AN exceptionally young Argyle under-18 team came incredibly close to picking-up some thoroughly-deserved points from this Football League Youth Alliance game, only to be sunk by a killer-goal two minutes from time after squandering several good chances during the second half.
Head of youth coaching, Mike Pejic, included only two second-year apprentices and four schoolboys in his line-up and he was very pleased with our youngsters' battling display.
"The young lads did well, we want to develop them and get them battle-hardened. Then, we'll reap the benefits next year and the year after," he added.
The challenge facing our youngsters became more difficult when the home side went ahead in just the 4th minute, when Jordan Smith headed home in a goalmouth scramble.
Pej's protégées equalized within two minutes when left winger Jake Baker latched onto a pass from midfielder Luke Young and unleashed a spectacular 35-yard shot into the roof of the net.
Luck was with the Swans in the 10th minute when a driven cross from Ben Davies was deflected off midfielder Jordan Berry's thigh into his own goal.
Nevertheless our youngsters showed commendable spirit, more than matching their older, stronger opponents, with schoolboy right winger Jed Harper-Penman a constant threat to the home rearguard.
Their bravery looked as though it may be rewarded on the hour when a through ball from defender Curtis Nelson put striker Matt Rickard clear on goal but he shot narrowly wide.
Young's fierce 20-yard drive then forced the home 'keeper to make a fine diving save and next Harper-Penman put a close-range shot over the bar as the Young Pilgrims pressed for the equalizer they deserved.
Unfortunately, Swans' substitute Tom Da Salva dashed their hopes two minutes from time with a cross-shot from the left that 'keeper Ollie Chenoweth tipped onto the post, only for the ball to bounce back over the line into goal.
Argyle: 1 Ollie Chenoweth, 2 Jack Stephens, 6 Curtis Nelson, 5 Jordan Trott, 3 Connor Clifford; 7 Jed Harper-Penman, 4 Jordan Berry, 8 Luke Young, 11 Jake Baker; 10 Jared Sims (12 Lewis Coombes, 84), 9 Matt Rickard. Substitutes (not used): 14 Isaac Vassell, 15 James Bradley, 23 Raivo Varazinskis.
Our youngsters have a home 'Devon derby' against Exeter City in the Youth Alliance South-west Conference at Elburton Villa's Haye Road ground next Saturday, kick-off 11am.
Our eight Centre of Excellence schoolboy teams have a full programme of games against Cheltenham Town next weekend. On Saturday the under-16's travel to play them at their Quat Goose training ground. Then on Sunday the under-14's, under-12's and under-11's make the same journey, whilst the under-15's enterain the Robbins at Haye Road and the under-13's, under-10's and under-9's at Eggbuckland Community College. All games kick-off at 11am.
