Semi-Pro Match Report: Plymouth Argyle 0 Oxford United Youth 0 – 21st November 2009

The break from matches took its toll on Plymouth Argyle Youth as they failed to make their supremacy throughout the match count and were held to a draw by Oxford United Youth at Elburton Villa.

Going in to this match, the youth team had not played a competitive game for over five weeks since their loss to Bristol Rovers 5-1 away, whereas Oxford had played two weeks earlier against Swansea City.

Plymouth brought in promising apprentice Jamie Richards, who has been getting much media attention with news that Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are keen to acquire him, at left back and Sam Sawyer, younger brother to first team player Gary Sawyer at right back with regular full back Curtis Nelson switching inside to the centre of defence.

This was due to Ryan Leonard being away with the first team at their away trip to Leicester and left back Connor Clifford out injured. Winger Luke Young was brought back in to midfield after making a full recovery from his injury.

The cobwebs that must have accumulated for not playing for that long were almost instantly swept away when Argyle were handed a penalty inside 15 minutes. 16 year old striker Matt Rickard had been put through by Sawyer, but was taken out in the area and Plymouth had a penalty. However Sean Kinsella, the Pilgrim’s youth captain, was unable to convert it as the Oxford keeper Nathan Silver got down to his left and kept it out.

Half way through the first half Rickard had another chance to put Plymouth in front linking up well with fellow striker Lewis Coombes, but his well struck shot was blocked by a defender and the goal bound effort went out for a corner.

This was followed by right midfielder Liam Head, whose Ronaldo-esque run in from the wing and shot, went just wide of Silver’s near post. Oxford had little to reply to in the way of chances in the first half as Plymouth Youth dominated right until the break, with Coombes only denied scoring by sheer bravery of goalkeeper Nathan Silver.

The second half saw Oxford come into the game with the rainy and windy conditions in their favour and Argyle goalkeeper Ollie Chenoweth had to be alert and make two fine saves but that was the highlight as the game came to an end as a draw.