Coming into this match in fine form, Argyle were presented with further opportunity to delight their fans with the forthcoming 'Derby Day' match against Exeter City. Optimism was high, after a return to winning ways, with a dominating display at Bootham Crescent (home of York City) one week previously. Following on from injuries to first team regulars Luke McCormick and Peter Hartley, Derek Adams decide to bring on two more loan signings to bolster the ranks. Firstly in between the sticks, the Green Army welcomed back former academy starlet Christian Walton, who has found first team opportunities hard to come by at parent club Brighton and Hove Albion. Argyle's second loan signing is that of another Crystal Palace academy and Hiram Boateng parent club teammate, 20 year old centre back Luke Croll. Another who has had limited first team opportunities at Palace but like Boateng has been included on Premier League benches previously. For the Grecians, who were languishing in mid table, and still hurting from the 2-0 Johnstones Paint Trophy defeat, a chance for redemption and reclaiming local bragging rights. Within their ranks they included playmaker Ryan Harley, hard working midfielder David Wheeler and a second start for young striker Jamie Reid. With both sides having injury concerns, it would be interesting to see how the match played and who would cope with the changes the better.
Referee Graham Scott blew his whistle and the match got underway. A scrappy start almost started brightly for Exeter when an early Reid effort flashed just wide of Walton's near post. Soon after the Grecians won a succession of corners that were easily and well cleared by Curtis Nelson, Gary Sawyer and Oscar Threlkeld respectively. Soon after and it was Argyle on the attack, and from a surprising source too. Nelson picked the ball up in the centre of midfield and went on one of his customary, twice match, rampaging runs. This time instead of a long range effort, he kept running, outfoxing Exeter's Troy Brown, leaving him ground, before closing in from the left hand side of Bobby Olejnik's goal. A rasping left foot shot was well parried out for a corner from the big Grecian stopper. A couple of minutes later and Sawyer cut inside from the left before sending a right footed in swinger into the box. Jake Jervis sent a flicked header towards goal but it was easily saved by Olejnik, low to his left. The Green Army were starting to create chances and shortly after Jervis had a shot well blocked by early Exeter substitute Christian Ribeiro. The possession was being well shared between two good footballing sides, but it was Argyle who were creating the initial first half chances. Another chance came, this time from a familiar Graham Carey corner from the right. Kelvin Mellor met the in swinging cross with his head, but could only glance it over. Things were looking bright for the Green Army and the Grecians defence, and in particular Brown, were looking nervy. Another Carey in swinging cross from the right was only partially cleared by a Brown header to the non expectant Ollie Watkins. When he got the ball caught under his legs it was Craig Tanner who nicked it off of him before firing a similar shot to Nelson's earlier chance that was again brilliantly parried by Olejnik. It was becoming an ideal of 'not if' but 'when Argyle would take the lead. Then came a moment that seemed to change the game. A long ball forward by Sawyer found Jervis running alongside Ribeiro. The latter misjudged the bounce of the ball leaving Jervis clear through one on one with Olejnik. Then came the first of referee Scott's many mistakes for both sides during the course of the match. It was to prove a costly one for the Green Army. From the resulting free kick, a long ball was played up field by Ribeiro. Nelson lost out on the first ball in a challenge with Wheeler. the second ball fell to Mellor and when his attempted clearance hit the onrushing Wheeler, it left Wheeler in on goal on the left. A perhaps ill advised and certainly rash challenge leading to a stonewall penalty for Exeter. Harley stepped up and hit a solid right foot effort across himself, and although Walton got a hand to it, it nestled in the corner, much to the delight of the travelling support. This seemed to change the balance of the match, and although the Green Army toiled, the creative spark seemed to have gone missing. The Grecians took full advantage of Argyle's wastefulness and doubled their lead six minutes before the break. Harley picked up the ball just outside the box and showed great class as he fooled both Threlkeld and Josh Simpson by cutting inside and delivering a perfect right foot shot across Walton and into the bottom left hand corner for 2-0. Things almost got even worse. After a limp Threlkeld header from a corner, Exeter broke with Reid on the left, he sent a left footed cross into the near post and after a scuffle between Wheeler and Nelson the ball fell to Wheeler and Walton did well to prevent further embarrassment, saving at his near post. the half time whistle blew and the game had turned on it's head.
After much half time grumblings from the fans, firstly about the performance, and also the lack of further refreshment facilities given the bumper crowd!, it was back to the match. Adams made his customary change of bringing Ryan Brunt on for Gregg Wylde, with Jervis moving to the right and Tanner to the left, and the second half began. With Argyle chasing and the Grecians sitting back, happy to play on the counter attack, it kind of nullified the match. Carey as usual was showing willing, with Sawyer supporting him well down the left and showing solid delivery from his left footed crosses and passing. The chances weren't being created however. Fifteen minutes into the second period and the Green Army had their first opening with Carey picking up the ball down the left. After being crowded out by three Exeter defenders, he managed to dig out a left foot cross. Mellor met it with a firm but unfortunately misdirected header wide of the goal. Still Argyle pressed and pursued and finally got some reward for their endeavour. Carey again on the left, this time playing it back to Sawyer who played a lovely inviting ball into the box. When Brunt's shot was blocked by Jordan Moore-Taylor, the ball fell invitingly to Threlkeld on the edge of the box. He hit a first time right foot volley into the ground and the ball bounced all the way through, beating Olejnik and into the bottom left hand corner. 2-1 and still thirty minutes to play. Just as the Green Army had got back into things, the tide nearly turned again. Another mistake from referee Stott, this time saved them from another penalty. Watkins picked the ball up on the edge of the box, before feeding David Noble in on goal on the right. Carey made a rash challenge from behind, winning the ball, but going through Noble to do so. For me it was a certain penalty, but Scott waved Exeter protests away. This again seemed to reignite Argyle and soon after a cross from Tanner bounced all the way across the face of the goal, finding Carey on the left hand edge of the box. He hit a stunning left foot volley that narrowly missed the top corner with Olejnik well beaten. Tyler Harvey then replaced Tanner for a mine minute cameo. Time was almost up when Harvey won a free kick on the right hand side and just outside the eighteen yard box. Up stepped Carey and lashed a trademark left foot curler. The shot beat the wall but didn't dip quite enough and landed on the top of Olejnik's net. Scott blew for full time shortly after, and the spoils of this particular 'Devon Derby' were going back to Exeter!
So for a game that garnered so much anticipation and a near full house, alongside the casual fan, ultimately ended in disappointment. Reading the online forums, it appears that this was a game that Argyle really didn't perform. I don't agree! I felt that up until the first penalty, the Green Army were very much the better side. The huge changes to the personnel featuring due to injuries, of course had an impact, but not a huge one. The second Exeter goal was a piece of brilliance from Harley and we were unlucky not to get something from the game in the second half. That being said, the Grecians were great value for their win and more than matched us for long periods. Derby's are always strange occasions, a bit like cup ties, and our form in them hasn't been great this season. The positives are that Argyle still sit top of the league with a two point cushion. Tuesday's match with Leyton Orient becomes slightly more important now, and with an away trip to bottom of the league Dagenham and Redbridge following on Saturday, hopefully six points could come. After that we have two free weeks for our players to recover due to our early exit from the FA Cup two weeks ago. Perhaps that defeat, along with today's could prove bittersweet some May 2016?
Best Player - Gary Sawyer
Attendance - 14008
Next Game - 24/11/2015 Leyton Orient (h) (League 2)
As always each match report is featured with our Match Day fan feature, which is a short Q and A about Argyle related fodder and something that I hope to do for every match day. If you would like to be featured please feel free to email me at
danstone84@hotmail.com or alternatively get in touch through social media. Either on Twitter @danstone84 or on one of the Facebook forums tagging me in Dan Stone. My match reports also feature on
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Today's fan is 20 year old Luke Petherbridge from Plymouth
How long have you been an Argyle fan for? 'I have been an Argyle fan all my life. I was born into a family that has supported Plymouth Argyle for generations. It's even where my parents met! So in a way I suppose I even have Argyle to thank for my existence!'
What's your earliest PAFC memory? 'My first game was at home to Tranmere Rovers back in 2003. It was a Tuesday night and we lost 1-0. Well it's the first one I remember! I was supposedly taken to one at an even younger age and fell asleep! Everyone was apparently 'awww, bless him!' I wonder if I'd get the same reaction now?!'
Favourite ever Argyle match and why? 'Torn between two. Home against QPR when we won the old Second Division. The atmosphere and the excitement of getting promoted will be treasured forever. And the other match being away against Arsenal in the FA Cup back in 2009. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to play one of the 'big boys'. also to hold the record for the biggest away support in an FA Cup game is absolutely fantastic!'
Best all time Argyle player? 'Probably Akos Buzsaky. in my time supporting Argyle I believe he was one of the biggest threats we have had. I also believe he potentially could have even played at a higher level had injuries not held him back at QPR'
Best current Argyle player? 'Luke McCormick or Graham Carey. Both have been vital parts of our start to the season'
General feeling around Derek Adams' performance so far? 'Derek Adams has brought back to Argyle what we have been missing since the Championship days. A bit of passion, team spirit and belief amongst the players and fans. He has been a breath of fresh air. He's also a fantastic young manager and hopefully he stays. He could go on to become one of the greats at Home Park!'
Season Prediction? 'Based on the position we are in currently I would be heartbroken if we did not make the top 3. However, should we keep the way we are going through Christmas and are still top of the league come February, I think we will win the league!'
Prediction for our next match at home to Leyton Orient? 'Going on today's game, I believe that we seek to have lost our link between defence and attack. Something that is present when we have Boateng and McHugh. Having said that, this could have just been a situation of this game and we should still be positive of a 2-0 win on Tuesday. This despite looking like we could do without a Tuesday night fixture due to fatigue!'
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