SKIPPER Carl Fletcher scored a dramatic late goal as Argyle kept alive their hopes of escaping relegation with a thrilling victory over Bristol City at Home Park last night.

The Pilgrims had seemed to be in cruise control when they took a 2-0 lead into half-time.

But City hit back in the second period, as top scorer Nicky Maynard netted twice to put them on level terms.

Then Fletcher settled the all-West Country clash with his fourth goal of the season in the first minute of stoppage time.

It was a crucial win for Argyle, who are four points from safety with 10 games still to play this season.

They had opened the scoring in the 31st minute when midfielder Chris Clark fired home.

It was only Clark's second goal for the club, after scoring on his debut in the 2-1 defeat at Portsmouth in a FA Cup fourth round tie in January 2008.

Striker Bradley Wright-Phillips, on his full home debut, then made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time with a spectacular overhead kick.

City raised their game after the interval, however, and Maynard netted with a free-kick just before the hour.

Maynard levelled in the 78th minute, before City had winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce was sent off in the closing stages for a crunching foul on Clark.

The match seemed set to end 2-2 until Fletcher fired home from 18 yards out.

Argyle were given a boost before the game when defender Kari Arnason passed a late fitness test. It had been feared the Iceland international would be ruled out by a calf injury.

But Arnason lined up at centre-back with Reda Johnson, who returned to the side after a three-match absence because of a groin strain.

That allowed Chris Barker to move to left-back to replace Burnley loanee Richard Eckersley.

Eckersley was sidelined by the groin injury he suffered in the 1-1 draw at Coventry City on Saturday. Argyle included new loan signing Bondz N'Gala among their substitutes.

N'Gala, 20, has been borrowed from West Ham United for the rest of the season.

He would probably have started at centre-back had Arnason not been passed fit.

Bristol City gave a debut to 6ft 7 1/2in Austria international striker Stefan Maierhofer, who was signed on loan from Wolves on Monday.

The debutant spearheaded City's attack with Maynard. Maierhofer was added to the Robins' squad when striker Chris Iwelumo returned to Wolves after a one-month loan spell.

There was also a new position on the sidelines for Argyle head coach Paul Mariner.

The Pilgrims had swapped dug-outs and were using the one closest to the Barn Park End.

Maynard and midfielder Marvin Elliott both fired wide as City made a lively start.

Argyle could not get into their stride, with strikers Jamie Mackie and Wright-Phillips starved of any decent service. Winger Yannick Bolasie was another who hardly touched the ball in the opening stages.

Bolasie was involved in an incident in the 17th minute which led to City midfielder Ivan Sproule being booked.

Sproule was yellow carded by referee Trevor Kettle, a late replacement for Andy Penn, after taking a dive when he was challenged by Bolasie.

There was a speculative 30-yard shot from Bolasie soon afterwards, which was easily saved by Dean Gerken.

City thought they had taken the lead in the 22nd minute, but an offside flag came to Argyle's rescue.

Elliott opened up the Pilgrims' defence with a reverse pass as he picked out Maynard in a lot of space.

Maynard cut the ball inside to midfielder Cole Skuse, whose low shot was spilled by on-loan goalkeeper David Stockdale. Maierhofer slotted the rebound into the net, but was ruled to have strayed offside.

Argyle made the most of that let off as Clark put them ahead on 31minutes.

Barker crossed deep into the penalty area and Clark's superb first-time strike, on the run, flew past Gerken.

Mackie then tested the City keeper with a fierce 30-yard drive, which Gerken held onto, but not without some difficulty.

Argyle doubled their lead in the 45th minute with a superb first goal for the club from Wright-Phillips.

City allowed Arnason's long throw-in to bounce inside the penalty area and Wright-Phillips made them pay.

Showing tremendous technique, the striker scored with an overhead kick from eight yards out.

City had a chance to cut the deficit in the third minute of stoppage time at the end of the first half.

Maynard's fierce shot was parried away by Stockdale, and Argyle scrambled the loose ball clear.

Stockdale was fortunate because instead of pushing the ball away from goal, he sent it straight out in front of him.

City sent on speedy winger Danny Haynes for Sproule at the start of the second half as they tried to find a way back into the contest.

There was an anxiety about Argyle as they repeatedly rushed their clearances instead of trying to play their way out of defence.

That meant there was plenty of possession for the Robins.

And they cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 58th minute when Maynard crashed home a free-kick.

It came after Clark was ruled to have fouled Maynard on the edge of the penalty area.

Skuse tapped the free-kick to Maynard and he drilled the ball past Argyle's defensive wall and Stockdale and into the net.

Reda Johnson was booked moments later for a foul on Maierhofer.

The resulting free-kick was 25 yards out and Jamie McAllister's powerful strike was superbly saved by Stockdale, pushing the ball out to his left.

Bolasie had a shot bravely blocked by City skipper Louis Carey as Argyle tried to regain the initiative.

There was also a substitution from the home side in the 70th minute with Joe Mason taking over in attack from Wright-Phillips.

'Come on Argyle' roared the Green Army as they tried to lift their side.

Mackie dragged a shot across the face of goal in the 76th minute, after being set up by Mason.

City then drew level two minutes later after some dreadful defending by Argyle.

Reda Johnson and Arnason failed to clear the ball and it allowed Maynard to race clear.

He moved into the penalty area before sending a low, angled shot past Stockdale.

Maynard headed narrowly wide of the near post soon afterwards, following a precise cross from Haynes.

City had Campbell-Ryce sent-off in the 88th minute for a second bookable offence.

Not long after being cautioned for dissent, Campbell-Ryce clattered into Clark and Kettle produced a second yellow card, followed by a red one.

Midfielder Alan Judge was sent on as a substitute for the injured Clark.

And it was from Judge's free-kick in the first of five minutes of stoppage time that Argyle regained the lead.

The Robins could not clear the ball properly and Fletcher drove a low shot into the bottom corner of the net from 18 yards out.

That goal proved decisive as Argyle secured only their fifth home Championship win of the season.

And the Pilgrims' spirits will surely have soared as a result of it.