Under-18s Report | Argyle 4 Oxford United 1
Argyle’s Under-18s were 4-1 victors against Oxford United in the Youth Alliance League on Tuesday afternoon.
A crazy 15-minute spell at the end of the second half saw the Young Greens score four times to come from behind and win the match.
It was a birthday to remember for Caleb Roberts who, on the day he turned 18, scored a brace. His first came from the penalty spot and his second a result of the Greens relentless pressing.
Josh Bernard got himself on the scoresheet with a well-taken volley and Joe Hatch scored the Greens third of the game and his third of the season in all competitions, as the Pilgrims completed a sensational turnaround.
Jamie Lowry made just one change to the starting line-up that earned a battling point away at Cardiff in the PDL Cup just three days prior.
Joe Hatch came in for Tegan Finn, with Kieran Edworthy shifting out to the right-wing to allow Hatch to play through the middle.
The visitors would throw the first punch in this heavyweight bout as Kasway Burton capitalised on a loose ball in the penalty area after Dan Holman parried a shot, the striker the quickest to react poking it past Argyle’s stopper.
Lowry’s side were trailing at halftime for the second game running but, similar to Saturday's draw at Cardiff City, Argyle would only use this as motivation to make amends in the second half.
The Young Pilgrims had to be patient, with Oxford proving to be difficult to break down after taking the lead, despite the Greens dominating possession.
However, the breakthrough moment finally came as the second half began to draw to a close. Roberts drove into the box from the left flank and was brought down as he looked to get his shot away.
The midfielder had scored a pressure spot-kick just days prior so had no trouble keeping his composure and slotting the ball past the goalkeeper on this occasion making it 1-1, a moment manager Lowry could not bear to watch.
With the U’s defending resiliently against Argyle for so long it was clear that when Roberts equalised, they had taken a clear knock in confidence.
Therefore, it was no surprise when Bernard scored his fourth league goal of the season just minutes later, putting his side ahead. The goalscoring midfielder made it 2-1 when birthday-boy Roberts swung a free-kick into the box with Bernard first on the scene, making it to the near post and side-footing the ball past Monty Marriott in the Oxford goal.
Hatch scored the Pilgrims third of the game four minutes later when substitute Tegan Finn raced to the bye-line before cutting the ball back to Hatch who was waiting to guide the ball into the bottom corner from the penalty spot.
With the floodgates well and truly open, the scoreline read 4-1 on 85 minutes when Roberts struck again. This time he stole the ball on the edge of the visitors' penalty area before calmly tucking the ball away, capping a sensational 15-minute spell from the Young Greens.
Lowry spoke of his side’s perseverance after the game saying: “We dominated the game and had to break them down - eventually we did that, showing the quality we process.”
There is no game for the Under-18s this coming weekend with a rare opportunity for the team to recharge and prepare for their top of the table clash with Swindon Town on 4 November.
Argyle: Dan Holman, Lewis Colwell, Harry Shield, Fin Wilkes, Jack Matthews, Joel Sullivan (Jensen Ireland 86), Josh Bernard (Cole Fisher 86), Caleb Roberts, Joe Hatch, Kieran Edworthy (Tegan Finn 55), Freddie Issaka. Substitutes not used: Jack Flower.
