Butcher the hero as Argyle take the honours

VICTORY IS ALL THAT MATTERS IN PILGRIMS' PUSH FOR PROMOTION

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

PLYMOUTH Argyle gave their League One promotion hopes a huge boost by beating arch rivals Exeter City 1-0 at a sold-out St James Park.

The Pilgrims completed a Devon derby double this season over the Grecians with a deflected 70th minute goal from midfielder Matt Butcher following a short corner.

It was a predictably closely contested match with both sides having just shots on target each as Argyle put in a strong defensive display, particularly in the first half when Exeter had more of the possession than them.

Butcher’s goal made it six wins out of the last eight league games for the Pilgrims and should give them tremendous confidence for the final five fixtures, starting away to Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday night.

Steven Schumacher shook up his side for the Devon derby with six changes to the starting line-up from 2-0 Easter Monday defeat by Lincoln City at Home Park.

They included Sam Cosgrove and fit-again striker Niall Ennis leading the attack in a 3-4-1-2 formation as top scorer Ryan Hardie dropped down to the substitutes’ bench.

Also brought into the team by Schumacher were Jordan Houghton, Finn Azaz, Brendan Galloway and Saxon Earley.

Galloway wore a cast to protect a broken right hand which he suffered in the 3-1 Good Friday win away to Morecambe.

Like Hardie, Jay Matete and Danny Mayor dropped down to the bench, but there was no place in the matchday squad for Nigel Lonwijk, Mickel Miller and Tyreik Wright.