2025-03-29
Wrexham (h)
Football League Youth Alliance
Oxford U-18’s (a)
Match Report:
Exeter City 0 Wrexham 2
A goal in each half for the visitors condemned City to a 2-0 defeat against Wrexham at St James Park.
Ollie Rathbone's deflected shot from the edge of the box and Jay Rodriguez's penalty midway through the second half meant it was the Welsh side who left Devon with all three points, as the Grecians fell to their first defeat in six games.
Following last week's goalless stalemate at Lincoln, Gary Caldwell made three changes from his team. Demetri Mitchell was ruled out injured, and so in came Tony Yogane in his position. Joel Colwill returned from international duty straight into the starting eleven while Pat Jones also returned on the right-hand side, with Jack McMillan pivoting into midfield. On the bench, Andrew Oluwabori was initally named in the 18 for the first time in over a month, however a knock in the warm-up meant he was replaced by Shaun MacDonald among the named subs.
First half
Both sides exchanged early half-chances, but it was Wrexham who had the game’s first shot on target, three minutes in. A deflected ball into City’s penalty area fell to Ollie Rathbone, but his goalbound shot was blocked by the strong foot of Ed Turns.
Two minutes later the Welsh side had the ball in the back of the net, but Sam Smith’s fierce volley was ruled offside.
Backed by a vocal St James Park, the Grecians grew into the game, with Yogane finding some joy down the right-hand channel, but he couldn’t find a killer ball into the penalty box.
Any half-mometum that City was building was halted though, when the away side who took the lead in the 22nd minute. Rathbone shot from around 25 yards out off centre, and a wicked deflection off the head of Turns wrongfooted Joe Whitworth as the ball sailed into the net.
The Grecians responded with fight, and after Ben Purrington's shot was deflected out for a corner seven minutes later, Joel Colwill forced the Wrexham stopper into his first meaningful save. Picking up a loose ball at the back of the box, the Cardiff-born midfielder struck fiercely, forcing Okonkwo to parry the effort out of play.
Alex Hartridge was next to try his luck from the resulting corner, but his shot also took a deflection and went off target.
Second half
The Grecians began the second half on top, with several set pieces attacking the Big Bank not quite finding their targets inside the box. Trevitt’s corner from the right in the 52nd minute did find Josh Magennis at the near post, but his flick went the wrong side of the post.
Wrexham’s first effort came slightly fortunately as a Purrington clearance rebounded off a man in gold but straight into Whitworth’s arms.
However, on the hour mark the Welsh side doubled their lead as they won and converted a penalty. Jack McMillan tripped Jay Rodriguez inside the penalty box, and the former England international stepped up and drove his spot-kick home for 2-0.
That second goal quelled the game somewhat, with few chances following. Rathbone had a fierce effort struck straight into the hands of Whitworth, before he next had to palm a dangerous cross away from Sam Smith’s head.
Substitute Steven Fletcher drove into the box with seven minutes to go but again Whitworth was equal to his effort, as the match fizzled out.
The full-time whistle signalled the end City's unbeaten run against the promotion chasing Welshmen at SJP.
Exeter City: Whitworth, Jones (Watts, 78'), Turns, MacDonald, Hartridge, Purrington (Harper, 66'), McMillan, Colwill (Francis, 66'), Trevitt, Yogane (Cole, 66'), Magennis (C) (Cox, 78').
Substitutes not used: MacDonald (GK), Niskanen.
Wrexham: Okonkwo, Brunt, Cleworth, O'Connell, McClean (C), Dobson, Rodriguez (Fletcher, 71'), Rathbone, Smith, James, Longman (Barnett, 82').
Substitutes not used: Howard (GK), Marriott, Revan, Scarr, Lee.
Goal: Rathbone 22', Rodriguez 60' (pen)
Attendance: 8084 (920 away)
Football League Youth Alliance
Oxford 4-0 Exeter U-18's
Report from OUFC website
Oxford United Under-18s earned their 13th league win in a row after defeating Exeter City 4-0.
A ruthless first-half performance, including a hat-trick from Jack Lee, gave the U’s another comfortable three points and a clean sheet at home.
It was a strong start from the Yellows, with Mubarak Abolade forcing an early important save from the Exeter shot stopper.
Lee scored an early opener, making it 1-0 just 15 minutes in. A beautiful delivery from Jameson Blackmore found Lee at the back post to head home.
The number nine got his second on the 30-minute mark. A threatening cross from Harrison Bradney’s corner fell to Lee at the back post and once again he finished his chance into an empty net.
Lee made it an outstanding half for himself, grabbing a first half hat-trick in just 36 minutes. Another well executed corner routine from Bradney was met with a bullet header from Lee, giving the keeper no chance and making it 3-0.
Missanga then rounded a perfect half for United, making it four in 45 minutes. Griffiths played a clever ball over the top to send Missanga through and he finished the chance beautifully from a tough angle.
The beginning of the second half continued in the same vein, with the U’s creating chance after chance. However, they were unable to find a fifth. Charlie Cramond was then forced to make a crucial block to keep the clean sheet intact.
A few changes were then made to rest a couple of players for the crucial cup game this week, which took a bit of the energy out of the game.
The win keeps Oxford United in the hunt for the league title, with a cup tie now to focus upon on Tuesday.
United: Patel, Palmer-Flynn, Blackmore, Gardner, Cramond(Collins 67), Doyle (Griffith 80), Abolade, Bradney, Lee (Snowden 52), Griffiths (Dourish 76), Missanga (Holton 63)
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