Tume had two chances early on to give his side the lead, the best of which a header that dropped wide after a good delivery.
Argyle responded with chances of their own. The most notable came after Cole Gibbings played an excellent ball over the top of the Sutton backline. Fisher latched onto it and tried to square it to Campbell for the tap-in, but an impressive block from Dan Urpen denied the Argyle forward his third goal in two games.
The Pilgrims had another chance just before half-time to take the lead. This time it was good link-up play down the right between Finn and Colwell, the latter forcing a save from goalkeeper Kyle Holms. The ball dropped in the box and a scramble ensued. Fortunately for Sutton, Junior Eccleston was able to launch it clear.
The match was goalless at the break, and it certainly had the feel of an end-of-season game with little on the line. However, despite a bright start after the interval, Argyle fell behind on 50 minutes.
Tume found space on the left wing and sent an excellent cross into the path of Edwards, who made no mistake in thrashing the ball home from just a few yards out.
It was nearly two for Sutton when Edwards found himself bearing down on goal once again, one-on-one with Dan Holman, an excellent save from Argyle’s stopper diverted the ball wide.
That proved crucial as Finn levelled the score minutes later. A great run from Jack Matthews started the move, foraying down the left before cutting the ball back to Campbell. The striker switched play to the opposite wing, where Finn was in space to cut away and finish.
A warning sign followed from Sutton as Liam Moore rattled the crossbar from a 25-yard free-kick, however there was only one team that really looked like winning the game and that was Argyle.
The decisive moment came with just six minutes remaining. Of course, it was Finn who made the goal, as he darted down the line and crossed low to the edge of the six-yard box. Fisher was on cue waiting to power the ball into the back of the net, curling it around Holms who was left helpless.
Sutton almost levelled with what turned out to be the last kick of the game. Bell received the ball just inside the box in acres of space and, with the goal at his mercy, fired towards the bottom right corner, but his effort fizzed just wide.
It capped off a season which saw Lowry’s side crowned champions of both the Youth Alliance League and Merit League One, surely one of the most successful years the club’s Under-18s have ever had.
Argyle: Dan Holman, Lewis Colwell ©, Joel Sullivan (Lewis Flowers 85’), Fin Wilkes (Jensen Ireland 58’), Jack Matthews, Cole Gibbings, Cole Fisher, Seb Campbell (Sam Lord 70’), Tegan Finn, Josh Bernard, Kian Burch.
