Argyle Under-18s claimed their first points of the season with a 3-1 win away from home against Wycombe Wanderers.
A Frankie Maund brace and a goal from Seb Campbell, all in the first half, propelled Argyle to victory and three points in the EFL Youth Alliance League South.
Within three minutes of the start, Argyle had the lead. Maund got in behind the Wycombe defensive line and clipped the ball over Israel Jegede in the hosts’ goal.
The lead did not last long, however. After a spell of pressure, including some close chances in front of goal, Wycombe equalised through Nsemi Bassega.
Within a quarter of an hour, Argyle had not only regained the lead but created a two-goal cushion. A failed clearance from a corner fell to Maund, who struck low and hard from a narrow angle, to push the Greens ahead.
Minutes later, Campbell – Argyle’s captain for the afternoon – curled an effort home precisely to make the tie 3-1 before the half-time whistle was blown.
The second half created chances for both sides, but the best fell to the hosts on multiple occasions. Looping headers, on separate occasions, forced Jack Flower into reactive diving saves, but the Greens’ number one pushed the ball away from goal both times, keeping the game at 3-1.
Argyle held out for the remainder of the game and picked up three points, and now full attention turns to their Professional Development League Cup tie on Tuesday, away to Portsmouth.
Head Coach Jamie Lowry said: “We were really good, and I’m really pleased with the lads. It’s definitely a step in the right direction in terms of where we want to be, performance-wise. We were a lot better in possession, which enabled us to have a bit more control of the game.
“With the first couple of games, we haven't been in control because we turn the ball over so easily, but that was a lot better from us today. It was a really pleasing day all round, and there are loads of positives to take from it. It’s something we can go and build on and add that little bit of confidence with a win and a good performance away.”
Argyle: 1 Jack Flower, 2 Joe Mwaro, 3 Toby Haley, 4 Billy Devlin, 5 Lewis Flowers, 6 Toby Maclean, 7 Fletcher Poole, 8 Sam Lord, 9 Frankie Maund, 10 Seb Campbell (capt), 15 Tashall Sandhu. Substitutes: 23 Leo McCormick (gk), 11 Jared Rendle, 12 Jovan Wamani, 14 Joel Tolcher, 15 Kian Burch.
