Exeter City scored their 1000th goal under Trust ownership as they came from behind to claim a 3-1 win over Cheltenham Town.
by Ben Strange 

Michael Duff's side took the lead late in the first half when Ryan Broom struck, but a turnaround half from the Grecians saw Pierce Sweeney fire home before Jayden Stockley scored from close range to put City ahead.

Jonathan Forte then made sure the points were safe for the Grecians as he scored late with a smart finish.

The Grecians made one change from the 2-1 win at Mansfield Town last time out with Lee Holmes missing through injury as Lee Martin came into the side.

The away side had an early shout for a penalty five minutes in when Jacob Maddox darted down the left and went down under a challenge from Sweeney, but the referee waved away the appeals from the Robins.

For much of the opening 10 minutes Town carried a threat going forward. After Kevin Dawson peeled away at the far post from a free-kick he slid to connect with the ball but was unable to keep his attempt on target.

The Grecians’ best chance of the opening 25 minutes came when Lee Martin was found by Sweeney as the Grecians looked to sustain an attack. The winger did well to cut onto his left foot to find space before curling an effort just over Scott Flinders’ goal.

The home side then had another good chance on 35 minutes when Jayden Stockley managed to get on the end of Nicky Law’s corner, but his header flashed across goal as the Town defence just about cleared.

But it was the away side who would take the lead on 42 minutes when Broom did well to turn and run at the City defence before the ball fell kindly back to him from his initial pass, and he managed to squeeze the ball past Christy Pym from close range.

Just a minute later the Grecians had the ball in the net themselves when Law popped up at the back post to volley home, but for the offside flag as the goal was ruled out meaning the Grecians trailed at the break.

But City started the brighter in the second half as they levelled after just one minute when the ball fell to the edge of the box before Sweeney struck a sweet half volley past Flinders to make the score 1-1.

The Grecians then went inches from going ahead on 50 minutes when good play down the left saw Law play in Dean Moxey on the overlap, and he fired across goal, but the City attackers were unable to get a foot to it to slot the ball home.

Stockley was next to have a chance for City just before the hour mark when they put significant pressure on the Town goal, before Hiram Boateng crossed for the striker to glance a header just over Flinders’ goal.

And the Grecians got their second goal 10 minutes from time when good play down the left saw Boateng square the ball for Stockley to poke home from close range to put the Grecians ahead.

But the Grecians weren't done there as they scored their 1000th league goal under Trust owenership when Forte pounced on a mistake to dart forward and finish coolly past Flinders.

Exeter City: Pym, Sweeney, A. Martin, Tillson, L. Martin (Forte, 69), Law, Stockley, Moxey, Croll, Taylor, Boateng (90, Collins)
Subs not used: Hamon, O’Shea, Jay, Oates, Ogbene
Booked:

Cheltenham Town: Flinders, Mullins, Atangana, Dawson (Kalala, 85), Duku (Jones, 62), Broom, Boyle, Maddox, Forster, Barnett, Alcock (Mooney, 66)
Subs not used: Lovett, Tozer, Clements, Field
Booked: Broom

Attendance: 3,723 (Inc, 163, away)