Goals in either half from Jake Taylor and Matt Jay gave promotion-hunting Exeter City all 3 points at the Alexandra Stadium yesterday, despite Chris Porter’s 11th goal of the season equalising just after half-time.
Manager David Artell named an unchanged line-up from last Saturday’s game at Oldham Athletic as well as an unchanged bench with Alex Nicholls and Nicky Hunt again amongst those missing out on the matchday squad.
In a game that offered limited chances, the opening goal came in the 7th minute after an Exeter corner was cleared as far as skipper Jake Taylor with his finish taking a deflection off Porter on route to goal before Paul Green had the first Alex attempt 9 minutes later, though his 25-yard effort ended up well wide of the goal.
Midway through the half, Ben Garratt made a great save from winger Randell Williams’ volley as the cross came from the City right before Charlie Kirk had an effort blocked just before the break.
The leveller came 3 minutes after the break with Porter heading home a Kirk cross from the left before Williams hit the post minutes later from another right-wing cross. The visitors took the lead for the second time on 66 minutes as Matt Jay rounded Paul Green before firing the ball past Garratt from the edge of the area.
We host Northampton next Saturday before travelling to Tranmere Rovers the following Friday.
What have we learnt from this game?
It was a frustrating game if we’re honest and a bit of a grounding after the last month or so. Exeter, whilst being a disciplined side, were a team that is on a similar level to ourselves at the minute despite sitting 8 points above ourselves and had a decent forward in Ryan Bowman who made the game difficult for George Ray and Eddie Nolan and was assisted in defending from the front by Lee Holmes and Matt Jay in particular.