Exeter City 0 Newport County 1: Match report

A wonder strike from Tom Owen-Evans sent Exeter City to their first defeat in five games as they lost 1-0 at home to Newport County AFC.

City had the better chances in the first half, with David Wheeler going close on a few occasions, but struggled to create any clearcut openings in the second half after falling behind despite the introductions of Matt Oakley, Jack Stacey and Ollie Watkins from the substitutes' bench.

Grecians manager Paul Tisdale made two changes to the side that had beaten Mansfield Town last time out. Into the starting XI came Reuben Reid, who scored a 97th-minute winner at Field Mill, along with Jordan Tillson. That saw Watkins and Stacey both drop to the bench.

In an even first-half it was City who went close to opening the scoring first as a ball fell kindly to Ryan Harley in the area and he fired towards goal. However, former teammate Scot Bennett was in the right place to head clear with Joe Day beaten in the County goal.

Three minutes later and Dan Butler, who got forward well from left wing-back, hit an angled drive towards the near post that warmed the gloves of City keeper Christy Pym.

Wheeler was City's most potent threat in the first half as he headed a Lloyd James cross and a corner on target. However, he had neither enough direction or power in either effort to worry Day too much in the County goal.

Reuben Reid then headed another corner just over before the half ended with Ryan Bird glancing a cross off target for the visitors.

Read the full report here.