Exeter City are safely into the second round of the Emirates FA Cup after a 2-0 win over Halifax Town at the Shay Stadium.
An early goal from Danny Andrew and a strike at the end of the first half from Jayden Wareham was enough to defeat City’s spiritited opposition.
Manager Gary Caldwell returned to a similar side that faced Plymouth Argyle, after Tuesday night’s Vertu Trophy win over Arsenal U21s. From the side that started the Devon Derby Ed Turns missed out, with Kevin McDonald taking a place in the heart of midfield.
First half
City started the match on the front foot with confidence from the last two win. Akeel Higgins ran at the Halifax defence and won an early corner. Reece Cole delivered a deep cross which was met by the onrushing Danny Andrew who hit a crisp volley into the top corner to give the Grecians the lead after only two minutes.
City’s next attack could have seen them double the lead. Neat interplay down the channel saw McMillan find Brierley with space inside the Shaymen box. Brierley cut back for Cole but his effort was always rising and over the bar.
The Grecians looked in fine confidence as they forced another chance within the first ten minutes. McMillan found Brierley in space inside the box with a disguised pass, Brierley squared to the onrushing Cole on the edge of his box, but his shot was always rising over the bar.
Down the other end the hosts had a golden chance to level. Turner-Cooke found space on the overlap and sent in a peach of a cross that Shaymen striker Will Harris just couldn’t get a toe to and the ball fell to safety.
On the half-hour mark a Shayman defender was penalised for hand ball on the edge of their area. Andrew dummied the kick for Cole to strike, and his whipped effort sailed just wide of the far post with Johnson in the Halifax goal rooted to his spot.
The hosts were putting up a strong fight to get level and tested City after 37 minutes as Harris broke through, his low shot was saved by the legs of Whitworth and Sweenz was alert to the danger as Cooke tried to scramble it home.
Minutes later Whitworth was called into action again as Latty-Fairweather sent a low drive from inside the box towards the corner, but it was a comfortable save for City’s No.1
As we closed in on the break City doubled their lead. Higgins picked up a loose ball in the Halifax half before finding Brierley inside the box, he shot low and it was a good save by Johnson is there to slot home and make it two from two for City’s No.9.
Second half
There were no changes made at the break as City looked to continue the momentum of the goal at the end of the first half. But it was the hosts who had a great chance to halve the deficit as a ball was sent in deep to the back post, Cooke got on the end of it, but his effort grazed the outside of the post and out for a goal kick.
City’s first effort of note in the half came down the right as Cole spread the play to Niskanen – he took a touch before sending a low cross to the feet of Wareham who tried to spin and shoot but it was an easy gather for Johnson.
Just before the hour mark Whitworth was pushed to the limit as Own Bray cut inside before launching a rocket that was heading into the top corner but fingertips from Whitworth saw the ball tipped just over the bar!
There was pinball in the Halifax area with ten minutes to go as City searched for a third. Reece Cole swung in a corner which Brierley flashed the ball across the box but it was cleared away,
Halifax thought they had forced a way back into the game in the 82nd minute as Devonport headed home from inside the box, but the Lino raises his flag to rule it out.
City then held out for the remaining minutes and booked a place in round two of the Emirates FA Cup and sent 310 Grecians home happy!
Up Next
The Grecians return to Sky Bet League One action this Saturday to take on Wigan Athletic in a 3pm kick-off at St James Park. Click here for tickets.
Match Info
Exeter City XI: Whitworth (GK), Niskanen, Sweeney (C), Fitzwater, Andrew, Higgins (Aitchison 74’), McMIllan, McDonald (Turns 60’), Brierley, Cole (Magennis 82’), Wareham.
Subs not used: Bycroft (GK), Woodhouse, Dean, Francis, Oakes, Wilson.
Yellow Cards: Sweeney 71’, Brierley 77’
Goals: Andrew 2’, Wareham 45’
Halifax Town XI: Johnson (GK), Latty-Fairweather, Mills, Hobson (Adetoro 88’), Capello, Hugill (Jenkins 88’), Turner-Cooke, Hmami (Warburton 89’), Cooke (Devonport 62’), Bray, Harris.
Subs not used: Ford, Tarima, C. Johnson, O.Smith.
Yellow Cards:
Attendance: 1994 (310 Away)