HEAD coach Paul Mariner had his first brief look at Youth Alliance football when he took in the first half of our youngsters' Devon derby against local rivals Torquay United at Elburton Villa's Haye Road ground.
He had to dash off at half-time to begin his preparations at Home Park for the Championship clash with Preston North End, but head of youth coaching Mike Pejic reckons the boss saw the best part of a disappointing performance by a young Pilgrims' under-18 team.
"We knew from our two earlier games against Torquay that they would come at us - I warned our lads about it just before the game - and they did," said Pej.
"However, I thought that during the rest of the first half we did quite well, Our approach work was good, but we let ourselves down by either a poor final pass or poor finishing,
"However, our performance in the second half was unacceptable, and I told the players that," added the demanding former England international, who excluded only Jordan Trott, Connor Clifford and Raivo Varazinskis from his criticism.
Pej's starting line-up included only one second-year apprentice, centre-back Jordan Trott, and first-year professional striker Liam Head, as Ryan Leonard was nursing a foot injury and Sean Kinsella was rested after a tiring week at the Republic of Ireland's under-19 training camp.
Three 16-year-old schoolboys - right back Jack Stephens plus midfielders Jordan Berry and Jared Sims - were again given the chance to continue their development with the under-18's.
Our youngsters opened brightly enough with striker Matt Rickard shooting wide when well placed and left winger Jake Baker blazing a shot over the bar before the visitors' own schoolboy striker, Rob Wearne, put the Gulls ahead in the fifth minute.
The Young Pilgrims quickly regained the initiative. Midfielder Luke Young had a long-range effort well-saved, defender Curtis Nelson headed a Young free-kick over the bar, overlapping left back Connor Clifford had his shot blocked by their 'keeper, and Head shot high from close range, as we dominated the rest of the first half.
Even straight after the changeover Head headed a cross from Rickard over the bar, before the visitors took control.
It took a goal-line clearance from Clifford to keep the visitors at bay but the reprieve was short-lived as skipper Ed Palmer powered home a 20-yard free-kick to wrap up the points for the Torbay club.
Argyle: 1 Raivo Varazinskis, 2 Jack Stephens, 5 Jordan Trott, 6 Curtis Nelson, 3 Connor Clifford; 7 Liam Head, 4 Jordan Berry (12 Sean Kinsella 45)), 8 Luke Young, 11 Jake Baker; 9 Matt Rickard (15 Jamie Richards 85), 10 Jared Sims (14 Lewis Coombes 61). Unused Sub: 23 Ollie Chenoweth.
If last Saturday's game was third time lucky for the Gulls, our youngsters will be travelling to Swansea next Saturday hoping that it will be third time lucky for them when they meet the Swans' under-18's in a Youth alliance fixture at St. Helens (kick-off 11am).
For our youngsters will be aiming to avenge the two odd-gaol defeats they suffered earlier in the season, when going down 3-2 in an away Cup game back in September, and last month's 2-1 home reverse.
Our eight Centre of Excellence schoolboy teams are pitted against their counterparts from Swindon Town this weekend.
On Saturday the Under-16's entertain the Robbins at Elburton Villa's haye road ground - and on Sunday the Under-15's host them at the same venue, the Under-13's, Under-10's and Under-9's do so at Eggbuckland Community College, whilst the Under-14's, Under-12's and Under-11's travel to Wiltshire to play at their Wanborough training ground (all agmes kick-off at 11am).
