Credit to Luke

ARGYLE manager Ryan Lowe took the decision to thrust teenager Luke Jephcott into a first-team start at Scunthorpe United in Sky Bet League and was rewarded with a match-winning display.

Just over 24 hours after being recalled from a loan spell at Truro City, where Luke had scored plenty of goals in the Southern League, the Wales Under-19 international was steering home Argyle’s opener at the Sands Venue Stadium.

Byron Moore’s brilliantly volley doubled the Pilgrim advantage and then Jephcott pounced for his second in a 3-1 victory for the Greens, with both goals the sort of poaching finishes Argyle have been missing this season.

“We had a debate about it [starting Luke] when we brought him back and we gave him the opportunity in training [on Friday],” said Ryan.

“He’s been different class and still trained with us [when he wasn’t at Truro]. He’s learnt, he’s listened and why wouldn’t we give him a chance. He’s gone away to Truro, at a different level, but he’s scored plenty of goals.

“It’s what we’ve been missing, so we thought ‘let’s get him back in the building’. It’s a small pitch and we felt we could down the side of their centre-halves with a bit of movement, and Jeph’s got that.

“If we’re going to bring him back, let’s throw him in. It’s still going to be tough for him and his fitness blew up after 60 minutes because he ran his socks off, but fair play, it’s a credit to him. I said to the boys to look after him and it’s a sign of a good team to get round a youngster coming in and making his debut.

“We’ve been wanting that from all the strikers and I’ve said to all of them ‘make sure that’s a lesson learned’. A youngster has come back from loan and a 19 year-old has put the ball in the back of the net.

“The credit goes to Luke Jephcott for everything. He’s gone away to Truro, worked his socks off at that level and come back today to score two goals.”