Pierce Sweeney's second-half strike meant that City would start 2026 with a bang, beating Luton Town 1-0 at St James Park.
New Year’s Day 2026 saw Exeter City host Luton Town at St James Park in yet another one of the congested festive fixtures in Sky Bet League One.
City returned home from the capital three days prior full of confidence, a 1-0 win against AFC Wimbledon at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, moving the Grecians up and out of the drop zone. Luton Town would make the trip to EX4 likewise full of confidence following a 3-0 win at home to Leyton Orient the previous Monday.
Gary Caldwell named three changes from his team that beat the Wombles, with Jack Aitchison, Sonny Cox, and Sil Swinkels given the nod in place of Akeel Higgins, Reece Cole and Luca Woodhouse, all featuring on the bench.
First Half
Luton saw their first chance of the game in the opening phases, George Saville getting a shot off from a tight angle and forcing Jack Aitchison into a vital block before clearing the ball up field.
A quiet opening ten minutes for City was ended in the 11th minute when Jack Aitchison picked the ball up midway inside the Luton half before driving forward and finding Jayden Wareham on the right-hand side of the penalty area, his ball into the area met by James Shea between the sticks.
Wareham would be given another bite at the cherry minutes later when Sonny Cox produced a perfectly timed through ball to put City’s number nine through on goal, this time his effort towards Shea’s near post striking the upright and ricocheting away from danger.
Hatters’ captain Jordan Clark would provide a glimpse of respite for the visitors, twisting and turning in the Grecian penalty area before getting an ambitious shot off that found only the centre of the onlooking Thatchers Big Bank.
Momentum soon shifted back in favour of City in the form of a corner-kick at the opposite end of the pitch. Ethan Brierley’s ball in was met by the head of Wareham, his shot blocked and briefly turning the Luton penalty area into a pinball machine before Jack Aitchison was found 25-yards out, his powerful effort placed just over the bar.
With the game approaching half-time, City were once again given a good chance to claim the lead. Wareham worked well to apply pressure on the Hatters’ back line, the visitors failing to properly clear the ball up-field and allowing Cox to once again work Shea, his half-turn and shot forcing the veteran goalkeeper to tip the effort away from danger.
Moments late the referee would call an end to a first-half that had seen the Grecians enjoy many of the chances, a positive half of football for Caldwell’s men.
Second Half
The second half of play would see City almost immediately given a golden opportunity when, in the 50th minute Ilmari Niskanen won a free kick 30-yards out after being fouled.
The resultant set-piece would be headed out only as far as Pierce Sweeney inside the area, the City skipper producing a moment of quality as his precise effort found the bottom-right of the Luton goal to give the Grecians the lead.
Niskanen would once again look to test the Town back line, the Fin’s impressive run allowing him to half-turn and get a shot off, blocked at close range however and away for a corner.
Ten minutes on and City once again went looking for a second, Ethan Brierley this time with a skilful run towards the edge of the box before producing an impressive shot towards goal, Shea called into action again to tip the ball over the bar.
The introduction of Reece Cole in the 69th minute would see an instant impact, his first two ball involvements allowing the midfielder to reel off a brace of shots towards the Luton goal.
With ten minutes left on the clock, the onlooking City fans hearts may have skipped a beat with a rare Luton shot on goal rolling just wide of the far post. The Grecians would go on to triumphantly depend their lead for the remaining minutes, starting off 2026 with all three points on home turf.
Match Details
Exeter City XI
Whitworth (GK), McMillan, Fitzwater, Brierley, Wareham, Aitchison (Woodhouse 88'), Niskanen, Swinkels, Cox (Mendes-Gomes 62’), Sweeney ©, Doyle-Hayes (Cole 69’)
Exeter City Unused Substitutes
Bycroft (GK), Francis, Higgins, Oakes
Goalscorers
Sweeney (50’)
Yellow Cards
Doyle-Hayes (24’), Cox (29’), Brierley (77')
Luton Town XI
James Shea (GK), Walters (Nelson 76’), Walsh, Yates (Wells 62’), Morris (Brown 62’), Mengi, Lonwiyk, Clark ©, Saville (Fanne 76’), Bramall, Johnson
Luton Town Unused Substitutes
Thomas (GK), Andersen, Fox
Yellow Cards
Brown (67’)