PLYMOUTH’S Premier Division survival prospects are hanging by a thread after they lost by 35 runs at Exmouth.

Plymouth were upbeat at the tea interval after dismissing Exmouth for 185 – Dan Goodey (3-37) chipping away at the batting around tidy spells from Sam Stein (2-24) and Hal Kerton (2-26).

Former Devon keeper-batter Sandy Allen top scored for Exmouth with 51. Next best with 27 was opener and captain Richard Baggs.

Plymouth suffered the worst possible start when opener James Toms fell lbw to George Greenway first ball.

A rare failure for 900-run pro Faizan Riaz – in and out for four – didn’t help Plymouth’s cause either.

Wickets fell steadily to Greenway (3-43) and Billy Rudolph (3-24) with Steve Luffman (42) the only Plymouth batter to linger long.

Bob Dawson (2-18) got into the lower order as Plymouth were dismissed for 150 with more than nine over to go.

“We bowled and fielded really well just then struggled to get the partnerships we required for the chase,” said Plymouth captain Sam Stein.

“We weren't too far away, shame we couldn't pull through.”

Defeat puts Plymouth bottom of the table in an all-change basement after the penultimate round of games.

The distance between the city side and safety is 12 points, which means they have to beat Sidmouth this Saturday and hope some of the five teams above them still in mathematical danger of the drop lose badly.

North Devon against Torquay and Paignton versus Exeter are games that could have a bearing in Plymouth’s fate as all four are still in jeopardy themselves and two of them are going to lose.

Said Stein: “We know what we need to do this weekend, we just have to win and see what happens?”