United’s Youth Team matched their senior counterparts by producing a five-goal first-half showing on Thursday evening, paving the way for FA Youth progress against Falmouth Town.
Under the watchful eye of Manager Gary Johnson, Assistant Manager Aaron Downes and a number of the Club’s senior pros at Buckland Athletic’s Homers Heath ground, Kevin Wills’ side opened the scoring in some style.
With a promising attack seeing the Young Gulls advancing up to the edge of Falmouth’s 18-yard box, Gene Price made the most of the opportunity presented to him by taking aim, before unleashing a sumptuous 20-yard volley that flew past the Town goalkeeper, and into the back of the net.
United remained in the ascendancy thereafter, and they received further reward midway through the first half.
This time there was an element of good fortune surrounding the goal, as Kai Swann’s in-swinging corner was diverted into the back of the net via an unfortunate visiting defender.
With Jacob Wellington proving to be a real handful down the left wing, it was little surprise when another of his penetrative runs brought about the next goal for Wills’ side.
Having darted into the box, the Torquay winger’s low ball across the six-yard line was perfectly placed for the onrushing Riley Crawford, who duly tapped home from close range to make it 3-0.
The punishment being inflicted on United’s Cornish visitors didn’t stop there though.
Before the first 45 minutes were up, Andrew Ellis fired inside the box to grab his side’s fourth, prior to Kai Swann rounding off a remarkable first period by firing home a fifth just before the change of ends.
Following the restart, United were looking hungry for more goals, however, it was Falmouth who got on the scoresheet just short of the hour mark.
Gulls ‘keeper Will Howard initially did well to parry Kian Fisher’s 20-yard free-kick, however it was Town’s Bradley Rowe who was first to the rebound, with his stabbed-effort reducing the arrears to 5-1.
Despite facing a monumental task in clawing their way back into proceedings, it was to the visitors’ credit that they kept plugging away, and two goals in quick succession has the Falmouth camp dreaming of the most unlikely of all comebacks, as Fisher and Josiah Plummer made it 5-3.
Despite the late scare, United saw out the closing stages with relative ease, and after winning a penalty three minutes from time, Price began the evening just as it had started – by firing home confidently – as the scoreline eventually rested at 6-3.
Well played, lads – onto the 3rd Round Qualifying next!
United: 1. Will Howard, 2. Charlie Wills, 5. Harvey Coggings, 7. Jack Kennell, 8. Mason Elliot (c), 9. Riley Crawford (16. Will Brennan, 71′), 10. Gene Price, 11. Kai Swann, 12. Ethan O’Sullivan, 17. Andrew Ellis (3. Corey Price, 82′), 18. Jacob Wellington.
SUBS NOT USED: 4. Toby Hard, 14. Aiden Bovey, 15. Ashton Ballard, 23. Luke Adams.
Yellow Card: O’Sullivan 60′