Match 23
21st November 2015
Plymouth Argyle (a)
Match Report:
Plymouth Argyle 1-2 Exeter City
21 November 2015
LINE-UPS:
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE: Walton, Mellor, Sawyer, Nelson (capt), Simpson, Carey, Wylde (Brunt 46'), Jervis, Threlkeld, Tanner (Harvey 81'), Croll.
SUBS: Cox, Purrington, Bentley, Bittner, Rooney.
GOALS: Threlkeld 61'
EXETER CITY: Olejnik, Butterfield (Oakley 46'), Noble, McAllister (Ribeiro 11'), Harley, Davies, Moore-Taylor (capt), Reid, Wheeler, Watkins, Brown.
SUBS: Holmes, Morrison, Holmes, Hamon, McCready.
GOALS: Harley pen 30', 39'
Referee: Graham Scott
Report by Oliver Roderick
RYAN HARLEY's two-goal first-half salvo was enough for City to win the Devon derby, beating Plymouth Argyle 2-1 at Home Park.
Paul Tisdale made four changes to the Exeter City starting line-up for the Devon derby, with Ollie Watkins making a first start, Jamie Reid also coming in for his first start since his loan with Conference South side Truro City. Birthday-boy Danny Butterfield and David Wheeler were the other players to come in.
City were to enjoy much the better of the opening ten minutes, with both Jamie Reid and Ollie Watkins looking lively, but it was the home side that would have the first few early chances. Plymouth captain Curtis Nelson burst through before drawing a big save from Bobby Olejnik, while the City stopper had to be on hand to deny Jake Jervis and Craig Tanner before the half-hour.
But it was City who would take the lead as the clock ticked to thirty minutes. David Wheeler was cleaned out by Kelvin Mellor in the Plymouth box, leading referee Graham Scott to point to the spot. Ryan Harley stepped up and beat Plymouth loanee keeper Christian Walton low to his right to open the scoring, giving City a lead that sent the travelling supporters into raptures. That was nothing compared to just a few minutes later, however; Harley was at it again, this time twisting and turning as he outdid the Plymouth defence and then fired low into the bottom-left corner. Jake Jervis fired waywardly over in added time as City finished one of their best first halves of the campaign so far.
HALF-TIME: PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 0-2 EXETER CITY
Plymouth would get a goal back just after the hour, as Oscar Threlkeld shot through the crowd and just out of the reach of Bobby Olejnik. A fierce Ryan Brunt strike brought a big save from Bobby Olejnik with just over twenty minutes left. Argyle came within a whisker of an equaliser when Graham Carey smashed narrowly over from Ryan Brunt's cross from the right.
City should have done better when they had a three-against-one advantage as they broke with just under ten minutes to go, and from there it was a case of all backs to the wall as far as City were concerned. Some Plymouth fans started celebrating as Graham Carey's stoppage-time free-kick hit the roof of the net, but it wasn't to be for the hosts.
City held on for their third League 2 away win of the season - and the third time that we have beaten the team top of the league this season!
FULL-TIME: PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 1-2 EXETER CITY
Attendance: 14,008 (968 away)
Man of the Match: Ryan Harley
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