Match 45
23rd March 2019
Notts County (a)

Nicky Law's stoppage time goal gave Exeter City all three points against Notts County in Sky Bet League Two.
by Ben Strange 

City, who had Ryan Bowman sent off on 23 minutes, had to defend for much of the game but in the 93rd minute Donovan Wilson crossed for Law to head home from close range to get his ninth goal of the season.

Manager Matt Taylor made just one change to the side that beat Colchester United 3-0 last time out as Troy Brown replaced Dara O’Shea, who was away on international duty with the Republic of Ireland’s under-21s.

Kane Hemmings had the game’s first opportunity inside two minutes when the home side pounced on a defensive error to get in down the right. The County forward attempted to cross low but for a smart stop by the legs of City keeper, Christy Pym.

For much of the opening 20 minutes the Grecians struggled to impose themselves on the game as Bowman and Dean Moxey picked up early yellow cards whilst County had more of the possession.

It then got worse on 23 minutes when Bowman was sent off for a late challenge as he attempted to win the ball from Michael Doyle but fouled the County man and the referee gave a second yellow card.

The Grecians then managed to see a bit more of the ball, despite their numerical disadvantage, but were unable to create any clear-cut chances for much of the half.

Enzio Boldewijn then had a chance on 38 minutes when he cut inside from the right before he saw his left footed effort deflected into the arms of Pym.

City’s best chance of the half came when they worked the ball excellently through Kane Wilson, Law and Matt Jay in the County box, but despite being in a good position, they were unable to work enough space to get a shot away as the ball was stabbed away from Jay as the home side cleared.

Jim O’Brien had the first attempt of the second half when he turned and shot on the edge of the box, but once again, the attempted failed to test Pym as he collected comfortably.

But Pym then had to be at his best when the ball fell to Matt Tootle at the far post before he fired an effort powerfully at goal, but for the City keeper, who turned the ball behind with a strong save.

The Grecians struggled to create in the second period with the Magpies dominating the ball for much of the half with one chance of note from Jay’s speculative volley which evaded Ryan Schofield’s goal.

With the game seeming to be heading for a goalless draw into stoppage time, the Grecians then won it with a rare second half attack when Donovan Wilson's brilliant work on the right saw him lift a cross towards Law, who headed home to send the travelling City fans wild.


Notts County: Schofield, Tootle, Duffy, Boldewijn, Hemmings, Stubbs, O’Brien, Milsom, Rose (Stead, 45), Mackail-Smith (Gomis, 83), Doyle
Subs not used: Fitzsimons, Barclay, Alessandra, Vaughan, Dunn
Booked: Milsom

Exeter City: Pym, Woodman, Law, Holmes (Sweeney, 30), Bowman, Jay, K. Wilson, Moxey, Taylor, Brown, Boateng (D. Wilson, 64)
Subs not used: Hamon, A. Martin, L. Martin, Williams, Collins
Booked: Bowman, Moxey
Sent off: Ryan Bowman

Attendance: 9,505 (In, 665, away)

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