Exeter City secured a hard fought victory to seal a first away win of the season at Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday night.
A late own goal from Jack Grimmer decided the contest, with City then having Joe Whitworth and the defence to thank for a string of saves and blocks to ensure the three points headed back to Devon.
Gary Caldwell named three changes to his starting line up for the visit to Buckinghamshire, with Sonny Cox and Josh Magennis leading the line together in the place of Jayden Wareham and Jack Aitchison. Reece Cole missed out through illness as Tom Dean came into the side.
First Half
City started on top at Adams Park and could have take the lead after just 90 seconds through Ed Turns. After Sonny Cox drew a foul 30 yards out, Ethan Brierley’s curling delivery was headed back across goal by Jack Fitzwater with Turns lashing volley was tipped over by Mikki Van Sas.
Brierley was the Grecians best attacking outlet in the first period and it was his ball in again from a recycled set piece that saw Sil Swinkels trouble the Wycombe defence, as he was unfortunate not to see his header divert towards goal. Swinkels was then alert to block a ferocious effort, before Joe Whitworth caught the rebound from George Abbott.
Brierley again caused the Wycombe back-line issues as he was given space to drive forward from just inside the half, dropping the shoulder before firing an effort narrowly wide of the target from the edge of the box.
The Chairboys rarely troubled Whitworth in the opening 45, but the Palace loanee did have to stand firm to hold a commanding header from Connor Taylor, as he rose highest with an effort from a corner.
Caldwell was then forced into a defensive change just before the break as Swinkels game was ended early with a knock, Ryan Rydel taking his place as McMillan moved into the centre of the back three and Rydel as left-wing back.
Second Half
It was Wycombe who started the second half the strongest as a smart corner move early on saw Alex Lowry smash an effort through bodies from the edge of the box before seeing his effort deflected. As play continued, Fred Onyedinma then fired over from a tight angle as they searched for a way through.
Substitute Armando Junior Quitirna then had a go before play seemed to lull as the game headed towards its final ten minutes. The final period though would see intensity ramped up but not before Charlie Cummins was introduced for his EFL debut.
As the Grecians found extra energy in the closing stages, the opening goal, and winner, would come in fortuitous circumstances as Grimmer headed past his own keeper as the ball was kept alive in the 18-yard box by Brierley’s header after a dangerous cross from the left from Ilmari Niskanen.
Suddenly, that sparked Wycombe into life as Whitworth was kept alert to twice deny Jamie Mullins with fantastic saves. A rasper from Boyd-Munce then saw him tip it over the bar as City clung on.
Jack’s McMillan and Fitzwater both then put their bodies on the line with last ditch challenges before the final whistle marked the end of a resilient and tenacious defensive performance from Caldwell’s side.
Wycombe Wanderers: Van Sas, Grimmer, Allen, Leahy, Udoh, Mullins, Abbott (Tilley), Taylor, Onyedinma (Junior), Hagelskjær, Lowry (Boyd-Munce).
Subs: Norris, Casey, Stones, Olabiyi.
Booked: Lowry, Leahy, Grimmer, Allen.
Exeter City: Whitworth, Dean (Aitchison), Turns, Fitzwater, Swinkels (Rydel), Niskanen, Doyle-Hayes, Brierley, Cox (Cummins), Magennis (Wareham).
Subs: Bycroft, Francis, Birch.
Booked: Dean, Niskanen, Fitzwater.
Referee: B Atkinson
Attendance: 4,661 (372 away)