--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-09-23T10:25:29.141Z last_updated: 2026-09-22T20:09:21+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/cardiff-city/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucGx5bW91dGhoZXJhbGQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvcGx5bW91dGgtYXJneWxlLWJlZ2luLWVmbC10cm9waHktMTExNjY4Mjk --- # Argyle begin EFL Trophy campaign with convincing victory - **Source:** - **Published:** 22 Sept - **Club:** Cardiff City - **Original URL:** https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/plymouth-argyle-begin-efl-trophy-11166829 There was a crowd of only 2,187 at Home Park and those supporters who did attend the match saw the Pilgrims cruise into a 3-0 lead by the interval. Xavier Amaechi opened the scoring with a tremendous 30-yard drive and Watts added two more goals but Argyle also lost Oseni to an ankle injury as he limped away to the players’ tunnel shortly after the half-hour mark. Palace substitute Donte Martin did get a goal back for the young Eagles in the 57th minute but further Argyle goals followed from 17-year-old midfielder Seb Campbell and Bim Pepple, who had come off the bench during the second period. Second-year apprentice Jared Rendle made his first team debut for Argyle as one of 11 changes to the starting line-up from the 4-2 League One win away to Blackpool on Saturday. Rendle, a former Looe Community Academy student, played at left-back in a number of the senior squad’s pre-season matches and the EFL Trophy tie was a further step in his development path. There were two other Argyle academy products in their team against Palace U21s, with Caleb Roberts in central midfield and Campbell providing the closest support to striker Owen Oseni. Roberts, 20, recently joined National League South side Torquay United on loan and has earned positive reviews for his performances for the Gulls. Under the terms of his loan agreement, Roberts is still eligible to play for Argyle in the EFL Trophy even though his loan at Torquay is until January. Club captain Joe Edwards wore the armband for the Pilgrims, while left-back Jack MacKenzie made his first appearance since last season after overcoming knee and groin issues. With Rendle playing at left-back, MacKenzie lined up in central defence as he took an important step towards being able to challenge for a first team spot again. For Palace, Caleb Kporha and Ben Casey were the only two players in their side with first team experience, and in both cases it has been very limited. Amaechi, playing on the right of midfield for Argyle, had an early attempt on goal which flew well wide before Oseni went much closer to scoring. He got in behind the Palace defence and goalkeeper Harry Lee, formerly of Exeter City and two loan spells at Plymouth Parkway, did well to touch the striker’s shot wide of the far post for a corner. Oseni caused Palace plenty of early problems, such as when he ran onto a defence-splitting pass from Watts and his low angled strike went inches past Lee’s left post. Argyle’s positive start to the match was rewarded when they took the lead in the 11th minute and it was a terrific goal as Amaechi crashed a 30-yard screamer high into the net. It was Amaechi’s third goal of the season after previously hitting the target against Stockport County in League One and Coventry City in the Carabao Cup, both in defeats at Home Park. The Pilgrims had a lengthy spell when they were down to 10 players as defender Mathias Ross was off the pitch receiving treatment for a cut to his face. During that time, Palace had a good chance to equalise when a cross from the left went over Watts and reached Kporha, whose fierce strike was put behind for a corner by Argyle goalkeeper James Storer. A bloodied Ross was eventually able to return to the pitch, wearing a new clean shirt, without the need for substitute Julio Pleguezuelo to replace him. Argyle then extended their lead to 2-0 in the 26th minute when Amaechi played in Oseni, who clipped the ball over the onrushing Lee and Watts tapped into an empty net. Palace appealed that Watts had been offside but the match officials were having none of it and the Argyle attacker had his second goal of the season, after previously scoring in the 3-2 League One win away to Doncaster Rovers. The Pilgrims were forced into a substitution shortly after the half-hour mark when Oseni picked up an ankle injury and hobbled away to the home dressing room. Matty Sorinola was sent on for Oseni and went to left-back, with Rendle pushed up into midfield and Watts taking over as Argyle’s striker. Watts made the most of the switch of position as he grabbed his second goal of the game, and Argyle’s third, in the 38th minute. Rendle played a good ball forward for Watts, who cut inside a couple of Palace defenders and beat Lee with a right-foot shot high into the net, possibly with the aid of a deflection. There was not much coming from Palace as an attacking force, although Adler Nascimento did curl one shot narrowly wide of Storer’s left post, as it remained 3-0 to Argyle until the interval. MacKenzie was replaced as the Pilgrims’ left-sided centre-back by Wes Harding at the start of the second half in what was a planned change as the former Aberdeen defender returned to action from injury. Nascimento had a powerful strike for Palace which went straight at Storer shortly after play resumed and the keeper safely held onto the ball. Amaechi had the ball in the net for Argyle but an offside flag was raised before Palace pulled a goal back in the 57th minute with a header from Martin after a cross from the left by Amaari Sealey was flicked on by Nascimento. A triple substitution for the Pilgrims followed on the hour mark as Watts, who had appeared to pick up a knock, was replaced by Pepple while Edwards and Roberts were replaced by Pleguezuelo and Tyreeq Bakinson respectively. Argyle restored their three-goal advantage in the 67th minute when Campbell capitalised on a defensive mix-up and beat Lee with a shot, which Palace’s Jacob Fasida could not clear from off the line. Soon afterwards, Rendle picked out Pepple with an excellent cross from the left but the striker could not get enough power on his header as Lee made the save. Storer then did well to tip over a close range attempt from Martin as Palace tried to find a way back into the contest before Pepple came up with a composed finish to make it 5-1 to Argyle in the 86th minute. People received the ball after a quickly taken throw-in by Campbell and used his strength to hold off Sean Somade and fire high into the net past Lee. ARGYLE: James Storer; Joe Edwards (Julio Pleguezuelo 60 mins), Mathias Ross, Jack MacKenzie (Wes Harding h/t), Jared Rendle; Xavier Amaechi, Seb Campbell, Bradley Ibrahim, Caleb Roberts (Tyreeq Bakinson 60 mins), Caleb Watts (Bim Pepple 60 mins); Seb Campbell; Owen Oseni (Matty Sorinola 33 mins). Substitutes (not used): Tom Armytage, Oli Irow. CRYSTAL PALACE U21s: Harry Lee; Tyler White, Sean Somade, Chucks Okoli (Jacob Fasida h/t); Joseph Gibbard, Seb Williams, Caleb Kporha (Nathanael Kalembo h/t), Euan Danaher (Kai-Reece Adams-Collman 82 mins); Adler Nascimento, Amaari Sealey (Ajean-Ray Greaves 90 mins); Ben Casey (Donte Martin 33mins). Substitutes (not used): Marcus Hill, Khyan Frazer-Williams. REFEREE: Matthew Norton ATTENDANCE: 2,187 (79) You can read more of our Argyle stories from Plymouth Live by clicking HERE PlymouthLive has launched a Plymouth Argyle transfer news and top stories group on WhatsApp and we want you to join us. 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