Argyle youngsters see off Fulham
The Pilgrims saw off three Premier League Academy teams to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament last season, and they are at it again. Argyle gained a fully merited 2-1 win over another Academy side, Fulham, yesterday evening to reach the last 32 of this term's Youth Cup.
Given that, by their own admission, the Pilgrims' Under-18 squad are not as strong as they were a year ago, it was a notable achievement. Ryan Leonard and Sean Kinsella scored the goals which conquered the Cottagers, who were a clearly a decent side but only held the upper hand in the closing stages of the tie.
Fulham gave notice of their anticipated attacking threat inside the first minute, when Kai Bichard made rapid progress down the left flank and sent over a cross which fellow striker Michael Uwezu fired just wide.
The first goal, however, went to the Pilgrims in the seventh minute, and it came against the run of play. Kinsella's delivery from the left evaded the attackers and fell for right-back Leonard – the son of Plymouth Parkway manager Dave Leonard – whose cracking shot from the edge of the penalty area flew into the net via the fingertips of goalkeeper Wesley Foderingham.
That setback rattled the Londoners, and it was a while before they threatened again. When they did so, lanky centre-half Pierre Hall smacked a shot wide when a free-kick was not properly cleared.
Argyle continued to give as good as they got, with Joe Mason and Liam Head always willing to chase every ball up front. At the back for the Pilgrims, centre-half Ashley Hodgkinson was strong and determined.
Hodgkinson's partner in the middle of the home rearguard, Ben Gerring, had to be substituted near the end of the first half after sustaining a head injury in a collision with visiting captain Troy Brown. Jordan Trott was sent on, which meant a switch to central defence for left-back Ryan Brett.
Fulham's youngsters continued to struggle to get to grips with the challenge presented by the Pilgrims. The Londoners had plenty of possession but were frequently caught offside, much to their coaching staff's audible disgust. Home goalkeeper Tom Brooks was not called upon to make a difficult save in the first half.
It took Argyle three minutes of the second half to double their lead. Karim Laribi's foul on Lewis Edwards gave the home side a free-kick out on the left. Kinsella's dead-ball delivery was meant to be a cross but it turned into a shot which beat friend and foe alike in the penalty area and nestled in the net at the far post.
Hodgkinson glanced a header wide from an Edwards corner soon afterwards. Just like last season, the Pilgrims were raising their game against supposedly superior opposition.
When Fulham right-winger Keanu Marsh-Brown did get away from the home defence, his cross to the far post was missed by substitute Danny Hoesen. The Cottagers changed their formation to give them more attacking players, and a left-wing raid ended with Brooks saving a fierce low shot from Marsh-Brown. Then Hall headed wide from a corner.
The hosts were under heavy pressure in the last quarter of the tie, and Luca Moscatiello was not far away with a skidding long-range drive. Brooks then pushed a shot from Courtney Harris over the crossbar.
Fulham eventually found the net in the 88th minute when a cross from Matthew Briggs was met by a looping header from Dutch striker Hoesen which beat the Pilgrims' keeper, but the battling Argyle youngsters held on to secure a commendable victory.
Plymouth Argyle (4-4-1-1): T Brooks; R Leonard, B Gerring (J Trott 34), A Hodgkinson, R Brett; L Edwards (M Rickard 83), G Moseley, S Kinsella, J Grant; J Mason; L Head (L Young 87). Substitutes (not used): O Chenoweth (gk), S Sawyer.
Fulham (4-4-2): W Foderingham; K Laribi, P Hall, T Brown, M Briggs; K Marsh-Brown, R Jones (L Moscatiello 53), C Harris, A Smith (W Jackson 75); K Bichard (D Hoesen 53), M Uwezu. Substitutes (not used): J Dunne (gk), L Thomas.
Referee: M Philpott (Cornwall).
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