Exeter needed penalties to see off the brave challenge of Devon rivals Plymouth after their Johnstone's Paint Trophy first-round clash ended in a 1-1 draw.
Exeter took the lead shortly before half-time when David Noble drilled a free-kick across the Pilgrims' penalty box, James Dunne flicked it on at the near post and the ball took a deflection to leave Romain Larrieu wrong-footed.Plymouth dominated for long spells of the second half and it came as no surprise when they equalised.
Luke Daley picked the ball up 30 yards out and let fly with a screamer which flew into the Exeter net.Both sides had chances to win the game, but with no further goals, it went to penalties where Exeter goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley emerged as the hero.The former Chelsea shot-stopper saved two and Robbie Williams hit the post as Argyle failed to convert any of their efforts.That left Dunne to smack home the all-important kick to send the Grecians through.