Argyle Under-18s’ second-half comeback on Saturday afternoon is one to talk about, as they put six past Newport County to come away from Wales with three points.
After conceding two goals from individual errors in the first 45 minutes, a half-time team talk from Head Coach Jamie Lowry seemed to fire up his side and propel them to victory just across the border.
Tegan Finn scored four, including a seven-minute hat-trick, with Sam Lord and Jared Rendle rounding out the attacking onslaught from Argyle after the break.
The Greens started the game strongly, pushing back early Newport attacks and creating multiple chances of their own. However, for the first 20-odd minutes, it seemed as though the game could be one of chances missed rather than scored.
On the 20-minute mark, however, Finn gave Argyle some belief. The winger’s free-kick from the right side of Newport’s 18-yard box crashed off the bar and back into the box, but was somehow cleared away, with loud groans coming from the Argyle bench after thinking the lead was theirs.
Seconds later, the belief was amplified. Toby Haley was dragged down in the area by a Newport defender, forcing the referee to award a penalty. Fletcher Poole stepped up but put his effort from the spot over the bar, leaving Argyle hunting for that golden touch to give them the lead.
This seemed to be the turning point of the half, as over the remaining third of the opening 45, Newport capitalised on mistakes from the Greens. Myles McKenzie and Jac Jones both found the back of the net after stealing the ball from Argyle, driving forward and being clinical in the box.
As aforementioned, it seems a stern Lowry chat ignited the fire within Argyle, as they looked a completely new side after the restart, despite no changes being made.
Two minutes into the half, Finn’s near-post finish halved the deficit immediately, with the game being level two minutes after that – again through Finn.
A first-time left-footed strike from the edge of the box curled into the bottom corner, off the post, and into the back of the net, but celebrations were still muted from all in green. They wanted more.
The golden run continued for Argyle for a further three minutes after. Harry Shield’s charging run was illegally halted by Newport, with the Greens being awarded another penalty. Finn stepped up this time and converted, giving Argyle the lead and sealing a seven-minute hat-trick.
Confidence was in full flow at this point, and it was clear Newport would need a miracle to turn the game around. Just after the hour mark, Lord made it four. The midfielder’s effort, from inside the box, snuck its way past several bodies and into the back of the net, further extending the lead.
Lord had the ball in the back of the net again soon after, but the offside flag was raised for offside, ruling out a quick brace.
Lowry turned to his bench in the final stages of the game, bringing on Jared Rendle, returning from injury, and a trialist, which soon paid dividends.
Finn added his fourth - Argyle’s fifth - with Rendle’s header just before additional time rounding out the game’s scoring. This meant the Greens left Wales with six goals, three points, and a sense of confidence heading into the remaining games of the season.
Lowry said: “Overall, a really good performance from us against Newport. We created lots of chances and were really good, so I’m happy. We missed a penalty and conceded two goals, due to individual errors, which was a bit disappointing, but we were superb, in control and dominant all-round.
“In the second half, we had that little bit more focus, because we were two goals down, and became more clinical. It was a great test for the lads mentally, and to come out and be frustrated and then play the right way and do the right things, which led to scoring six goals.
“I’m happy with the boys and the great performance from them. It’s something to keep building on, and I think the second half showed that when we are that little bit more focused and tidier around the box, we can score a lot of goals.”
Argyle: 1 Jack Flower, 2 Toby Haley, 3 Harry Shield (capt), 4 Billy Devlin, 5 Sam Hayman, 6 Lewis Flowers, 7 Tashall Sandhu (14 Trialist A, 85), 8 Sam Lord, 9 Frankie Maund (16 Jared Rendle, 85), 10 Fletcher Poole, 11 Tegan Finn. Substitutes: 23 Leo McCormick (gk), 12 Dylan Williams, 15 Harry Locke.
Goals: Finn 47, 49, 53, 88, Lord 64, Rendle 90.
Yellow card: Finn 22.
