Exeter City ended their winless run of games in style, with goals from Jayden Wareham and Josh Magennis sealing a 3-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers at St James Park.
Three days on from a frustrating defeat to Blackpool away from home, the onus was on the Grecians to impress from the off in their home tie with Doncaster Rovers. Matt Taylor made four changes from the side that was defeated at Bloomfield Road, with Ed James, Reece Cole, Ethan Brierley & Danny Andrew all given the nod ahead of kickoff.
First Half
Exeter City started brightly and created a promising opening five minutes in, when Carlos Mendes Gomes looped a through ball forward to Jayden Wareham, however Thimothee Lo-Tutala was quick to come off his line and stop the threat.
The visitors countered, and a shot from Harry Clifton towards the bottom-right of the City goal forced a corner for the visitors. Following a period of time earlier in the season that saw the Grecians struggle from set pieces, the corner ball was reassuringly cleared away.
City won their first corner of the match soon afterwards following Ilmari Niskanen’s run down the right, allowing the home side to come close once more. While the initial set piece was half-cleared, it fell to the feet of Niskanen again allowing the Fin to cross a ball that found Ed James at the back post, yet this effort was saved once more.
The next chance came City’s way again, as Wareham won the battle for the ball on the halfway line before trying his luck from range. With Lo-Tutala in rapid retreat, the goalkeeper would have been relieved to see the strike from City’s no.9 find only the back of the Tracks Suzuki St James Road Stand.
As the Grecians continued to push for an opener, Mendes Gomes set off on an impressive run towards the byline before crossing low into the area. Despite Reece Cole and Niskanen quickly arriving on the scene, it would turn out to be a chance that went begging with neither player able to connect.
With five minutes until the break, hearts would have been in the mouths of the onlooking supporters when the visitors went agonisingly close to opening their account. A goalmouth scramble in the City area was eventually cleared from danger allowing Mendes Gomes to effectively counter down the left before spreading it to Wareham. The Grecian striker beared down on the Rovers penalty area before shooting, but the effort was blocked once more.
The opening goal finally came in the 42nd minute when Cole cleverly sent a through ball forward for Wareham, and now with more time afforded, the striker ruthlessly struck the ball into the bottom left of the net to give the Grecians the lead minutes before the break.
Alan Dale blew his whistle after five minutes of additional time to draw a close to a positive half for City.
Second Half
First half substitute Elliot Lee was the first man to threaten the City box in the second half, sending a curling effort towards goal that Jack Bycroft was able to get enough on and send out for a corner. Panic almost ensued when a Rovers’ header from the corner was cleared off the line by the Grecian defence, allowing Matt Taylor’s men to readjust and settle.
Bycroft impressed once more soon afterwards as Glenn Middleton’s cross afforded a free header for the visitors in the City box, the goalkeeper leaping high however and palming the effort away; certainly, another strong display from Bycroft in only his third league appearance for the Grecians.
Taylor rolled the dice with little over 20 minutes left on the clock as he introduced Josh Magennis and Ryan Rydel to the equation in the places of Carlos Mendes Gomes and Ethan Brierley respectively.
The gamble quickly proved to have paid off though, as City’s Northern Irishman was quick to win the ball high up the pitch before firing an effort across the face of goal that struck the far post and found the back of the net, doubling the Grecians’ lead in front of the Thatchers Big Bank.
The Grecians weren't done yet though, and when a corner was won in the 82nd minute they were able to net yet again. Doncaster were unable to deal with the set piece, allowing the ball to eventually fall to Wareham at the back post who poked the ball into the back of the net to make it a third for the City.
With six minutes of added time, the noise in the stands of St James Park gradually rose until the whistle was finally blown to end a 15-game winless run and get three points back on the board for the first time since January.
Up Next
The next game for the Grecians needs no introduction, as we look ahead to Saturday 11th April when we travel to Home Park for the second Devon Derby of the season!
Match Details
Exeter City XI
Jack Bycroft (GK), McMillan, Brierley (Rydel 61’), Mendes Gomes (Magennis 61’), Wareham, Cole (Aitchison 72’), Niskanen, Andrew, Sweeney ©, James (Woodhouse 72’), Cummins (McDonald 88')
Exeter City Unused Subs
Phillips (GK), Tutierov
Exeter City Goalscorers
Wareham (42’), Magennis (69’), Wareham (84')
Exeter City Yellow Cards
Wareham (19’)
Doncaster Rovers XI
Lo-Tutala (GK), Bailey ©, Pearson (Lee 37’), Molyneaux, Hanlan, Byrne (Sterry 29’), Clifton (Gibson 68’), Middleton (Adelakun 68’), Gotts, Senior, Close (McGrath 68’)
Doncaster Rovers Unused Subs
Clark (GK), Broadbent