Argyle started Devon Derby week in the best way with the Pilgrims’ Under-18s winning 4-1 on the road in Exeter.
A Tashall Sandhu goal, followed by an own goal, put Argyle into a deserved lead. Ise Aworinde got one back for Exeter, but James Sharpe immediately made it 3-1, on the verge of half-time.
Substitute Kian Burch extended the gap in the second half, and Argyle saw the game out nicely to record a pleasing victory at their nearest rivals.
Argyle had a Sharpe shot blocked in the first two minutes, but broadly Exeter had started well, earned a few free-kicks, and would have been the more satisfied with their opening – until Argyle scored.
It was a lovely effort, too. Jared Rendle’s clipped ball through found Sandhu, who finished off the move. From then, Argyle found their rhythm, and had the vast majority of possession and chances.
Toby MacLean, and Sharpe again, had chances for a second before the Greens did make it 2-0. Many players were involved in a slick passing move which transitioned from left to right, with right-back Toby Haley driving in a low cross that defender Liam Cartwright could not help but divert into the net.
As the Young Pilgrims looked to find a third before half-time, it was actually the hosts who struck next, in the 45th minute. Exeter got down Argyle’s left too easily, and the low cross fell nicely for Aworinde, who pushed the ball smartly past Jack Flower.
This looked as though it would be a huge momentum shift before the interval, but Argyle responded perfectly, and restored the two-goal advantage almost immediately. Sharpe, playing on the shoulders of the backline, got beyond them, sidestepped the goalkeeper, and rolled the ball home.
Both sides felt hard done by early in the second period. Argyle had the ball in the net following a scramble from a corner, but the referee saw enough to give a foul to Exeter’s defenders. Then, Aworinde had a shot that went wide, but he was taken out by Flower as he shot. No penalty given.
The second half had far less rhythm, but it did still have chances. Flower made a good save from an Exeter substitute who had got free, and then Fletcher Poole and Lewis Flowers, both of whom had just come on the pitch themselves, connected for the latter to shoot just wide.
It was another of Argyle’s subs, Burch, who got the goal that sealed matters. Poole did well, back to goal, to hold the ball up and then release the fresh Burch, who bore down on the goalkeeper, and clipped confidently home.
Argyle: 1 Jack Flower (capt), 2 Toby Haley (12 Sam Hayman, half-time), 3 Malachi Davy (14 Lewis Flowers, 79), 4 Joel Tolcher, 5 Deniz Doru, 6 Toby Maclean, 7 Tashall Sandhu, 8 Harry Locke, 9 James Sharpe (15 Sam Lord, 66), 10 Seb Campbell (16 Kian Burch, 66), 11 Jared Rendle (18 Fletcher Poole, 79)
