Under-18s Report | Cheltenham Town 3 Argyle 3

Argyle’s Under-18s drew their opening Merit League One fixture against Cheltenham Town on Tuesday afternoon, sharing six goals. 

Freddie Issaka bagged a brace, scoring each side of half-time, bringing his total to 15 for the season across all competitions. Argyle’s other goal was scored by Henry Donovan, the forward hitting the back of the net for the first time this campaign.

Jamie Lowry made four changes to the team that made a historic comeback to draw with Swindon Town and win the Youth Alliance League last time out.

The quartet of Joel Sullivan, Jensen Ireland, Tegan Finn, and Sam Lord dropped completely out of the squad with Cole Fisher, Henry Donovan, Joe Hatch, and Lewis Flowers replacing them.

It was yet another quick start for the young Greens who took the lead early on through Donovan.

Caleb Roberts, who tends to be involved in everything good Argyle do of late, crossed toward the back post where Donovan was lurking. Ready to pounce, the forward ensured he was the first to the ball and converted from just yards out, keeper Archie Burford with no chance.

The Greens capitalised on the Robins slow start and doubled their lead on 20 minutes when Issaka scored an excellent trademark solo goal.

The winger picked the ball up on the halfway line before embarking on a tremendous run that was rounded off with a composed finish past Burford.

Cheltenham eventually sprang into life and hit back not too long after the Greens had scored their second.

The ball was punted into the Argyle box by the Robins, where winger Sopuru Obieri poked it around Dan Holman who had come off his line to try and claim the ball. Obieri made no mistake and fired into an empty net bringing his side back into the game.

There was nearly an instant response from Argyle, who worked a set play cleverly to Issaka inside the box. However, his effort from close range flew over the crossbar.

The lively Obieri once again caused chaos for the home side, this time twisting and turning away from Issaka who eventually brought him down inside the box, conceding a spot-kick.

Obieri himself would step up to take, and converted it, coolly slotting past Holman to make it 2-2 moments before half-time.

The start of the second half was far less eventful than the first, with Argyle mindful having conceded twice late on in the first period and Cheltenham still wary of the threat the Pilgrims posed.

Eventually, Cheltenham would find a way past Holman when, in the 61st minute, Obieri completed his hat-trick. Brandon Liggett set the winger away on a counter-attack after the Greens had committed bodies forward in an attack.

Obieri was once again ruthless, cutting in from the right and curling into the bottom-left corner from the edge of the box to make it 3-2.

It was now Argyle’s turn to come from behind and they did that just four minutes later.

Lewis Colwell set Issaka away down the left on a counter of his own. The Welsh youth international made it to the bye-line before cutting back inside and hammering the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle, scoring yet another impressive individual goal.

The young Greens kept plugging away, with their best chance to win it coming after Issaka cut the ball back into the six-yard box and a mad scramble ensued.

Eventually the ball was hammered goalward but heroic defending on the line prevented Argyle from retaking the lead.

Cheltenham had a chance to win it themselves when substitute Daniel Bamana raced away from Flowers on the left.He found danger-man Obieri inside the area, who shifted the ball to his right foot before taking aim. Fortunately, Holman had sensed the danger and rushed off his line to close the winger down, making the save and keeping the score level.

The young Pilgrims will have been disappointed to draw this game having been two goals ahead within 20 minutes but at least they can travel back to Plymouth with something to show for their performance.

Argyle: Dan Holman, Lewis Flowers, Lewis Colwell ©, Cole Fisher, Jack Matthews, Cole Gibbings, Freddie Issaka, Caleb Roberts, Joe Hatch, Josh Bernard (Lewis Thomas 55), Henry Donovan. Substitutes not used: Joe Mwaro, Fletcher Poole.