Exeter City 3 Swindon Town 1

City cruise to victory

Exeter City returned to winning ways by claiming all three points in a one-sided victory under the Tuesday night lights.
by George Barnes 

First half goals from Jevani Brown and Jonathon Grounds gave the Grecians a comfortable advantage going into the break with little to trouble the hosts back line. An 82^nd minute goal from skipper Matt Jay allowed City to put the match to bed, despite a late consolation for Swindon with an impressive curling shot from substitute Jack Payne finding the top left corner.

Matt Taylor made three changes from the tough loss at Mansfield Town with Jevani Brown, Sam Nombe and Jack Sparkes coming into the team with Jake Caprice dropping to the bench.

• Prior to the match, a minute’s round of applause was held for former Exeter City chairman Ivor Doble and steward Chris Pearce, who both sadly passed away in the last few weeks.

The first chance of note came for the visitors in 9th minute with Pierce Sweeney being dispossessed in his own half. A quick break through on goal allowed Swindon to whip a ball in from the left of the City box but skipper Matt Jay able to throw his body in front of the ball to keep City level. After a period of few chances Swindon keeper Jojo Wollacott struggled to clear from a goal kick following pressure from Nombe, allowing Sparkes to thread a ball to the back-right post but was unable to find a fellow Grecian. On the 17^th minute the deadlock would be broken by Jevani following sustained pressure on the Swindon goal. The striker received the ball following a deflected Josh key cross on the right of the box and was then able to shift to his right a produce a lethal finish from about 12 yards out. The Grecians would double their lead on the 27^thminute following a teasing corner from Archie Collins towards the back-right post. This was met by centre-back Jonathon Grounds whose firm header into the bottom right corner gave him his second successive goal at SJP and put City in control of the local clash. Collins continued to worry the Robins defence with another back-post corner delivery, this time Sam Stubbs connecting with a header from close range but only to head wide of the target. The Swindon goal was now under siege with chances continuing to fall for City. The 39^thminute saw Stubbs’ second chance of the night. But after seeing the ball late following a corner from the right, the 23-year-old was only able to poke the ball marginally wide of the left-hand post. Both followings started the second period in good voice, although there was little to split the two sides with neither threatening their opponents’ goal. A five-minute spell of possession 10 minutes into the second half allowed Swindon to launch their first serious assault on the City goal, with a couple of minor chances being dealt with well by the City back line. The 63^rd minute saw Swindon midfielder Jack Payne wriggle into some space just outside the box and produce a shot which troubled Cam Dawson for the first time in the match. However, Payne could only stand and watch his effort sail narrowly over the bar. A chance fell to City in the 70^th minute as an Archie Collins free kick from the left side of the box fell to Sweeney from close range, but Robins keeper was able to parry the ball out of danger. The 82^nd minute put the game to bed for City as a well worked passage of play saw MJ bring the ball forward from the half-way line and lay the ball in the path of Jevani on the right side of the pitch. The striker then returned the favour to the skipper who calmly slotted the ball towards the bottom right corner of the goal in front of the lively Big Bank crowd. The four minutes of injury time allowed Swindon midfielder Jack Payne a consolation goal with an impressive shot from outside the box finding the top left corner. A City clean sheet being denied in the dying moments.

Exeter City: Dawson, Key, Stubbs, Sweeney, Grounds (Hartridge 45’), Sparkes, Collins, Dieng, Jay ©, J. Brown (Coley 85’), Nombe (Phillips 70’)

Subs: S.Brown, Caprice, Phillips, Taylor , Zanzala, Coley, Hartridge

Swindon Town: Wollacott, Iandolo, O’Brien (Odimayo 71’), Conroy ©, Baudry, Hunt (Mitchell-Lawson 64’) , Reed, East (Payne 45’), Aguiar, Williams, Davison

Subs: Ward, Odimayo, Payne, Mitchell-Lawson, Parsons, Cowmeadow, Fox

Referee: Robert Lewis

Attendance: 5958 (773 away)