Oxford United U18s suffered their first away defeat of the season after Plymouth put on dominating display in the Youth Alliance League on Saturday to beat the U's 5-1.
Plymouth opened their account in the fourth minute through Tegan Finn. They then put two past Will Jackson in the space of a couple minutes. The hosts rubbed salt into the wound, making it 4-0, 28 minutes in. The relentless Greens made it five from a corner in the 80th minute. What would have been a perfect result for the Pilgrims was then ruined by substitute Harley Gardner, who chalked off their clean sheet in stoppage time.
With both sides coming into the game high on confidence, the game was set up to be eventful and that’s exactly how it started. The first chance of the game fell to Jack Lee after a blistering counterattack; however he was unable to keep his effort from blazing over the bar. The hosts then replied quickly, with Finn cutting inside and sticking the ball into the top corner to make it 1-0.
The Greens doubled their lead in the 24th minute with Harry Shield whipping a cross into the back post that wasn’t dealt with and somehow found itself in the back of the net. They then made it two in two minutes, with Seb Campbell getting on the end of a dangerous delivery at the back post to fire the hosts 3-0 up within 25 minutes.
Argyle didn’t hold back and kept up their relentless pressure, with Finn making it four in the 28th minute, replicating his opener as his strike gave Jackson no chance once again.
The U’s came close on a couple of occasions before the break to grab one back, but Leo Snowden’s efforts strayed just wide.
The Young U’s came out in the second 45 and put on a much better performance, managing to control the game for certain passages. However, they couldn’t find that bit of quality in the final third that they needed to get back into the game.
Changes were made as a lot of the younger boys were given chances for the U’s, but it was Argyle who found the next goal, making it five from a corner in the 80th minute.
In a game which didn’t have many positives for the Yellows, it was finished with a well-taken goal from substitute Harley Gardner, who was a bright spark after coming off the bench.
A disappointing defeat for the youngsters, but they have no time to dwell on it as they welcome Forest Green Rovers back to the training ground this Tuesday.
UNITED: Jackson, Cramond, Mole, Bangurah (Gardner 65), Lacey, Doyle (Palmer-Flynn 65), Abolade (Griffiths Brown 74), Bradney, Lee, Holton (Dourish 81), Snowden
Unused sub: Collins
Report: Ollie Chevallier
