• League Cup
• 13th August 1977 Plymouth Argyle - Home 2-2 
• 16th August 1977 Plymouth Argyle - Away 0-0
• 23rd August 1977 Plymouth Argyle - Away 1-0

Football League Cup 1st Round 1st Leg

ROBERTSON STINGS ARGYLE FROM SPOT

Saturday August 13th 1977.

St James's Park, attendance 6,712. EXETER CITY 2 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 2.

A cross from Trusson was headed away and finally cleared. The City then mounted an attack down the right with a good low cross by Beer into the six-yard area, but Kellow failed to connect. Exeter maintained their early pressure and a shot by Hodge narrowly cleared the crossbar. After seven minutes the Argyle gave away a penalty for a foul inside the area on Robertson. Robertson coolly planted the ball to the left of Barron in the back of the net but the referee ordered a retake because Robertson had not waited for the whistle. However on his second attempt Barron this time dived to the left, while Robertson made no mistake, placing his kick in the opposite corner. Plymouth fought back and scored two goals, both by Trusson.

Exeter City:- Baugh; Templeman and Hore; Weeks, Saxton, and Hatch; Hodge, Kellow, Robertson, Beer, and Jennings.

Plymouth Argyle:- Barron; Smart and Uzzell; Horswill, Foster, and Craven; Delve, Johnson, Austin, Trusson, and Rogers.

Referee:- Mr L.Burden of Wimborne. Linesmen:- Messrs B.W.Bick and K.V.Lambert.

Exeter drew level in the second half, Robertson scoring again from the penalty spot. The Argyle conceded a third penalty but this time Barron saved Robertson's shot.

City Force a Draw

BUT THEN LOSE THE TOSS UP

Tuesday August 16th 1977. Home Park, Plymouth, attendance 7,639.

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 0 EXETER CITY 0.

It is now literally a toss-up as to whether Exeter City or Plymouth Argyle go through to the second round of the Football League Cup competition, and it is all back to Home Park next Tuesday night to decide the outcome. In the second leg on the Argyle ground the teams drew 0-0 to make the aggregate score 2-2. Then, off the field, the action switched to the referee's room. He tossed the coin in front of the two managers. The Plymouth chief, Mr Kelly, correctly called "heads," and so the third match will go ahead at Plymouth next Tuesday. This means that Exeter City's scheduled first League game of the season, against Sheffield Wednesday, will now be put back to a later date.

The second leg never reached the heights of Saturday's thriller at St James's Park, but it was still a tight affair. Both teams could have broken the deadlock, but Exeter will view it as a good result for them.

Plymouth Argyle:- Barron; Smart, Uzzell; Horswill, Foster, Craven; Johnson, Delve, Austin, Trusson, and Rogers.

Exeter City: Baugh; Templeman, Hore; Weeks, Saxton, Hatch; Hodge, Kellow, Bowker, Beer, and Jennings.

BEER'S GOAL WINS THE REPLAY-Now for Aston Villa

Tuesday August 23rd 1977.

Home Park, Plymouth, attendance 8,776.

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 0 EXETER CITY 1.

There were just eight minutes of this match left when Hodge produced a piece of sheer soccer artistry. He was out on the right wing and looked as if he was going to play the ball back to Templeman. Instead he checked, turned, eluded two Argyle players, moved forward and hit the ball across to Beer, who ended the move with a brilliant shot into the Plymouth net. The City thoroughly deserved their victory. They were by a long way the better side, and in the first half in particular they played some powerful and clever football.

Plymouth Argyle:- Barron; Smart and Uzzell; Horswill, Foster, and Craven;
Johnson, Delve, Austin, Trusson, and Rogers.

Exeter City:- Baugh; Templeman and Hore; Weeks, Saxton, and Hatch; Hodge, Kellow, Bowker, Beer, and Jennings.

So Exeter won their first round replay and now comes that glamorous tie against the cup holders, Aston Villa, at St James's Park, next Wednesday, and a bumper cash start to the season for the City. Brian Hall replaced Austin for the Argyle in the 75th minute, and Lammie Robertson came on for Weeks ten minutes later.