Exeter City 3 Morecambe 1

Exeter City scored two late goals to beat Morecambe 3-1 at St James Park and move up to fifth in the League Two table.

The Grecians took the lead in the first few minutes of the second half having had the lion's share of chances. However, they were then pegged back by a superb volley from Kevin Ellison and needed a penalty from substitute Reuben Reid to put them back in front before Liam McAlinden put the gloss on an excellent day by firing home with virtually the last kick of the match.

City manager Paul Tisdale made four changes to the starting XI up from the defeat at Cambridge United. Out went Luke Croll, Troy Archibald-Henville, Lloyd James and Reuben Reid and in came Jordan Tillson, Ethan Ampadu, Troy Brown and David Wheeler.

In a first-half of very few opportunities, it was Exeter who had the better chances in the opening period. Morecambe began the match brightly, enjoying most of the possession in the opening five minutes, but having soaked up some early pressure Jake Taylor managed to steal possession in midfield before hitting a shot that deflected off Dean Winnard and into the side-netting.

Taylor was at the heart of the action again on 23 minutes as he nutmegged Aaron McGowan before fizzing in a near post cross that David Wheeler flicked just wide. 

Wheeler then had a close-range effort blocked after the ball had dropped kindly to him eight yards out following a failed acrobatic attempt from Taylor.

Joel Grant also looked lively in the first half and, after a crunching tackle from Wheeler set him in on goal, he fired an effort from 20 yards that Daniel Nizic, in the Morecambe goal, did well to get down to and stop.

Ollie Watkins then had an effort on target, following another good run from Grant, before Ethan Ampadu swiveled and fired an effort just wide a minute before the break.

At the other end, despite a fair bit of territory for the visitors, Christy Pym remained untested in the City goal going into the break.

Read the full match report here.