Exeter City 1 Charlton Athletic 0 - Grecians make it three wins in a row with deserved victory
by Daniel Clark · DevonLiveExeter City made it three wins in a row in all competitions as they deservedly got the better of Charlton Athletic at St James Park. One second half goal was enough to claim all three points as City returned to League One winning ways.
The Grecians were much the better side in the first half but couldn’t make their dominance count as a raft of shots were blocked and nine corners weren’t converted into an opening goal.
But on the hour and from a 13th corner, the Grecians finally went ahead. Ed Francis’ corner was met by Tristan Crama, who guided home his header into the back of the net.
Matty Godden missed a golden chance to level late on when he dragged wide when clean through on goal. City held on though for the victory which saw them stay 11th in the table, but just two points off the play-offs. Charlton dropped to 13th as they saw their six game unbeaten run end.
After the FA Cup classic victory over Barnet last Saturday, Gary Caldwell made just the one change to his exeter-city-fc>Exeter City side. Francis returned in the centre of midfield in place of Reece Cole, who wasn’t in the matchday squad due to illness.
The Addicks had the first chance inside 30 seconds when Miles Leaburn turned Crama and broke forward, but his effort was blocked. Joe Whitworth was called into action to deny Zach Mitchell. At the other end, Josh Magennis headed just wide from an Ilmari Niskanen cross.
Grecians pressure saw them win a series of corners as Charlton couldn’t get out of their own box, with the best of the chances falling to Francis on the volley, but his strike couldn’t get through the sea of legs. Ryan Woods saw a free-kick punched away by Ashley Maynard-Brewer as City were on top but not making the dominance count, as Niskanen then saw a shot from distance whistle just wide of the post.
Terry Taylor saw a volley headed away by Pierce Sweeney after a rare foray from the visitors. But Macaulay Gillesphey nearly turned a teasing Franics cross into his own, when no City man had attacked it. From the resulting corner, Crama nodded just wide.
On the stroke of half-time, City had a decent shout for a penalty. Millenic Alli's cross was headed by Niskanen back across goal. Magennis, the goalkeeper and Zach Mitchell go for it, and it looked like the Northern Ireland international strikes was fouled in the process, but referee Matt Cortlett pointed only for a corner. Jack Aitchison and then Francis saw efforts blocked wide, as City’s first half dominance wasn’t converted into a lead.
Neither manager made a change at half-time, but Nathan Jones’ men had the first chance when Godden lashed a strike from 20 yards just wide. Conor Coventry then saw a placed finish after a well-worked free-kick also just go the wrong side of the upright.
That seemed to wake City back up as they came close again when Niskanen cut inside and his shot took a wicked deflection only to find the side netting. But from that corner – lucky number 13- Caldwell’s men broke the deadlock on the hour. Francis’ delivery was whipped in, and Crama rose highest at the near post to flick and guide the header home to the joy of the Big Bank. It was his second goal of the season.
Jones made three changes to try and get the Addicks back into the contest, while Caldwell threw on Jay Bird and Demetri Mitchell for Alli and Aitchison. Chances though were at a premium for either side, Luke Berry glancing a header wide moments after his introduction, while Thierry Small slashed a strike off-target.
In the 81st minute Charlton had a glorious chance to level. Ben Purrington's back header was poor as he gave it straight to Godden. The striker was one on one with Whitworth and looked certain to score, only to drag the shot wide.
Jack Fitzwater replaced Francis as Caldwell looked to hold onto the narrow lead. But the Addicks came close again to an equaliser when a corner was kept alive and Alex Mitchell was left unmarked, but headed wide from six yards out.
Five minutes of stoppage-time were added-on, and in the second of them, Pierce Sweeney headed off the line to deny Leaburn who had snuck around the back from a free-kick. And that was the final chance as City secured an impressive win.
Exeter City are back in action on Saturday when they host Lincoln City.
Exeter City: (4-4-2) - Joe Whitworth, Jack McMillan, Pierce Sweeney, Tristan Crama, Ben Purrington, Ilmari Niskanen, Ryan Woods, Ed Francis (Jack Fitzwater, 85), Jack Aitchison (Demetri Mitchell, 73), Millenic Alli (Jay Bird, 73) Josh Magennis (Kamari Doyle, 89)
Subs: Shaun MacDonald, Caleb Watts, Sonny Cox
Booking: Woods, Niskanen