Under-18s Report | Argyle 5 Swindon Town 1
Argyle’s Under-18s made it three wins in a row in Merit League One, defeating Swindon Town 5-1 at Harper’s Park on Saturday, 13 April.
Freddie Issaka, Joe Hatch, Caleb Roberts, and Josh Bernard all netted for the Greens, with the hosts’ fifth goal of the game coming courtesy of a Robins own goal.
Jamie Lowry made no changes to the side that won 3-1 away at Luton Town just over a week prior. It was a 4-3-3 system for Argyle; Jack Matthews and Cole Gibbings formed a partnership in the centre of defence, with Lewis Colwell on the right and Joel Sullivan down the left, Dan Holman in goal making up the rear-guard.
Cole Fisher was the deepest man in midfield, with Roberts and Bernard just ahead of him playing slightly more advanced. Tegan Finn and Issaka started either side of Hatch who led the line.
It was a lightning quick start from Plymouth, who had the chance to take the lead after just two minutes. Roberts found himself one-on-one with Lucas Myers, the goalkeeper denying him with a great save.
Argyle came closer just minutes later. Issaka charged down the left flank, cut inside and found himself one-on-one with the Swindon stopper. His driven effort beat the keeper but crashed against the left-hand post, inches away from hitting the back of the net and giving the hosts the advantage.
The away side fought back and had a good chance of their own, the lively Obodo was the beneficiary of a loose ball on the edge of the box, and he had plenty of time to think before he took aim. He opted to go with power and hammered the ball towards the top-left corner, but Holman was quick to react and saved well to keep the scoreline as it was.
After the Pilgrims’ bright start, it was no shock that they eventually took the lead. Matthews chipped a ball to Issaka who was wide on the halfway line. He took a heavy touch away from Liam Hutt and used his pace to evade the full-back, racing into the box before sweeping the ball into the bottom-left corner with ease to make it 1-0.
Swindon continued to fight back against the Greens’ early dominance. Dani Gonzalez threaded a magnificent ball through to Jaxon Brown, who had found space between Matthews and Gibbings. All the midfielder had to do was hit the target, but he was unable to do so, scuffing his effort just wide of the post.
Half-time came and Argyle had the lead, but the visitors’ presence in the game was growing. Lowry’s side knew they would have to guard against complacency if they were to secure all three points.
They certainly started the second half as they meant to go on as Hatch doubled Plymouth’s lead within a minute of getting back under way. His hard work forced an error from the Robins’ backline, before the forward was able to pick the ball up inside the box, round ‘keeper Myers and tap into an empty net.
Finn came close to making it three when Issaka found him in space on the right. It was a trademark run down the line and cut inside before he curled the ball towards the far post, a good save denying the in-form winger.
Colwell and Roberts both saw efforts fly narrowly wide before Argyle finally netted their third. Roberts stepped out of midfield to pick the pocket of Harley Hunt on the edge of the area. He then advanced into the box, making no mistake as he fired into the bottom-right corner.
Swindon pulled a goal back on 75 minutes, Jo Owiti the scorer. This did not dampen the home side’s goalscoring mood however, as three minutes later it was 4-1.
Bernard certainly did not disappoint with this one. Sullivan knocked the ball down the line to the midfielder who had drifted wide. He darted inside and wrapped his foot around the ball, sending it beyond Myers into the top-right corner.
The goal was Bernard’s tenth of the season in all competitions, a goal his performance on the day deserved.
It was five for Argyle after a curled free-kick caused problems in the Swindon six-yard box, Finn and Sullivan both getting touches on the ball before it eventually cannoned off a visiting defender and into the back of the net.
The young Greens were riding their momentum at this point, with just minutes left to play and leading 5-1, Lowry’s side were still in search of more goals.
Substitute Kian Burch made an excellent solo run which saw him pick the ball up just inside the Swindon half before driving up the pitch. He unselfishly cut the ball back to fellow replacement Fletcher Poole, but he was unable to beat Myers.
The game ended 5-1, a brilliant second-half performance and, more importantly, a valuable three points for Lowry’s side.
Argyle: Dan Holman, Lewis Colwell ©, Joel Sullivan (Jensen Ireland 87’), Cole Fisher, (Fin Wilkes 53’) Jack Matthews, Cole Gibbings, Freddie Issaka (Fletcher Poole 75’), Caleb Roberts, Joe Hatch (Kian Burch 75’), Tegan Finn, Josh Bernard. Substitutes (not used): Jack Flower.
