City 3 Peterborough United 2

Stunning comeback secures the three points at home.

The Exeter City Late Late Show had a part two, as another stunning last minute comeback saw City beat Peterborough United in Gary Caldwell's first home match as manager.

A Tim Dieng header, Sam Nombe bundle and a second screamer in as many games from Jevani Brown saw City spin the game on its head in stoppage time to record another memorable win. 

Caldwell named one change from the win over Port Vale wiuth skipper Matt Jay retruning in the place of Nombe, while there was a welcome return to the bench for Jonathan Grounds after a lengthy injury lay off. 

Despite the Posh sitting inside the top four it was the Grecians who dominated the opening stages of the contest and it wasn City who almost drew first blood - after a lovely bit of intricate play down the right-hand side between Jake Caprice, Brown and Archie Collins, the ball eventually fell to the number 20 on the edge of the area. His whipped effort from 18 yards out had everyone nearly jumping for joy, but the effort sailed inches past the far post, much to the relief of Bergstrom in the United goal.

EX4 almost exploded with joy again only ten minutes later, this time the play came down the left-hand side - a cross pitch pass from Collins to Jack Sparkes had the left wing back sending Posh defender Ben Thompson for a hot dog. After a few more touches Sparkes low cross into the box found captain Jay but his side footed effort grazed the outside of the post.

Only a few minutes later and Collins was back in the action once again, searching for his third goal in as many games and aiming to repeat last week’s FA cup winner, letting loose from 30 yards. With his effort looking likely to nestle in the bottom right-hand corner, Bergstrom pulled off a fantastic save to keep it at 0-0.

From that resulting corner, City did take the lead though. It came as no surprise as Brown added to his goal contributions for the season as he floated corner was neatly nestled home from Dieng's cushioned header for a deserved lead. 

With the game starting to open up, Posh captain Jonson Clarke-Harris should've equalised for the away side from less than ten yards out. Clarke-Harris had the whole goal at his mercy but miscued his header and it went out for a goal kick, with audible sighs of relief heard from the Big Bank.

Minutes later and he very quickly made amends for his miss by nestling a 20-yard strike into the bottom corner, just out of reach of the long arms of Jamal Blackman, latching on to a misplaced clearance from Collins.

After a quiet start to the second half, it was Posh who were having the better of the game as City looked sluggish with signs of panic against their higher-placed opposition. To tighten up the game, Caldwell made a change, bringing on Nombe for Jay. Sam almost had an immediate impact but was unable to direct the ball from Caprice towards goal, being beaten by Bergstrom to the delivery. 

After an edgy affair, Peterborough enjoyed a period of dangerous possession and took the lead. It was Ephron Mason-Clarke fired home after some lovely football down the right-hand side saw the ball fall to him in the six yard box to acrobatically fire home.

On came Harry Kite for Sparkes as Caldwell gave the dice another spin with five minutes to go, and it wasn;t long before the shuffle came into fruition as City levelled up. 

With Caprice having now switched sides to left wing back, he worked some magic and found fellow wing-back Key on the right-hand side whose cushioned header found the newly introduced Nombe three yards out. Despite doing his best to miss, he bundled the ball home to snatch what looked like a hard fought point. 

But the Grecians weren't done. With Gary's new mantra still fresh in the players' minds, they dug deep in the final moments. As five minutes flashed up on the fourth official's board, Jay Stansfield found Brown with a deliciously weighted pass. There was only to be one outcome as League One's in-form attacker smashed the ball into the top corner and send St James Park into delirium. 

Win two of Gary's reign. 

Exeter City: Blackman, Caprice, Key, Sweeney, Hartridge, Sparkes (Kite), Collins, Dieng, Jay © (Nombe), Brown, Stansfield

Subs not used: Lee, Harper, Chauke, Beardmore, Grounds

Peterborough: Bergstrom, Watts, Butler, Edwards, Fuchs, Taylor, Clarke-Harris ©, Mason-Clark, Burrows, Jade-Jones, Thompson

Subs not used: Blackmore, Fernandez, Kyprianou, Mensah

Referee: Tom Reeves

Attendance: 6489 (408 away)

15th November 2022
FA Youth Cup 2nd Round 

Forest Green U18 0
Exeter City U18 3

In the hat for round three!

Exeter City secured safe passage to the third round of the FA Youth Cup with comfortable 3-0 win at Forest Green Rovers.

George Spencer added to his trio in the first round with another goal in the first half in Gloucestershire, before Pedro Borges and Mitch Beardmore added late efforts to put gloss on a professional and complete performance from the young Grecians.  

Brad-Lee Miller was without leading striker Sonny Cox for the trip to Nailsworth due to a groin strain, but the side was otherwise unchanged from the one that started the 4-3 victory over Newport in the First Round. Forest Green played their round one tie just a week ago, overcoming Eastleigh in a 3-2 win, and despite starting on the front foot at the New Lawn, it was the Young Grecians who showed the intent, with Aamir Daniels causing plenty of problems down the left hand side.

As the game edged towards half-time, Harry Lee was called into serious action for the first time in quick succession. Jotham McLaughlin found himself through on goal, but the City stopper showed great bravery to quickly narrow the angle and parry the angle, before rebounding the ball off the attacker for a goal kick. Murphy Bennett then had a golden chance to take the lead for Forest Green, but Lee once again got his fingertips to it.

Those saves would prove crucial as City took the lead against the run of play. Spencer, who bagged a hat-trick in the previous round, was man of the moment again as he received the ball from Gabriel Billington, who showed great skill to play him through, before rounding the keeper to take City into the break with a one-goal lead.

The home side came out in the second half with fire in their bellies, as the heat ramped up on a chilly and wet evening. Both sides fell foul of needless and ill-disciplined tackles, with the referee sensible controlling and calming the game in a professional manner.

When order was restored and football was played, City continued to control the game and Spencer almost added a second when he forced a save from Dylan John in the Rovers goal, though Miller’s men weren’t all having it their own way. Lee was forced into a point blank save from Finley Bell, before back at the other end, John saved Ed James volley from the edge of the box.

It wasn’t until two minutes from normal time when City put daylight between themselves and the hosts, as substitute Borges doubled the lead. It was a lovely solo goal from the young Portuguese, receiving the ball on the edge of the box, weaving into the area past two defenders before coolly placing under the goalkeeper.

City could have been forgiven for playing the game out, but they weren’t done. Like their senior team counterparts, late goals aren’t a bad habit to have and it was Beardmore who made it three in stoppage time. All the hard work came from another sub, Alfie Cunningham, who shimmied his was down the left flank before finding Beardmore inside the area to slot home and send the young Grecians waltzing into the next round.

Exeter City: Lee, King, Joce, Billington, James, Simmons, Beardmore, O’Connor (Borges), Spencer, Clark (Cunningham), Daniels (Edgecombe).

Subs not used: Sowden, Dean, Richards, Cavendish.