Plymouth Argyle secure Devon St Luke's Challenge Cup quarter-final spot

Midfielder Caleb Roberts scored two of the goals as a young Plymouth Argyle side impressively beat Exmouth Town 4-2 in the Devon St Luke's Challenge Cup second round in front of a crowd of 477 at Southern Road.

Roberts, who made his first Championship start for the Pilgrims in the 3-0 defeat at Leeds United on November 2, was one of two professionals in the line-up against Exmouth, along with defender Jack Matthews. Argyle are one of seven teams who have already qualified for the quarter-finals of the county cup, which will be played in January.

The others are Barnstaple, Bideford, Ivybridge Town, Okehampton Argyle, Plymouth Parkway and Tiverton Town. The last quarter-final place will be decided when Torquay United host Exeter City on Monday, December 2.

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With the exception of Roberts and Matthews, Argyle's line-up against Exmouth was made up of Jamie Lowry's under-18s squad, with Joel Sullivan the captain.

Exmouth, who are second in the Southern League Division One South, found themselves trailing by two goals within 11 minutes of the kick-off. Roberts opened the scoring for Argyle when he fired home after an initial header from Fletcher Poole had been well saved by Frankie Phillips and Kian Burch then headed home from a Tegan Finn cross.

Roberts put Argyle 3-0 up with another good shot before half-time but Exmouth showed up better in the second period and substitute Ben Griffin came up with a fine finish shortly after the hour mark.

The home side had one attempt come back off the frame of the goal and another cleared off the line before a great block by Matthews led to an Argyle counter attack, from which Roberts set up Finn to make the score 4-1 in the 72nd minute. Exmouth wrapped up the scoring late on through substitute Ace High.

Argyle: Jack Flower, Jensen Ireland, Harry Shield, Harley Sneap (Oscaqr Dean 78 mins), Sam Matthews, Joel Sullivan, Cole Fisher (Sam Lord 68 mins), Caleb Roberts, Kian Burch (Frankie Maund 82 mins), Tegan Finn, Fletcher Poole. Substitute not used: Dan Holman.

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