Under-18s Report | Leyton Orient 2 Argyle 1

Argyle’s Under-18s fell to late defeat against Leyton Orient in Merit League One on Saturday morning.

Cole Gibbings scored the Pilgrims' only goal of the game, a flicked header from a Tegan Finn set-piece. This equalised a Devine Samuel goal, but the same player popped up late on to score the match's decisive goal. 

Jamie Lowry made two changes to the side that drew 3-3 with Cheltenham in our opening Merit League One fixture, just over a fortnight ago. 

Lewis Flowers dropped out of the squad with Joel Sullivan returning and taking his place at full-back.

The Greens' other change saw Freddie Issaka not involved, this was due to his international commitments with the Wales Under-19 squad, he was replaced by Finn.

It was an uncharacteristically slow start to the game for the young Pilgrims, as Orient had the majority of the early chances and eventually took the lead after just ten minutes.

Carter slipped away from Jack Matthews before stabbing the ball through to Devine Samuel.

O’s striker Samuel showed great composure by taking a touch and curling the ball around Dan Holman to give his side the lead.

Holman was involved one again shortly after the goal when Carter danced his way into the box and took aim from close range. Argyle’s stopper did well to make the low save with his legs. Orient recycled the ball and then tried their luck from distance through defender Bullas, but once more Holman was a match for it.

Argyle's chances were limited to quick breaks in the first half. Joe Hatch and Finn nearly combined on numerous occasions to create a goalscoring chance, but nothing seemed to be coming off for Lowry’s side in the first period.

The half-time break came, Argyle were still trailing, and it was evident they needed a reaction and to step-up their performance in the second-half if they were to get anything from the game.

Lowry’s side looked much brighter at the beginning of the second period, and they were rewarded for this when they levelled the game on 67 minutes.

Finn had won his side a free-kick when he darted in-between two Orient defenders, leaving them no choice but to foul him as he bore down on goal.

It would be the man who won the set-piece that would take it. Finn's flat delivery found  Gibbings in the heart of the box, and the defender scooped a header over the outstretched arm of Holden and into the back of the net.

This goal appeared to act as a catalyst for Argyle, as they sprung into life and came close to taking the lead minutes later when Hatch threaded a reverse pass through to Sam Lord who was inches away from latching onto it.

The hosts sensed this and did what they could to slow the game down and take any momentum Argyle had built out of the game.

This proved successful as the closer the match got to the final whistle, the more likely it seemed that Orient would find the winner and not Argyle.

The winner did come just five minutes from time, when Bullas’s pinpoint cross was turned in by lively forward Samuel who had stung Argyle for the second time in the game.

Samuel found space in-between the two central defenders allowing for a free header just yards out, Holman with no chance.

This late goal knocked the wind out of Argyle, and they struggled to create anything of note in the time that remained in the second-half, falling to defeat for the first time in Merit League One.

Lowry’s side will have the chance to put things right on Thursday morning when they face Stevenage at home. 

Argyle: Dan Holman, Lewis Colwell © (Jensen Ireland 15), Joel Sullivan, Cole Fisher, Jack Matthews, Cole Gibbings, Josh Bernard, Caleb Roberts, Joe Hatch, Tegan Finn, Henry Donovan (Sam Lord 62). Substitutes not used: Kian Burch.