Jayden Wareham's second-half strike was not enough as Exeter City fell short against high-flying Bolton Wanderers at St James Park.
Four changes were made to the City side that drew 3-3 against Peterborough a week earlier, with Jack Fitzwater, Jack McMillan, Josh Magennis and Ryan Rydel introduced to the XI as Dan Green's side took on third-place Bolton Wanderers.
The Grecians came into the game unbeaten in four games, however all of them consisting of draws. The Wanderers made the trip to Devon also amidst a habit of drawing, their previous three games seeing the points shared in all of them.
First Half
There were early cries for a hand ball at St James Park following a fine free-kick delivery from Ryan Rydel, the fullback fouled by Jordi Osei-Totu to earn the respective set piece, however the referee waved away any Grecian protests and allowed play to continue with only a couple minutes gone.
Bolton Wanderers were able to test Joe Whitworth for the first time on the ten-minute mark, Rob Apter playing through Johnny Kenny whose shot was comfortable for the goalkeeper celebrating his 22nd birthday.
Jayden Wareham cleverly tricked Wanderers’ keeper Jack Bonham to win the ball inside the area, with the visitors rapidly retreating the ball found its way out to Luca Woodhouse on the edge of the box whose effort only found the roof of the Tracks Suzuki St James Road Stand.
In his first start since sustaining injury in January, Jack McMillan was played a delightful pass from Woodhouse allowing the Scotsman to charge on the Whites’ penalty area. McMillan took his time as he searched for an effective shooting area before letting fly, however his eventual shot was deflected behind for a corner that the visitors dealt with comfortably.
Following a sustained period of pressure from the Grecians, it would be the visitors who opened scoring. Kenny surged down the right wing as the City penalty area filled with players, the cross picked out danger man Sam Dalby who neatly struck into the bottom-left of Whitworth’s goal to put the Whites in front.
As City tried to compose themselves, a misplaced pass from Brierley fell kindly to Dalby who charged once more towards the Grecian goal. This time thankfully, his effort was drilled well wide of the post.
Following a minute’s applause in the 33rd minute for the life of Pete Eveleigh, the Grecians were awarded a free-kick 30 yards out for a foul on Aitchison. While Brierley’s initial delivery failed to connect with any City man, the ball worked its way out to Wareham at the far post whose shot from a difficult angle struck the side netting.
Further chances came in the approach to half-time as Ilmari Niskanen charged down the right before crossing to Aitchison on the edge of the area, his shot was deflected and fell to Wareham however the visitors had switched on and quickly cleared the ball from danger.
With minutes left until the break, Rydel once more shone down the left side. The Stockport County loanee worked well to reach a slightly misplaced pass before delivering a cross towards McMillan in the area, however the Scotsman’s effort was too tame for Bonham who saved comfortably.
The final action for the opening 45 minutes came after City’s cries for a foul on Jack Fitzwater were ignored by the referee, instead allowing the Wanderers to cross towards Kenny inside the box. Much to the relief on the onlooking Thatchers Big Bank, the strikers' effort was manageable for Whitworth, effectively nullifying the threat before the whistle blew for the break.
Second Half
City retuned to the pitch with a half-time change as Pierce Sweeney made way for youngster Charlie Cummins, the City skipper spearing to have picked up a knock in the first-half.
Osei-Totu picked up where he left off by applying more pressure down the right and a cross into the box deflected behind by the Grecian back line resulted in a corner for the visitors early on. The Wanderers' set piece was well-placed into the City box and fell kindly to a Bolton head, however Whitworth smartly saved the effort with his foot to put a stop to the visitors' momentum.
As the Grecians searched for a leveller, Brierley received the ball on the edge of the box in a promising position. The Brentford loanee produced a fine shot towards Bonham's goal, however it drifted just wide and into the mouth of the Thatchers Big Bank. Further chances quickly came when Niskanen, Aitchison and Wareham all combined inside the area to get a shot off, the Whites still standing firm however and keeping it out of the net.
Despite City's comfort in defending set pieces in the first half of the season, a Bolton corner led to the visitors increasing their advantage on the hour mark. Josh Sheehan's corner made its way through to Kenny in the area, his floating header just too high for Whitworth as it sailed into the back of the net leaving the Grecians with a mountain the climb.
Whitworth had to look sharp again quickly afterwards when the visitors mounted a counter attack down the left side resulting in Thierry Gale crossing to Dalby, the striker looking to complete his hat-trick however the City goalkeeper stood firm and produced a fine save at full stretch to keep the ball out of the net.
The Grecians would find a crucial route back into the game when awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Bolton penalty area. While Rydel's initial left-footed shot was saved by Bonham, the ball only fell to the head of Wareham who was in the right place at the right time to nod home, the strikers 18th goal of the season in all competitions.
The one goal lead didn't last long however with the Wanderers' looking to reclaim a two goal advantage. A lofted ball played into the City penalty area appeared to strike the arm of Brierley to the uproar of the packed Tracks Suzuki St James Road Stand, this didn't matter however as Gale arrived on the scene at the right moment to drill the bobbling ball into the roof of the net for Bolton's third.
Momentum proved to be crucial in the game, when newly introduced Ibrahim Cissoko struck low to find the bottom-right of the City goal and make it a fourth for the visitors in a five minute period that saw the game get away from Dan Green's side.
As the game entered a seven additional minutes, George Johnston sealed the victory for the visitors. A free kick in a dangerous position on the left fell to the feet of the defender in the City box, his driven effort finding the roof of the net and all but wrapping up the encounter between the two sides.
Up Next
It’s another quick turnaround for the Grecians, who return to St James Park on Tuesday 3rd March when Burton Albion make the journey South-West for what is sure to be another enthralling Sky Bet League One encounter.
Tickets for this game are still available, and more information can be found following this link.
Match Details
Exeter City XI
Whitworth (GK), McMillan (Higgins 73'), Rydel (Oakes 73'), Fitzwater (Dean 82'), Brierley, Wareham, Aitchison, Niskanen, Woodhouse, Sweeney © (Cummins 46'), Magennis (Tutierov 73')
Exeter City Unused Subs
Bycroft (GK), Cox
Goalscorers
Wareham (67')
Yellow Cards
Fitzwater (39’), Magennis (45+2’)
Bolton Wanderers XI
Bonham (GK), Forino, Johnston, Sheehan, Kenny (Dempsey 80'), Dalby, Gale (Cissoko 75'), Osei-Totu, Apter (Burstow 80') , Toal ©, Erhahon
Bolton Wanderers Unused Subs
Harrington (GK), Simons, Conway, Christie
Goalscorers
Dalby (21’), Kenny (60'), Gale (72'), Cissoko (77')
Yellow Cards
Johnston (35’)