REPORT | EXETER CITY 0 ARGYLE 1
Exeter City 0
Argyle 1
Butcher 70
When Argyle defeated Exeter 4-2 at Home Park earlier in the season, it was a fantastic demonstration of exciting and enterprising football. This latest edition of the Devon derby was a very different affair but, given the current status of the promotion race, the three points for Argyle were massive.
Defences dominated for long periods at a sell-out St James Park and the Greens won it with one moment of ingenuity 20 minutes from time, with Matt Butcher’s deflected effort blasting into the net after a slick corner routine.
Argyle boss Steven Schumacher freshened up his side with six changes from the Easter Monday defeat to Lincoln, with Brendan Galloway, Saxon Earley, Jordan Houghton, Niall Ennis, Finn Azaz and Sam Cosgrove all coming into the starting line-up.
In fabulous Devon sunshine, Exeter were the first to carry a threat, Jay Stansfield firing in a shot blocked by the Argyle defence. Stansfield then cut back a clever pass for Demitri Mitchell, who was denied by an excellent close-range save from Callum Burton.
In truth, they were the rare openings in a first 20 minutes that was largely defined by a midfield battle, with both sides understandably combative and ensuring that any space to operate was swiftly closed down.
Argyle broke the pattern with diligent work from Butcher feeding Cosgrove, who was brought down for a free-kick 25 yards from goal. Butcher’s subsequent driven effort was deflected over Jamal Blackman’s crossbar.
Gradually, the Pilgrims were cranking up some pressure on the Exeter goal, with Ennis wriggling through challenges on the byline but impassioned calls for a penalty were rightly waved away by referee Darren Drysdale.
Azaz followed up with a left-foot prod from eight yards, blocked by former Pilgrim and current City captain Will Aimson. The Grecians then broke down the right and Sam Nombe’s cutback toward Stansfield was just about scrambled clear by a recovering Houghton.
A tight first period came to a close with chances very limited for both sides but the early signs in the second half were more encouraging, Azaz latching on to a Cosgrove flick for a curling effort sent narrowly wide.
Argyle did have an escape when Nombe nipped in between Burton and James Wilson from a punt forward, but his first touch thankfully took the ball out of play. The Greens responded with a long-range drilled effort from Houghton that was comfortable for Blackman.
The game reached the hour with Argyle still commanding at the back, Dan Scarr dominating in the air, with Wilson and Galloway equally assured on either side. When Nombe did turn for a low shot on goal, it was easy for Burton at the near post.
A double substitution for Argyle saw Cosgrove and Earley replaced by Hardie and Macaulay Gillesphey. Three minutes later, Argyle were in front.
Butcher fed a short corner in Ennis and he returned the ball to Argyle’s number seven. Butcher steered a left-foot shot on target and the ball took a wicked deflection off Aimson, flying past Blackman for a potentially massive goal in the Pilgrim campaign.
It was a creative set-piece routine from Argyle and they were rewarded with a big slice of luck, prompting the Green Army into louds songs of delight reverberating around St James Park.
Callum Wright was introduced for Ennis, who had given a terrific shift on his return from injury, as the Pilgrims backed up the crucial opening goal with more disciplined and compact work all over the pitch.
Exeter threw on attacking reinforcements from the bench, one of whom was James Scott, and he twisted into space on the edge of the box for a shot arrowed inches over. Adam Randell then made his return from injury, replacing Azaz for the closing minutes.
Argyle continued snapping into tackles, led by inspirational skipper Joe Edwards playing on the front-foot with his defensive duties, securing three big points in a tense Devon derby.
Exeter: 18 Jamal Blackman; 5 Alex Hartridge (19 Sonny Cox 83), 7 Demitri Mitchell, 8 Archie Collins, 9 Jay Stansfield, 10 Sam Nombe, 12 Josh Key, 14 Will Aimson (capt), 15 Kegs Chauke (11 Joe White 66), 16 Harry Kite (23 James Scott 77), 26 Pierce Sweeney. Substitutes (not used): 33 Gary Woods (gk), 2 Jake Caprice, 3 Jack Sparkes, 27 Jonathan Grounds.
Booked: Chauke 3, Stansfield 74
Argyle: 25 Callum Burton; 4 Jordan Houghton, 5 James Wilson, 6 Dan Scarr, 7 Matt Butcher, 8 Joe Edwards (capt), 11 Niall Ennis (26 Callum Wright 78), 16 Sam Cosgrove (9 Ryan Hardie 66), 18 Finn Azaz (20 Adam Randell 86), 22 Brendan Galloway, 24 Saxon Earley (3 Macaulay Gillesphey 66). Substitutes (not used): 32 Adam Parkes (gk), 10 Danny Mayor, 28 Jay Matete.
Booked: Earley 24, Scarr 54, Edwards 88
Attendance: 8,046 (1,246 away)
Referee: Darren Drystdale