Exeter City 1 Cambridge United 0 - Grecians win again and rise up the table

Ryan Woods' first goal in seven years was the difference as City secured a 1-0 win

Exeter City made it back-to-back wins and stretched their unbeaten run to five after a scrappy 1-0 victory at home to Cambridge United.

Ryan Woods’ first goal in nearly seven years broke the deadlock for the Grecians midway inside the first half. The midfielder rifled home into the top corner after a corner hadn’t been cleared for a deserved lead.

City had been in control but the U’s were a different outfit after the break and threatened to grab an equaliser, creating a series of chances. But they couldn’t find a way to goal and Exeter held on for the victory.

Exeter who kept a fifth successive clean sheet rose up to seventh in the League One table, and are only outside the play-offs on goal difference. Cambridge’s defeat kept them bottom with just a solitary point, and was a seventh loss in a row and they stretched their winless run to 19 dating back to April 1, and once again drew a blank in front of goal.

Following the 1-0 win away to Leyton Orient on Tuesday night, Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell made three changes to the starting line-up. Out went Tristan Crama, who was ill, while Kamari Doyle and matchwinner Amani Richards dropped to the bench.

In came the fit again Jack Aitchison and Millenic Alli in attack, while Jack Fitzwater came into the heart of defence, in what was his first league appearance of the season, and only his second start in the league in 12 months. Jay Bird was in a League One squad for the first time this season since his summer arrival, while there was no Caleb Watts as he served the first of his three game ban after his red card midweek.

City were patient in the opening stages but controlling the game and in the tenth minute created the first chance. Ilmari Niskanen broke down the left and teased in a low cross which Josh Magennis met on the slide, with Vicente Reyes bravely blocking the effort, and both men needed treatment. Niskanen was on the end of the next chance when he snuck in around the back, but couldn’t get a clean contact on his header.

Aitchison was next to threaten when his volleyed effort was blocked behind for a corner. But from that set piece in the 23^rd minute, the Grecians took the lead. Reyes flapped at Ed Francis’ delivery and the U’s failed to clear their lines. The ball pinballed around the box before it fell to Woods who on the edge of the box took a touch, and then smashed a powerful finish into the top corner. It was his first goal for the club, and his first since November 4, 2017, and just the fifth of his career.

City were on top and look to press home the advantage. Aitchison picked out Alli with a cross after a delightful move, but the Irishman headed over. He then turned provider to pick out Jack McMillan, but his poked effort was saved. Magennis though was forced off with injury in the 36^th minute, which Richards replacing him.

Exeter were on top but couldn’t grab a second before the break, with Richards and McMillan getting in each other’s way after Pierce Sweeney slid a ball through, while Johnly Yfeko headed straight into Reyes’ arms. But City were totally dominant at half-time.

Neither manager made a change at the break, but inside 20 seconds, Garry Monk’s men should have levelled. Yfeko carelessly gave the ball away, a cross was fizzed in and while Dan Nlundulu couldn’t control it, it broke to Elias Kachunga, but ten yards out, he fired straight at Joe Whitworth. At the other end, Francis curled a free-kick just over.

The U’s though were much improved after the break, and Fitzwater needed to make a great challenge to deny Nlundulu. Michael Morrison headed wide from the resulting corner, before Ryan Loft lashed a volley from 20 yards which Whitworth did well to keep out.

Nlundulu then dragged another chance wide as City were off the pace, with Korey Smith then seeing a shot deflected wide before Jubril Okedina headed just over from the corner. On what was a rare City attack, Richards flashed an effort wide.

It was his last action as he was replaced on 72 minutes, as was Aitchison, with Doyle and Sonny Cox coming on to try and wrestle back some control. But again Whitworth was needed in goal to save a dipping Danny Andrew free-kick, and Brandon Njoku did have the ball in the net, but an offside flag had long gone up earlier in the move.

Mustapha Carayol replaced Francis with City’s final change, and they could have killed the game off on the break when Alli burst forward, but his powerful strike was parried away by Reyes. Doyle then slipped in Cox, but his strike was tipped just wide.

Six minutes of stoppage-time were added-on, and in the first of them, Liam Bennett came close, but again the Crystal Palace loanee was equal to the task. And City held on for another win and another clean sheet.

With Exeter City’s scheduled League One opponents Mansfield Town having had three players called up for international duty, the Grecians have next Saturday off before returning to action on Thursday, October 17, away to Shrewsbury Town.

Exeter City: (3-4-3) Joe Whitworth, Pierce Sweeney, Jack Fitzwater, Johnly Yfeko, Jack McMillan, Ryan Woodsm Ed Francis (Mustapha Carayol, 83),, Ilmari Niskanen, Jack Aitchison (Kamari Doyle, 72), Millenic Alli, Josh Magennis (Amani Richards, 36, Sonny Cox, 72)

Subs: Shaun MacDonald, Ben Purrington, Jay Bird

Booking: Yfeko, Woods

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