Club News
Elburton Villa 4 Argyle XI 3
2nd August 2012
THE main plus to come out of this game at Haye Road was that Argyle's youngsters did not let their heads drop despite having to chase the game for most of the 90 minutes.
Kevin Hodges' young charges found themselves under pressure in the early stages but could count themselves unlucky to concede a 19th minute penalty.There appeared to be the minimum of contact when Nathan Summers intercepted Levi Landricombe but the striker went down in a heap before picking himself up and converting the spot-kick.
The youngsters found themselves facing a two-goal deficit on the half-hour when when a great ball from Michael Landricombe caught Christian Walton in two minds allowing Landricombe to steer his second of the game past the stranded 'keeper.
It was not until the last 10 minutes of the first half that the Pilgrims' youngsters came to life with Isaac Vassell (pictured above) forcing a save from home 'keeper Simon May before the impressive Colin Watson fired the ball across the face of the home goal but nobody was available to supply the vital touch.
River Allen and Ben Purrington had both fired in efforts at goal before Jordan Copp wasted the visitor's best effort of the half after finding himself free on the edge of the area but his effort totally lacked poser and May gathered with ease.
Argyle began the second half well with Allen's effort turned on to the post by May before they pulled a goal back on 58 minutes. Vassell profited from a defensive error to cut in from the angle of the box and fire through May's legs from an acute angle.
Unfortunately within two minutes bad marking had allowed Sam Stevens and Lewis Daw to both score with headers and leave Argyle once again chasing the game.
To their credit, heads did not drop, and Watson's driven cross was turned into his own net by substitute Neil Cocorran on 74 minutes.
Jordan Berry's drive as saved by Villa's substitute 'keeper Steve Smalte before Andrew Elcock put in a great cross only to see Allen's diving header fly narrowly wide of the mark.
The game was in the dying stages when Argyle reduced the deficit to just one goal as substitute Solomon Wheatley burst clear to provide a good finish but it came too late to rescue a draw for the youngsters.
Argyle: Christian Walton, Colin Watson, Ben Purrington, Andrew Elcock, James Bradley, Nathan Summers, Jed Harper-Penman, River Allen, Isaac Vassell, Jordan Copp, Jordan Berry. Substitutes: Solomon Wheatley, Joshua Hutchinson, Louis Rooney, Tom Moxham, Will Sargent, Andrew Hannah.