Argyle 6-2 Spurs Under-21s
Argyle cruised to victory in their second group-stage game of the Vertu Trophy, ensuring early qualification thanks to a 6-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s.
Tegan Finn was at the heart of Argyle’s attacking play, scoring the Greens’ second and fifth goals, directly assisting Mathias Ross’s opening goal and Owen Oseni’s fourth, and playing a major part in the third goal, scored by Bim Pepple.
Late in the game, after Reiss-Alexander Russell-Denny had got one back for Spurs, substitute Seb Campbell scored to become Argyle’s youngest-ever goalscorer at 16 years and 279 days, breaking a record that has stood since Darren Bastow scored in November 1998 – over ten years before Seb was born.
Argyle named a side that included three players - Ross, Brendan Wiredu and Law McCabe - that had started the home game against Peterborough United the prior weekend. Ross and Wiredu were joined by Brendan Galloway in the back three, in front of Conor Hazard in goal, playing for the first time this season.
McCabe played in a two-man central midfield axis, flanked by Ayman Benarous and Joe Edwards as wing-backs, Edwards’ suspension not applying in this competition. Further forward, Oseni, Pepple and Finn played as a front three.
It did not take long for Argyle to take the lead. Finn’s low cross was blocked out for a corner and, from the take, he centred for Ross to head home, unchallenged.
On 20 minutes, Finn had a goal of his own, rifling in from the edge of the area after Spurs had failed to clear their lines, and he was also involved in the creation of the Pilgrims’ third. He and McCabe combined on the right to work Finn into a position to cross to the far post. Benarous steered a smart ball across the centre, and Pepple finished from close range.
Tottenham had played a notably high line, and although Argyle players were often caught offside because of it, the riskiness of the defensive tactic was exposed when Finn floated a pitching wedge of a pass over the top for Oseni to run on to. Oseni, clear but onside, sidestepped the goalkeeper and rolled in.
At half-time, Argyle introduced Owen Dale and Seb Campbell, the latter a first-year apprentice, on for his debut.
Finn soon added a fifth, clipping home with the confidence of someone who was already on the scoresheet, and had played a part in the other three goals too.
Tottenham had been better since, though, and from their third decent chance of the early part of the second half, scored via their captain, Reiss-Alexander Russell-Denny, not long before the hour mark.
History was soon made, when Campbell fired home inside the area, following good build-up play by his fellow half-time introductee, Owen Dale.
Tottenham got another one back late on, through Oliver Irow, to make it 6-2. Curiously, the game came on the two-year anniversary of a 6-2 win against Norwich City.
This win means Argyle have two wins out of two in the group stages of the competition, and have qualified for the knockouts, even with an away game at Bristol Rovers still to play.
Argyle: 1 Conor Hazard, 2 Mathias Ross, 4 Brendan Wiredu (35 Owen Dale, half-time), 8 Joe Edwards (capt), 14 Ayman Benarous, 18 Owen Oseni (7 Jamie Paterson, 71), 20 Law McCabe (41 Seb Campbell, half-time), 22 Brendan Galloway (15 Alex Mitchell, 60), 24 Caleb Roberts, 27 Bim Pepple, 39 Tegan Finn. Substitutes: 21 Luca Ashby-Hammond (gk), 9 Lorent Tolaj, 23 Bradley Ibrahim.
Goals: Ross 5, Finn 20, 53, Pepple 28, Oseni 41
Booked: Roberts 12, Galloway 50, Benarous 68
Tottenham: 46 Luca Gunter, 52 Callum Olusesi, 53 Reiss-Alexander Russell-Denny (capt), 54 Tynan Thompson, 55 Tyrell Ashcroft (72 Reiss Elliott-Parris, 66), 57 Rio Kyerematen (73 Oliver Irow, 77), 59 Dante Cassanova (71 Pele Arganese-McDermott, 86), 66 Malachi Hardy, 70 Yusuf Akhamrich, 76 James Rowswell, 78 Harry Byrne. Substitutes: 56 Aaron Maguire (gk), 65 Leo Black, 80 Roman Egan-Riley, 82 Calum Logan.
Goals: Russell-Denny 57, Irow 90+2
Booked: Elliott-Parris 84
