Alex Hartridge scores on his debut for Plymouth ArgyleShutterstock

Alex Hartridge scored the opening goal on his debut for Plymouth Argyle

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport England at Home Park

Debutant Alex Hartridge's stoppage-time goal against his former club helped Plymouth Argyle beat Devon rivals Exeter City 2-0 in the first round of the Carabao Cup.

Hartridge rose highest to head in a 91st-minute corner and break the deadlock in a game that, for much of it, had an atmosphere that the action struggled to match.

Bim Pepple made the game safe two minutes later as he scored from inside the box, after Freddie Isaaka had blocked a clearance and the ball had fallen kindly to the Canadian striker.

The win means Plymouth will host Premier League side Coventry City in the second round later this month.

The League One Pilgrims dominated the early possession but took 22 minutes to create their first decent chance, when Ronan Curtis scuffed a close-range effort at the far post after Pepple's pull-back evaded four players in the six-yard box.

Charlie Cummins blazed a rare Exeter chance high and wide from a poorly-cleared corner five minutes later.

The game was briefly stopped by referee Dean Whitestone when an object was thrown onto the field from the crowd, before Mathias Ross went close for the hosts and Pepple had a 45th-minute goal ruled out after he controlled Xavier Amaechi's cross-field ball with the upper part of his arm.

Andrew Oluwabori missed a headed chance to put Exeter in front soon after the break, before Pepple's close-range miss from Malachi Boateng's cross at the other end following an excellent passing spell from Argyle.

Plymouth debutant Will Evans shot wide from close range moments later after Exeter substitute Harry Kite misplaced a pass into the former Mansfield striker's path, and headed wide at the far post from a corner with eight minutes left.

Exeter's Wolves loanee Ethan Sutherland was sent off with two minutes left after tugging back Matty Sorinola for his second bookable offence in his 23 minutes on the field.

The match looked destined for a penalty shootout, until Hartridge rose to put his side in front and Pepple pounced to seal victory.

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