Exeter City 2 Northwich Victoria 0.
Saturday 11 October 2003.

Referee: S Door

Att: 3090

BBC match report -

Striker Sean Devine gave in-form Exeter a home victory with a second-half double against gallant 10-man Northwich.

Devine, sent off during the 3-2 win at Barnet on Tuesday, pounced 17 minutes from time to put City ahead.

Andy Woods had just denied Chris Todd's volley with a smart save, but the Vics goalkeeper could do nothing about Devine's right-foot strike.

And eight minutes from time, the Grecians striker sealed the points by converting Steve Flack's cross from close range for his eighth goal of the season.

The visitors' cause was not helped by the 56th-minute dismissal of defender Chris Royle, who was shown the red card for a crude challenge on substitute Barry McConnell.

City stepped up a gear with the one-man advantage and nearly took a 63rd-minute lead when Dwayne Lee's superb 30-yard strike hit the woodwork.

Devine nearly put the Grecians ahead with a close-range header after just 10 minutes but his effort flashed wide and he was also denied by Woods just before the break.

Exeter: Rice, Hiley, Jeannin, Gaia, Todd, Coppinger, Ampadu, Lee, Cronin, Flack, Devine.
Subs: Bittner, Sheldon, McConnell, Reed, Canham.

Northwich: Woods, Woodyatt, Charnock, Brazier, Foran, Royle, Devlin, Blackburn, Norris, Thompson, Allan.
Subs: Connett, Black, Garvey, Ward, Owen.

Referee: S Door (Worcester).