Argyle Youth 2 Cheltenham Youth 3

A YOUNG Argyle side finished their home fixtures in the Football League Youth Alliance with a third consecutive defeat in a game switched to the main pitch at Home Park.

Academy boss Kevin Hodges began with four schoolboys in his starting line-up which included just two second year apprentices as Matt Lecointe and Tyler Harvey were away with the first-team.

The Robins gave an early indication of their attacking prowess as a furious goalmouth scramble saw three efforts blocked before a complete air-shot allowed the home defence to clear.

Cheltenham's 'ace in the hole' was midfielder Ed Williams who saw his 20 yard free kick whistle just wide before his 18 yard drive was beaten out by Argyle's Football in the Community goalkeeper Thomas McHale.

It was no surprise when Williams fired low into the corner of the Argyle goal to give his side a 35th minute lead but it was Argyle who were to hit back strongly after equalising three minutes later.

Mason Hughes fine left-wing cross found Solomon Wheatley (pictured) controlling the ball before slotting it past 'keeper Dale Reaney from close range.

The lead followed, five minutes later, as Joshua Hutchinson showed good control on the edge of the area before placing a low drive past Reaney.

It was almost three, in stoppage time, when Wheatley ran across the area before turning and hitting a shot that shaved the outside of the Robins' post.

The visitors took four minutes of the second half to respond, when Bobbie Dale latched on to a long ball to shrug off the attentions of James Bradley before firing across McHale and inside the far post.

Callum Hall supplied a fine finish from the angle of the area only to to see it ruled out by a very dubious offside decision but it was Cheltenham who looked the more dangereous and only a good save by McHale prevented Dale from giving the visitors the lead.

Argyle almost restored their lead on 73 minutes when Wheatley chased a seemingly lost cause to hammer the ball across goal where Robins central defender Spencer Hamilton was relieved to see his sliced clearance fly just wide of the near post.

The Robins' winning goal came 15 minutes from time when the impressive Williams was left free to put in a header that found the back of the net despite Bradley's efforts to keep it out.

Argyle: Thomas McHale, Mason Hughes, Colin Watson, Kieran Asamadu-Sakyi (Will Sargent 81), James Bradley (c), Tom Moxham, Callum Hall, River Allen, Solomon Wheatley, Joshua Hutchinson (Louis Rooney 81), Ryan Lane (Ethan Stark 71).