Two late goals at Home Park saw the Grecians bow out of the Carabao Cup in Devon Derby season-opener.
Exeter City kicked off competitive action in 2026/27 with a Home Park Devon Derby in the first round of the Carabao Cup. Little over a week on from the final pre-season match against Bristol City, Matt Taylor named a single change to the starting lineup with Jake Doyle-Hayes rejoining the XI for the first time since February.
After the announcement of his signing only hour prior, Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Ethan Sutherland immediately found a spot on the bench alongside fellow summer recruit and former Grecian Harry Kite.
Tom Cleverley named Wes Harding as captain of his side, with Joe Edwards making it as far as the substitutes bench. Graduate of the Exeter City academy, Alex Hartridge found a place in the starting lineup for the first time since signing for the greens in the summer transfer window.
First Half
The first half-chance of the game arose in the fifth minute when Plymouth Argyle summer signing Harvey White met a cross on the edge of the Exeter City penalty area, though a rushed effort at goal bounced comfortably wide of the post.
With another five minutes on the clock, and the Grecians having found more of a foothold in the encounter, Argyle counter attacked. A cross from former City man Alex Hartridge found Bim Pepple at the back post, yet his effort was scuffed and sent behind for a goal kick.
The 20th minute saw Argyle come closer yet as Ronan Curtis ran onto a ball flashed across the face of the City net goal, however the Irishman struggled to make a clean connection and sent a weak effort in Jack Bycroft’s direction who made the routine stop.
The first real chance of the game in Exeter’s favour came in the 28th minute courtesy of a free kick 25-yards out. Reece Cole crossed an inviting ball into the Argle penalty area picked up by Charlie Cummins at the back post, whose curling effort floated narrowly wide of the far post.
A frenzied counterattack from the hosts culminated in Pepple testing his shooting boots and this time producing a more threatening attempt, one that forced Bycroft into a full stretch save at his far post. Soon after, Hartridge delivered one of his signature long throw-ins that again tested City’s no.1.
With half-time approaching, Cummins skilfully dribbled to the goal line before crossing low across the face of the Argyle net, however no red bodies appeared the send the ball goalwards. With a single minute of additional time played, Dean Whitestone blew for the break.
Second Half
The Grecians began the second 45 minutes with a corner kick almost immediately; with Cole’s set piece initially headed away by a green head yet falling to Taylor Perry on the edge of the box who let fly an ambitious attempt that drifted high & wide.
City wouldn’t wait long to create another chance though, this time Andrew Oluwabori meeting a cross from Cole but unable to control his effort, heading well over the bar. Argyle summer signing Will Evans looked to impress onto the game soon after, yet a shot at goal from a promising angle was all too easy for Bycroft who smothered the effort.
Ten minutes into the half and Pepple looked destined to open scoring for the hosts, though a misjudged header towards goal saw the Devonport End bewildered as the effort flew over the bar from point blank range.
An unfortunate error from second-half substitute Harry Kite on his City homecoming saw him misplace a pass back to Bycroft, allowing Evans another shot at goal. In a lucky escape for the Grecians though, the former Mansfield Town striker struck his effort high & wide from six yards out.
With the clock approaching the 80th minute, Curtis was also given a chance to redeem his previous effort in the first half for the hosts. Having found an open pocket at the back post, he was again unable to capitalise and sent a driven header well wide of the post.
Another roll of the dice came in a corner kick, and despite an Argyle header striking the net, any celebrations were quickly quelled as the onlooking audience realised it found only the outside of the target.
Brought on as a substitute and making his debut for the club, Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Ethan Sutherland didn’t begin life in red & white the way he would’ve wanted to. Two bookable challenges within 25 minutes saw referee Dean Whitestone send the youngster packing with three minutes left to play.
Relentless pressure from the home side eventually told in the 91st minute when Hartridge rose high at the far post to break the deadlock. In a freak ending to the match, the home side doubled their lead quickly as Freddie Issaka won the race to the ball before passing to Pepple, who calmly slotted past Luca Woodhouse desperately defending the City net.
A tough pill to swallow, the Grecians look to bounce back next weekend as they travel to Lincolnshire as league action gets underway.
Up Next
The Grecians kick-off the 2026/27 Sky Bet League Two campaign this Saturday (15/8/26) away to Grimsby Town at Blundell Park. Tickets for this game are still on sale and must be purchased & collected advance before 3pm on Friday, 14th August. Click the image below for more information.
Match Details
Plymouth Argyle XI
Cooper (GK), Ross (Pleguezuelo 77’), Boateng, White, Evans, Amaechi (Sorinola 67’), Curtis, Mitchell, Hartridge, Pepple, Harding © (Issaka 89’)
Plymouth Argyle Unused Subs
Storer (GK), Wiredu, Edwards, Ibrahim, Roberts, Issaka, Sharpe
Plymouth Argyle Goalscorers
Hartridge 90+1’, Pepple 90+4’
Exeter City XI
Bycroft (GK), Oluwabori, James, Fitzwater ©, Woodhouse, Edwards (Sutherland 65’), Doyle-Hayes (Kite 46’), Perry (Gordon 65’), Cummins, Cole (Birch 71’), Wareham
Exeter City Unused Subs
Phillips (GK), Oakes, Cartwright, Cayless, Cox
Exeter City Yellow Cards
Cummins 19’, Sutherland 78’ & 87’
Exeter City Red Cards
Sutherland 87’
Match Officials
Dean Whitestone, Jack Clench, Richard J. Morris, Harley Hetherington
Attendance
16,755 (including 1,770 away supporters).