Exeter City Youth 2 Argyle Youth 1

ARGYLE'S youngsters were defeated for the first time in three Youth Alliance games in their first match since November 30.

Argyle, who had River Allen and James Bradley both missing after picking up injuries in the reserves' midweek 2-0 victory over Torquay, included strikers Tyler Harvey and Matt Lecointe in their starting line-up.

Unfortunately, it was the Grecians who started this encounter, at the Cat & Fiddle ground, the stronger of the two sides, and Argyle's Christian Walton was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers.

Unsurprisingly then, it was Exeter who took the lead, when James Burn was left free to head home from close range.

The closest the Pilgrims came to opening their account was midfielder Callum Hall's drive from a narrow angle, which ended a good five-man move and forced a fine save from Grecians' goalkeeper Christie Pym.

The visitors fortunes were boosted at half time when Academy Manager Kevin Hodges brought on 14-year-old midfielder Jake Miller and 15-year-old right-back Mason Hughes.

Within 10 minutes of the restart, the substitutes combined to good effect as Mason cross found Miller, who equalised with a lopping header into the top corner of the home goal.

But the Grecians were not to be outdone and eight minutes from time a shot from Matt Jay was parried by Walton for Sam Brown to sidefoot home from 10 yards.

Argyle had late claims for a penalty turned down when substitute striker Louis Rooney was brought down in the area but the referee waved play on.

Argyle: Christian Walton, Kieran Asamadu-Sakyi (Mason Hughes h-t), Ben Purrington, Will Sargent (Jake Miller h-t), Nathan Summers, Tom Moxham, Soloman Wheatley, Josh Hutchinson (Louis Rooney 75), Tyler Harvey, Matt Lecointe, Callum Hall. Substitute (not used): J Tucker.