Plymouth Argyle cruised past Portsmouth in League Two's dockyard derby thanks to three first-half goals this afternoon.

The hosts struck three times inside the opening half-an-hour to extend their unbeaten league run to seven games.

Reuben Reid put them ahead from the penalty spot in the sixth minute after veteran left-back Nicky Shorey had upended Lewis Alessandra.

Alessandra doubled Plymouth's lead in the 21st minute with a low finish before Reid bagged his second on the half-hour mark by collecting Kelvin Mellor's pass and drilling home.

It could have been more in the second half, with Lee Cox and Deane Smalley both hitting the woodwork in a dominant Plymouth display which earned them their seventh win in nine league games at Home Park.

Plymouth, currently fourth and two points off the top, are guaranteed to be in the playoff places by the end of the day, while Portsmouth could drop into the bottom half after the remaining fixtures this afternoon.