Argyle Under 18s 2 Southend Utd 2

ARGYLE'S youngsters gained their first point in the EFL Youth Allilance Merit League One with an entertaining draw at Harper's Park.

The young Pilgrims left it late to seal a deserved draw; the game was in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Alex Fletcher finally beat Southend's excellent goalkeeper Harry Seaden.

Seaden had earlier saved Alex Battle's spot-kick before making the save of the match from Callum Rose's point-blank header as the home side pressed for an equaliser.

Argyle had started the game well, against a physically superior visitor, with Connor McAuley, Alex Battle and Cameron Sangster all failing to convert chances.

It was against the run-of-play that the visitors took a 24th minute lead with Emilie Acquah seizing upon a defensive error to cut in from the right and fire across Michael Cooper.

Acquah then saw his header cleared off the Argyle line by Ryan Law before good play by Fletcher saw his angled shot fly across goal and just wide. Fletcher then, uncharacteristically, shot wide of an empty net and Battle's near post volley was pushed on to the post as Argyle finished the half on top.

The home side required 12 minutes of the second period to level the score as Josh Richards' corner was thundered into the roof of the net by the head of Battle. Parity lasted just two minutes as Elvis Bwomono raced through a static Argyle defence to be denied by Cooper but the ball ran for Acquah to steer in to an unguarded net.

Argyle made three substitutions as they piled on the pressure but Seaden had performed well to keep them at bay before Fletcher's late goal saved the day for Argyle.

Argyle: Michael Cooper, Sam Ryan (Harry Hodges 64), Ryan Law, Josh Richards, Callum Rose, Elliott Crawford, Connor McAuley (Luke Jephcott 63), Dan Rooney, Alex Fletcher, Cameron Sangster (Billy Craske 71), Alex Battle. Substitutes not used: Max Childs, Harry Downing.