Exeter City suffered a 2-0 defeat at Northampton Town on Saturday afternoon as they were unable to build on midweek victory.
An opening goal inside the first minute from Ethan Wheatley, followed by a second from Max Dyche 15 minutes minutes later decided the contest on an afternoon where the Grecians struggled to create many openings.
Gary Caldwell was forced into a change in defence as Sil Swinkels is not yet recovered from the knee injury suffered at Wycombe on Tuesday night, with Ryan Rydel coming in at wing-back as Jack McMillan moved to the back three. Jayden Wareham came in for Josh Magennis up top, while Ed Francis replaced Jake Doyle-Hayes in the only other alterations from the 1-0 win at Adams Park.
First Half
City had a fast start on Tuesday night but this time were victims of an early goal as Ethan Wheatley fired in the opener after just 58 seconds. The Northampton no.19 latched onto a ball on the left hand side, drove into the area and fired in from a tight angle to open the scoring.
Things got worse on the quarter of an hour mark as the hosts doubled their lead through Max Dyche. City failed to clear their lines from a free-kick, with Tyrese Fornah latching onto a poor clearance which allowed Dyche to roll the ball home through a mass of bodies.
Northampton’s press was causing plenty of problems for the Grecians, who struggled to create chances against a determined side that were looking for their first win of the season. City had also stifled further danger from the hosts until the 42nd minute, when Sam Hoskins forced Joe Whitworth into a near post save.
Second Half
After starting his first three league matches, Doyle-Hayes replaced Francis at the break as Caldwell made his first move in trying repair the scoreline.
Wheatley was having an impressive game, with Fitzwater getting a crucial header in as his right footed cross caused danger inside the City six-yard box before Ethan Brierley cleared away the loose ball.
Josh Magennis was introduced for Sonny Cox and he came close to carving out an opportunity shortly after he made his entrance, latching onto Jack Aitchison’s piercing ball to force a corner, with Brierley not far away from poking in at the back post.
Brierley and Magennis almost combined again, with the City no.6’s deep cross just too heavy for the Northern Irishman – though the offside flag was raised shortly after.
The first real effort of the game for the Grecians saw Fitzwater head a Rydel corner into the side netting, just inches the wrong side of the mark.
Doyle-Hayes, seconds after he let his frustrations show with dissent towards the referee, blasted an effort narrowly over the bar from 25-yards.
Northampton has barely threatened in the second period, but substitute Elliot List could have made it three for the hosts when he swivelled inside the area and lashed a shot wide of Whitworth’s posts with ten minutes remaining. Fitzwater then headed an Ilmari Niskanen delivery wide as defensive bodies stayed up following a City set piece.
Brierley was denied a first City goal late on in the contest as a low drilled effort from outside the box stung the palms of Cobblers keeper Lee Burge.
The Grecians must reset and go again on Saturday with the visit of Peterborough United in a 3pm kick-off.
NORTHAMPTON TOWN XI: Burge, McCarthy, Campbell, Hoskins ©, McGeehan (Eaves), Guinness-Walker (Wormleighton), Fornah, Wheatley (List), Perkins (Burroughs), Taylor, Dyche.
Subs: Fitzsimmons (GK), Willis, Forbes.
EXETER CITY XI: Whitworth, Niskanen, Turns, Fitzwater ©, McMillan (Woodhouse), Rydel (Wilson), Francis (Doyle-Hayes), Brierley, Aitchison, Cox (Magennis), Wareham (Birch).
Subs: Bycroft (GK), Cummins,
Yellow cards: Cox, Doyle-Hayes, Turns, Magennis.
Attendance: 5,739 (393 away)
Referee: E Duckworth