Argyle U18 6 Portsmouth U18 0

...and left themselves needing just a point to to become the first winners of the Football League Youth Alliance Merit League One. 

A draw will be enough when the young Pilgrims visit Swindon Town on Saturday, to secure the league title. 

Portsmouth - who eliminated Argyle from the FA Youth Cup earlier in the season - were no match for the confident Greens as they travelled to Tavistock, and Argyle needed just 12 minutes to make the initial breakthrough. Ben Steer burst into the area to send in a low drive that carried too much power for visiting goalkeeper Alex Bass, who could only deflect the ball inside his near post.

Will Sargent headed a great chance over the bar before Argyle doubled their advantage as Billy Palfrey's 20-yard free-kick took a deflection on its way past Bass.

Argyle's third goal was a superb effort from start to finish with Owen Jones hitting a 50 yard pass to find Steer, whose his first time cross was met, at the near post, by Rooney. His volley flew in to the net to complete a fine goal and put Argyle well clear. 

Rooney had a great chance, after being released by his brother Dan, but his shot cleared the Pompey crossbar, before he doubled his tally. The impressive Callum Hall chased a lost cause to retrieve the ball and found Rooney, who raced past three defenders before firing across Bass and inside the far post.

Pompey made several changes for the second half but still found themselves 5-0 down on 52 minutes when Palfrey's right wing cross was controlled on his chest by Rooney who turned and hammered the ball into the roof of the net. This completed his hat-trick and take his season's tally to an impressive 21 goals.

Rooney went off injured four minutes later, but Argyle still had enough to add a sixth with Steer taking a right wing cross in his stride to supply a fine finish under Bass.

Argyle: Cory Harvey, Dan Rooney, Jack Calver (Aaron Taylor 76), Will Sargent, Owen Jones, Liam Knowles, Bill Palfrey, Callum Hall, Jason Vincent, Louis Rooney (Jamil Roberts 56), Ben Steer.