AFTER keeping clean sheets in their three previous outings, our youngsters found themselves ruthlessly punished by the league leaders for individual defensive lapses.
Head of youth coaching, Mike Pejic, fielded an all-apprentice starting line-up for the first time this season, and they impressed in the early stages, exploiting the best playing surface in the South-west Conference at AXA Sports Ground with their constructive approach play.
For all their possession, however, the Young Pilgrims failed to deliver either telling final passes into the penalty area or threatening finishes, and the home side took control of the game in a purple patch in the 20 minutes leading up to half-time, during which they scored three goals and were denied a fourth, when 'keeper Ollie Chenoweth saved a penalty.
Chenoweth's opposite number also made a good save from Argyle striker Lewis Coombes as the Young Pilgrims bravely attempted a second-half fight-back, only for Rovers to punish two more errors to go five-up before the hour-mark.
The persistent Coombes was eventually rewarded for his efforts when he pounced onto a loose ball in a goalmouth scramble to score from close range in the 69th minute.
Pej was philosophical about the final scoreline: "We played some good possession football, but we also learned some harsh lessons.
"The main thing for us is the development of the players - we only have four second-year lads, the rest are first-years that we've only had together for twelve weeks - and we brought on three schoolboys during the second half," he added.
Argyle (4-4-2): 1 Ollie Chenoweth; 2 Curtis Nelson, 6 Ryan Leonard, 5 Jordan Trott, 3 Connor Clifford; 7 Matt Rickard, 8 Sean Kinsella, 4 Sam Sawyer (Jordan Copp, 55), 11 Jake Baker (15 Jamie Richards, 70); 9 Liam Head (12 Jared Sims, 70), Lewis Coombes. Sub (not used): 23 Raivo Varazinskis.
Our youngsters have a home game next Saturday in the Youth Alliance Conference against Swansea City at Elburton Villa F.C.'s Haye Road ground (kick-off 11am).
Our Centre of Excellence schoolboys do not have any games this weekend but on Wednesday week, October 28, the Under-16's and Under-14's travel to Walthamstowe for games against Arsenal at their Hale End training ground (kick-off 2pm).
