Argyle 1
Gow 47
Exeter 1
Logan 51
ARGYLE reserves ground out their second successive 1-1 draw in a tense totesport.com Combination tie against local rivals Exeter City.
Alan Gow's deflected free-kick just two minutes after the restart gave Argyle the lead before Kyle Letheren's spilt cross allowed Richard Logan to nod home an equaliser.
Ashley Barnes was sent-off for violent conduct with just ten minutes remaining but the Pilgrims weathered the Grecians' late storm to come away with a share of the spoils.
Head of Youth Mike Pejic was in the dugout with Head Coach Paul Mariner to supervise a team featuring ten professionals and just one apprentice in the form of highly rated midfielder Sean Kinsella.
After a vey quiet first ten minutes, it was Exeter who were first to really threaten, Ben Watson latching on to a smart through ball to get off a shot that deflected off the advancing Kyle Letheren and out for a corner.
Centre-half Troy Burnell was next to test the Pilgrims, launching a smashing shot just over Welshman Letheren's bar from 30 yards out.
Ashley Barnes had the ball in the net on the half-hour, slotting home from close range after a lovely passing move between Alan Gow and Sean Kinsella put Argyle's number nine through on goal but the assistant on the nearside ruled it out for offside.
Kinsella had a snap shot deflected away late in the half before the referee brought the curtain down on a very mundane first-half.
Argyle came out for the second half on the offensive and were kept at bay as early as the 46th minute when George Donnelly's low shot drive was smartly kept out by Scott Fox.
But they took the lead just seconds later when free-kick specialist Alan Gow saw his bending set-piece cannon off the wall and over Grecians 'keeper Fox for 1-0.
But much like the first team in recent weeks, Argyle were then undone when a moment of madness.
Under no real pressure, Kyle Letheren fumbled a high ball into the path of substitute Craig McAllister who's cross found Richard Logan to nod into an empty net.
Ashley Barnes was then given his marching orders with just over ten minutes to go after an altercation with defender Richard Duffy in which the striker appeared to lash out at his opponent after a tackle on the edge of the Exeter area.
Despite the man advantage, the Pilgrims pressed forward and should have retaken the lead throught Alan Gow.
But after that, it was one way traffic as the Grecians looked to steal all three points from their Westcountry neighbours. Krisztián Timár came to his side's rescue on two occasions, making a brave last ditch tackle to deny McAllister and then nodding a Logan cross destined for the head of Shepard, out for a corner.
Letheren came to the show with a smart save at his near post in the last minute before the final whistle blew to a huge sigh of relief from the home side.
Argyle (4-4-2): 23 Kyle Letheren (gk); 2 David McNamee (14 Ryan Leonard 73), 5 Krisztián Timár (capt), 6 Ben Gerring, 3 Ryan Brett; 7 Joe Mason, 4 Yoann Folly, 8 Sean Kinsella, 11 Alan Gow; 9 Ashley Barnes, 10 George Donnelly (13 Liam Head 85). Substitutes (not used):15 Connor Clifford, 16 Jake Baker, 21 Ollie Chenoweth.
Sent off: Barnes 79
Exeter (4-4-2): 1 Scott Fox (gk); 3 Richard Duffy, 5 Troy Burnell, 6 Scott Bennett (capt), 2 Liam Sercombe; 7 Richard Logan 4 Joe Burnell, 8 Neil Saunders, 11 Chris Shepard; 9 Ben Watson (12 Craig McAllister h-t), 10 Barry Corr (14 James Norwood 78). Substitutes (not used): 15 Lewis Tasker, 17 Matt Armstrong-Ford.
Booked: Duffy 79
Referee: Kevin Johnson (Somerset).
