Plymouth Argyle 2-0 Exeter City
LINE-UPS:Plymouth Argyle: McCormick, Mellor, Nelson (capt), Hartley, Simpson (Cox 88'), Reid (Brunt 85'), Wylde, Jervis, Purrington, Boateng, Tanner (T. Harvey 90+2').
Subs: Threlkeld, C. Harvey.
Goals: Boateng 32', Tanner 49'
Exeter City: Olejnik, Butterfield (capt), Harley, Davies, Nicholls, Moore-Taylor, Wheeler (Nichols 53'), McCready (Ribeiro 65'), Tillson (Morrison 53'), Grant, Brown.
Subs: McAllister, Pym.
Goals:
Referee: Brendan Malone
Report
EXETER CITY bowed out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy after goals from Hiram Boateng and Craig Tanner secured a deserved Devon derby win for Plymouth Argyle in their 5,000th competitive match.
For Plymouth Argyle's 5,000th match, Paul Tisdale made five changes to his weekend line-up, with Ryan Harley making his long-awaited return from injury and Danny Butterfield, Arron Davies, Tom McCready and Alex Nicholls all coming in.
The Grecians might have been one-up just seconds into the game, with David Wheeler heading Tom McCready's corner before Joel Grant shot over the bar. At the other end, Bobby Olejnik made two key stops in quick succession, first pulling off a wondersave from Reuben Reid's header and than tipping Jake Jervis's long-range effort over the bar.
Arron Davies almost caught Plymouth keeper Luke McCormick out on the quarter-hour, with the goalkeeper on the back foot before going full-stretch to tip the City man's effort over the bar. Reuben Reid shot narrowly wide in the best chance yet on the half-hour.
But Argyle would take the lead just minutes later, as Hiram Boateng headed in from a right-sided corner. Despite a few examples of neat build-up play from the Grecians, it was Argyle who ended the half in front.
HALF-TIME: PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 1-0 EXETER CITY
Tom McCready pulled a great save out of Luke McCormick right at the start of the second half, but he would give the ball away for Craig Tanner to dribble from within his own half to double Argyle's lead just a minute later.
McCready and Moore-Taylor would both provide decent balls into the Argyle area, but there would be no City player on the end of them. The remainder of the second half petered out without much incident - the lights may have gone out at half-time, but unfortunately there were few shining lights for City to reflect on this one with.
FULL-TIME: PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 2-0 EXETER CITY
Attendance: 9,441 (877 away)
Man of the Match: Bobby Olejnik