Exeter City cruised to a routine victory over Peterborough United thanks to Jayden Wareham’s second goal of the season and two Josh Magennis headers.
In a dominant performance in the rain, Wareham struck in the first half before Ilmari Niskanen and Ryan Rydel both contributed from either wing for Magennis’ double.
Gary Caldwell made two changes from the defeat at Northampton last weekend, with Jake Doyle-Hayes and Josh Magennis replacing Ed Francis and Sonny Cox in the starting line up, with the latter taking the captain’s armband for the fixture.
Former Grecian Archie Collins was amongst the Peterborough line up who went into the game looking for their first win of the season.
First Half
With the remnants of Hurricane Erin swirling around St James Park, there was a natural slow start to the game as both sides acclimatised to the conditions, though it wasn’t long until the Grecians threatened for the first time.
Not long after Ethan Brierley’s free-kick narrowly evaded everyone at the back post, the Brentford loanee was involved again as he found Rydel on the left as he pierced through the midfield. Rydel’s cross found Niskanen inside the six yard box, but the Finn saw his header fly just over the bar.
Jack Fitzwater was then on the end of an other Brierkey curling delivery, but the centre-half could not quite connect well enough to divert his header towards goal.
The opening goal – which was richly deserved for City - would come from another set-piece though, as Wareham found the net with his second goal of the season. With an initial corner cleared out to the opposite by-line by the Peterborough defence, Jake Doyle-Hayes prevented the ball from going out of play with great strength before playing the perfect ball back into the area for Wareham to smash home in front of the Big Bank.
Peterborough would fashion their first chance as Matthew Garbett latched onto a weighted ball through, but Ed Turns denied the Posh player with a crucial block with his chest to prevent the shot reaching Joe Whitworth in the City net.
Doyle-Hayes fired an effort well into the Big Bank, before Turns was once again alert at a crucial stage. Jack McMillan’s quick throw allowed Niskanen to tee up Magennis, who saw his lashing angled effort palmed away by Vincente Reyes. As United kept the ball in play they broke quickly, but once again Turns was there to thump the ball away from danger.
Second Half
City were straight out the traps in the second half, and though it took almost ten minutes to register a chance, it was almost number two for Wareham. Niskanen bore down on the box down the right hand side and overhit his cross, but to his fortune Rydel turned the ball back across goal where Wareham was just inches away from doubling his tally.
Aitchison was then unlucky to drag his effort wide as penalty area pinball from a corner saw the ball rebound to him on the edge of the area, but it wasn’t long before goal number two came.
Niskanen again caused problems down the wing, with his pinpoint delivery finding the head of Magennis, who powered a header into the bottom corner with Reyes in the Posh goal stranded.
Barely 90 seconds had elapsed before the scoreboard ticked from two to three, as Magennis again found the net. This time it came from the left hand side as Rydel swung the ball into the area for the Northern Irishman to convert again.
The fourth could have come when Doyle-Hayes slid the ball through to Wareham, who showed great strength to hold off the defender before narrowly sending his effort just wide of the mark.
Young striker Kieran Wilson, who scored the winner in Tuesday night’s Premier League Cup match with Luton, was introduced in the final ten minutes, and he could have rounded off a perfect afternoon for the Grecians when Niskanen played a slick through ball to the Scot, but Reyes got a hand to his effort to tip it around the post with Sonny Cox lurking.
That would be the last action of the contest as City saw out six minutes of added time without issues.
EXETER CITY XI: Whitworth (GK), Niskanen, Turns, Fitzwater, McMillan, Rydel (Woodhouse), Doyle-Hayes (Sweeney), Brierley, Aitchison (Francis), Magennis © (Wilson), Wareham (Cox).
Subs: Bycroft, Oluwabori.
Booked: Doyle-Hayes, Aitchison, Fitzwater
PETERBOROUGH XI: Reyes (GK), Johnston ©, Collins, Khela (Lolos), Odoh (Hayes), Lees, Nevitt, Lisbie (Kamara), Lindgren, Garbett, Kioso (Mills).
Subs: Smith (GK), Dornelly,.
Booked: Nevett, Garbett
Attendance: 6,239 (392 away)
Referee: M Corlett