Luke Young to build on goal

MIDFIELDER Luke Young hopes his first goal for Plymouth Argyle will be followed by many more in the future.

The 18-year-old scored for the Pilgrims when they lost 2-1 to Torquay United in the Devon derby at a packed Home Park on Bank Holiday Monday.

Argyle were trailing by two goals when Young, born and bred in Plymouth, headed home from close range in the 73rd minute.

It was not enough to save the Pilgrims from their first defeat in six League Two games, and they also returned to the bottom of the table.

But it was still a proud moment for Young, who comes from Southway, to get his first senior goal.

Young told Herald Sport: "At 2-0 down you can't really celebrate it that much. It was more a case of 'score the goal, get the ball back and let's go again.'

"But thinking about it afterwards I was delighted to get my first goal for the club.

"I have been playing for the club since a young age and have had a few starts for the first team now.

"So it's nice to finally get a goal. Hopefully, I can build on that and there are more to come in the future."

Young was drafted into the Argyle starting line-up against Torquay, taking over from Will Atkinson on the right-side of midfield.

It was the former Ivybridge Community College student's seventh start for the Pilgrims, and 14th appearance in total.

Young headed home after a deep right-wing cross from striker Warren Feeney was nodded back by skipper Simon Walton.

"As the ball came across I thought to myself I had to get myself in and around the 'keeper," said Young.

"I fancied Walts to win the ball against their full-back and he headed it back inside and I was in the right position at the right time.

"I was there, a couple of yards out, to nod it into the back of the net."

Young scored in front of the massed ranks of the Green Army at the Devonport End, as a season's best attendance of 12,836 turned out for the Devon derby.

"It was a great crowd," said Young. "You can't ask for any more from the fans.

"The result was disappointing but it was nice to get the goal to give them something to cheer about.

"We pushed on for the last 20 minutes and looked like scoring one if not two more goals at the end, but it just wasn't to be."

Young came closest to grabbing an equaliser for Argyle in the 82nd minute.

The ball was cut back to him by winger Ashley Hemmings and Young's goalbound shot was brilliantly blocked by Torquay centre-back Chris Robertson.

Young said: "As it came back to me I thought 'I have got another chance here.'

"It was on my weaker foot so I tried to get a good contact on it and get it on target, but their player, to be fair to him, came at me quite quick and got a good block."

Young made the start against Torquay after a series of recent substitute appearances.

He came off the bench in both the 3-2 win away to Bristol Rovers on Boxing Day, and the 0-0 draw at Aldershot Town on New Year's Eve.

Young said: "I feel myself that when I have come on as sub I have not done too badly.

"I have got on the ball quite a lot, and I have felt quite positive in what I have done. That's what the manager (Carl Fletcher) told me to do.

"He wanted me to get on the ball and keep it, be positive and enjoy it. I feel that got me the start (against Torquay) that I maybe deserved."