A wonder goal from teenager Archie Collins was the highlight of the day as Exeter City beat Swindon Town to record their fifth away win of the season.
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It was the 19-year-old’s first goal in senior football and gave the Grecians a 2-0 advantage in a match that they controlled for the large parts. 

City boss Matt Taylor made three changes to the side that had lost last time out at home to Grimsby Town, with Jayden Stockley, Jordan Tillson and Tristan Abrahams making way for Nicky Law, Lee Martin and Jonathan Forte.  

Swindon started the match brightly, but only had a Dion Conroy shot, which deflected narrowly wide, from 25 yards out to show for their efforts before City started to control first half proceedings. 

First Forte headed a Nicky Law corner wide, before the energetic Lee Martin won the ball back high up the pitch to play in Matt Jay, whose shot from just outside the box deflected behind for a corner. From that corner, both Forte and Dara O’Shea had efforts blocked as City continued to create chances.

Then just past the hour mark – following another successful high press – Collins, a product of the Exeter City Academy, showed a glimpse of what was to come as he raced onto a ball in midfield and drove a shot low to the bottom corner that Lawrence Vigouroux saved.  

Then it was Jay, another academy graduate who was on as a substitute for the injured Law, who went to press Swindon Town defender Sid Nelson on 36 minutes. And as he stole the ball off the defender, who had his back to the play, the City striker was caught by Nelson’s outstretched boot in the box. Forte stepped up to take the spot-kick and expertly sent the ball into the bottom right-hand corner.  

Swindon started the second half with more purpose as Dean Moxey, a rock at the back all game, did superbly well to block a close-range shot from Keshi Anderson before the host’s top scorer Michael Doughty blazed over following a quick counter-attack.   

However, as the half wore on, it was City who began to look more threatening. Lee Martin and Chiedozie Ogbene both had efforts blocked, while Jake Taylor shot over from just inside the penalty area. 

Then came the moment of the match as, following a good passing move on the left, Collins cut in from the touchline and curled a shot over Vigouroux and into the far corner of the net from 25 yards out.  

With 20 minutes left, it gave the Grecians the two-goal cushion they needed and while Swindon did throw men forward in the minutes that remained, the closest they came to getting a goal back was when Jake Taylor cleared the ball off the City goalline following a goalmouth scramble in the 92nd minute. 

Swindon Town: Lawrence Vigouroux, Kyle Knoyle, Sid Nelson (Ellis Iandolo, 45), Luke Woolfenden, Matt Taylor (Scott Twine, 72), Dion Conroy, Michael Doughty, Jak McCourt, Keshi Anderson, Kaiyne Woolery, Elijah Adebayo (Marc Richards, 45). Subs not used: Luke McCormick, Martin Smith, James Dunne, Jermaine McGlashan

Exeter City: Christy Pym, Pierce Sweeney, Craig Woodman, Dara O’Shea, Lee Martin (Jordan Tillson, 89), Nicky Law (Matt Jay, 19), Jonathan Forte (Tristan Abrahams, 78), Dean Moxey, Chiedozie Ogbene, Jake Taylor, Archie Collins. Subs not used: James Hamon, A Martin, Jimmy Oates, Alex Hatridge.

Booked: Lee Martin, Chiedozie Ogbene