Exeter City picked up a deserved 3-1 win against Carlisle United in Sky Bet League Two at Brunton Park.
by Ben Strange 

City had a number of chances throughout, but they went ahead through Lee Martin's first half finish before Olufela Olomola levelled after the break. But City quickly hit back through Aaron Martin's first goal of the season and the win was made safe when Nicky Law finished well in stoppage time.

The Grecians made one change to the side that started the 1-0 win over Mansfield Town last time out in the league, with Law recovering from injury to slot into the City midfield.

City started brightly and had two good early chances, the first when Law dragged a shot wide before Lee Martin managed to get behind the defence and had a smart shot saved by Adam Collin.

Just a minute later, Martin would have another chance after good work from Randell Williams on the left saw him cut inside before the City number seven’s low effort was blocked by the legs of the United keeper.

On 20 minutes City continued to do well to get in behind the United back line with Law often involved. The midfielder did well to get in down the right before crossing low along the six-yard box, but Matt Taylor’s side were unable to convert.

Jack Bridge then had the home side’s first real chance when he received the ball on the edge of the City box before shooting powerfully at Lewis Ward’s goal, but the keeper collected comfortably.

But the Grecians kept knocking on the door as they searched to go ahead. Their next chance came as Williams crossed to the far post to find Law, who did well to cushion the ball into the path of Jake Taylor, but his left footed effort came back off Collin’s post as the match remained goalless.

That goal did come though, on 36 minutes when City broke through Williams and Law before the former played in Martin on the left, who curled an effort first time inside the far post as Matt Taylor’s men took a deserved lead into half-time.

Mike Jones would have the first attempt after the break following a United attack when the ball fell to him a long way from the City goal before unleashing a powerful effort which Ward managed to stop and then hold.

City were inches from doubling their lead on 50 minutes when Williams combined with Lee Martin before the ball was flashed across goal and Ryan Bowman fired an effort on target and forced Collin into another smart stop as he dived to his right to turn the ball behind.

Chances continued to follow as City kept up their impressive form as Sweeney threaded the ball inside to Taylor before his effort from the edge of the United box edged agonisingly wide as the Grecians tried to take the game away from the home side.

The game then took a twist just after the hour mark when the home side managed to draw level against the run of play. After the ball was crossed into the City box, a shot at goal was blocked up into the air before Olomola had a free header as he found the net.

But the Grecians managed to go back ahead when Aaron Martin got his first goal of the season after being found by a Law corner unmarked as he stooped to head home and make it 2-1 to City.

City would be denied once again by Collin on 76 minutes when Williams did fantastically to drive down the right and cross well for Bowman to shoot before it was blocked into the path of Lee Martin, and his powerful effort was saved on the line by the United shot stopper.

But in stoppage time the Grecians managed a third as they broke and Matt Jay threaded the ball through to Law to finish coolly to give the Grecians all three points going back to Devon.

Carlisle United: Collin, Elliott (Sorenson, 87), Iredale, Carroll (McKirdy, 45), Thomas, Jones (Loft, 75), Webster, Bridge, Olomola, Knight-Percival, Sagaf
Subs not used: Gray, Mellish, Charters, Branthwaite
Booked: McKirdy, Sagaf

Exeter City: Ward, Sweeney, A. Martin, L. Martin (Jay, 90), Law, Williams, Bowman (Fisher, 90+3) Moxey, Sparkes (Parkes, 68), Taylor, Collins
Subs not used: Maxted, Woodman, Ajose, Richardson
Booked:

Attendance: 4167 (Inc, 198, away)