Exeter City fall to defeat in Yorkshire as York City claim a 2-1 victory, despite a late fightback.
Newby opened the scoring early for the hosts following a slick move, before Malcolm doubled the lead in the second-half with a towering header. Captain Jack Fitzwater made it 2 in 2 as he headed home late but City couldn't find an equaliser and headed back to Devon empty handed.
Exeter City manager Matt Taylor made three changes from the side that claimed their first victory of the 2026/27 Sky Bet League Two season against Accrington Stanley, last week at St James Park.
Ethan Sutherland, Sonny Cox and Taylor Perry came into the starting line-up against last season’s National League champions, with Jake Doyle-Hayes, Luca Woodhouse and Jayden Wareham not included in the squad.
The Minstermen drew 1-1 with fellow Yorkshire side Rotherham United, in their last outing, as they remain unbeaten on their return to English Football League, following promotion last campaign.
First Half
The home side raced out of the blocks with real purpose and swagger as they contained possession for long periods in the opening exchanges whilst Exeter kept a solid shape.
The opener came in the eighth minute as a fizzed low cross was cutely turned in by Alex Newby from close range as his cross-body shot found the far corner of the net leaving Bycroft with no chance.
Minutes later Bycroft superbly denied Newby from doubling York’s lead as his razor-sharp reflexes tipped the ball over the top as the hosts hit the Grecians with a quick counter.
York targeted their play down City's wings as they piled on the pressure but there was plenty of grit and fight from Matt Taylor’s side to keep the scoreline at 1-0. The Grecians backline, marshalled by captain Jack Fitzwater, kept the hosts to less than a handful of half-chances in the first quarter of the game.
Josh Gordon had the Grecians first attempt in the game, after Charlie Cummins burst through the midfield, and worked a good opening but his effort was blocked from outside the penalty area and a simple save for McNally in the York goal.
Moments later, after some neat football, the ball just escaped the grasp of Taylor Perry as York’s shot stopper, McNally, skidded along the wet surface to gratefully gather the ball. City grew into the contest and if it wasn’t from a brave diving block by York’s Morgan Williams, Gwion Edwards’ curling drive could have been the equaliser.
The game momentarily became stop-start after several successive fouls which also involved yellow cards for Cole and Edwards. City's No.23 Sutherland sent in a whipped free-kick from the wide left-hand side which saw Ed James send a towering header goal bound but flew just wide of the post on 40 minutes.
Minutes before the break, Williams crashed into Perry to earn the home side’s first booking which left the Exeter midfielder in a heap.
Second Half
Birch replaced Cox at half-time as Exeter looked for a way back into the game and immediately won a corner with a powerful run.
Moments later, Gordon was agonisingly close to making contact with Cole’s devilish wide delivery which caused real uncertainty in York’s penalty area as Exeter started the second period quickly.
As the home side also pressed to double their lead, Fitzwater made two defensively excellent blocks to shut out the Minstermen. Bycroft was then forced into action, for the first time in the second half, and powerfully pushed Felix’s attempt away from goal with a demanding save.
Substitute Malcolm's shot was smothered by Bycroft from a tight angle and turned behind, from the resulting corner Fitzwater’s outstretched leg turned the ball from the goal line. Exeter’s shot stopper denied Newby with a brilliant finger-tipped save in the first half and on this occasion the outreached toe denied a certain goal.
City would find themselves further behind as York doubled their lead from the following corner as Malcolm crashed the ball against the inside of the post from a header.
Perry’s tricky footwork gave the midfielder space to send in a dangerous cross which Samuel sent goal bound but Newby’s heel saved a certain goal.
Captain Fitzwater gave Exeter a lifeline in stoppage time as his flicked header beat the York goalkeeper after a pinpoint cross from substitute Andrew Oluwabori.
Birch was then denied by a last-ditch block from a red shirt, after another mazy run from Oluwabori, as the game ended shortly after.
Up Next
The Grecians are back in action at St James Park as Barnet travel down to Devon on Tuesday, September 1 with kick-off at 7.45pm. Click here for tickets.
Match Details
York City Starting XI
McNally (GK), Fallowfield ©, Kitching, Grey, Hunt (Read 67’), Pearce (Malcolm 67’), Boyes (Hewitt 77’), Felix (King 67’), Williams, Banks, Newby (Medley 90’)
Unused Subs
Sykes-Kenworthy (GK), McArthur
Goalscorers
Newby (8’), Malcolm (76’)
Yellow Cards
Williams (41’), Fallowfield (52’)
Exeter City Starting XI
Bycroft (GK), Harper, James, Fitzwater ©, Sutherland (Samuel 77’), Edwards, Cummins, Perry (Oakes 83’), Cole (Oluwabori 83’), Cox (Birch 46’), Gordon.
Unused Subs
Phillips (GK), Alsop, Oluwabori, Wilson
Yellow Cards
Cole (33’), Edwards (35’), Cummins (62’)
Attendance
7978 (671 away supporters)