With just one match to go before they make history by playing in the first game at the club’s new stadium, Everton Under-18s have suffered a major blow by being knocked out of the FA Youth Cup, losing 1-0 at home to Plymouth Argyle. On Monday (February 17), the young Blues have the honour of taking part in the inaugural fixture at Everton’s future 52,888 capacity home on the Mersey waterfront when they entertain their Wigan Athletic counterparts in a friendly which serves as the first test event for the Bramley-Moore Dock venue in front of 10,000 spectators.

However, with just a Valentine’s Day date against Reading (2pm kick-off) at the Royals’ Bearwood Park training ground for a Premier League U18 Cup tie before then, Everton have been eliminated from the most high-profile competition in their age category.

The Blues had been in free-scoring form, having also been drawn at home in the previous two rounds, defeating Nottingham Forest 7-0 on what was coach Leighton Baines’ 40th birthday before defeating Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 under his replacement Keith Southern after the former left-back was promoted to first-team duties as part of David Moyes’ new-look backroom team.

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Both those games took place at Goodison Park, but without Harrison Armstrong, a hat-trick hero in the former tie, after the midfielder, who has made half a dozen senior outings this term, made a winter transfer window deadline day loan move to Forest’s East Midlands rivals Derby County, the Toffees came unstuck against the Pilgrims at Walton Hall Park.

Southern, currently leading the Under-18s, told the club’s website: “It was a poor start, a catalogue of errors in the first 90 seconds which culminated in us conceding the goal. We didn’t start in the correct fashion at all.

“Even for the next 20 minutes or so, we never really got going. We were shell-shocked, I think, by the poor start. We grew into the half a little bit and had some opportunities, but so did they.

“We asked for more at half-time and I think we got more in terms of effort and energy, but we just couldn’t find that decisive, creative moment. We fashioned some good opportunities but just couldn’t capitalise on them.

“They came with a game plan, and we gave them a leg-up early on and given them something to hold onto. I thought they deserved it. Their industry, their effort, their willingness to put their bodies on the line, their collective team spirit, it all showed how you can win a football match and it’s a big learning curve for our lads.

“I thought we fell short in those areas which I’ve spoken a lot to the boys about in the last few days and weeks. It was a difficult evening.

“We should have scored and should have got back on level terms in the second half, I felt, but we didn’t. They have to take their medicine, we have to as staff. We'll reflect and hopefully be better for the outcome.”

Cole Fisher’s second-minute penalty was the difference at the final whistle despite a flurry of late chances for Everton, who could not break down a determined Argyle backline.

There were two changes from the side that beat Wolves 3-1 in the fourth round a fortnight ago. Joel Catesby was replaced by Ceiran Loney while Malik Olayiwola stepped in for Armstrong.

The Blues were immediately on the back foot as Plymouth won a quick corner from a long ball and as Everton struggled to get the ball clear when it was delivered into the box, Aled Thomas brought down striker Kian Burch and the referee pointed the spot less than a minute in.

Winger Fisher stepped up and sent his penalty to Douglass Lukjancik’s right with the keeper diving left, giving Plymouth an early lead and something to defend.

The hosts responded well and nearly got an instant equaliser, Braiden Graham running onto a good flick-on from George Morgan and sending his wicked half-volley past Argyle keeper Daniel Holman, but the ball clipped the crossbar on its way over the goal.

Plymouth were far from content to sit on their early lead and twice Everton were grateful to Lukjanciks for the score staying at 1-0. Fletcher Poole’s curled effort from 25 yards looked destined for the top-right corner in the 19th minute but Lukjanciks acrobatically got across to tip the ball over the bar, and when Burch found himself through on goal in the 36th minute the England Under-18 international stood up well to turn the striker’s effort round the post, having been assisted by some good covering play from Joshua van Schoor.

The Blues’ best chance of the half came between those saves, with Morgan and Graham seeing shots blocked by Plymouth defenders in the box after good work down the left from van Schoor, before a surging run and neat pull-back from Justin Clarke from Graham, but the young forward could not get his effort on target.

It took until the 66th minute for Everton to seriously test the Plymouth keeper again and, once more, the opportunity fell to Graham following a lightning fast counter attack and a surging run from Clarke. Graham’s first shot following Clarke's neat pull-back was well saved by Holman from close range but as the rebound fell to him, Graham was off-balance and he could only turn his second effort

From there, however, Everton found their intensity and started putting the visitors under real pressure with Graham and Morgan both getting into excellent positions in the box, only to be foiled by a string of last-ditch challenges and blocks.

Morgan intercepted a loose header in the box with 12 minutes to play only to see his shot diverted behind by Plymouth captain Joel Sullivan, and the ball had to be cleared off the line from the resulting corner.

In the 81st minute Graham latched onto a pinpoint cross from substitute Charlie Stewart but could only find the side netting, while Morgan, a constant menace up front for 90 minutes, was frustrated again by blocks from Holman and Sullivan as the clock ran down.

Ultimately the young Blues could not find a way through a resolute Plymouth backline, with the Devon outfit advancing to the quarter-finals.