Exeter City hang on to earn all 3 points

Report: Accrington 2 Exeter City 3

Exeter City got back to winning ways at the Crown Ground with an entertaining 3-2 win against Accrington Stanley.

City had to survive a fightback from their hosts, who showed resilience after going three goals behind. But Exeter also showed their mettle to ensure all three points would travel back to the south.

Tom Nichols, on his first start of the season, had the Grecians 2-0 up within 11 minutes before Alan Gow added another during the first half.

Goals either side of the interval by Peter Murphy and Kai Naismith for Accrington had City on the back-foot, and Gow’s missed penalty after a foul on Nichols in the area made things look precarious.

But City showed defensive solidity and quality to see out a much-needed win.

Paul Tisdale selected five homegrown players in the starting XI to face Stanley, with Nichols making his first start of the season and Jordan Moore-Taylor and Scot Bennett as the centre-half partnership.

Pat Baldwin was only deemed fit enough for the bench and in the absence of the injured Danny Coles, Bennett was handed the captain’s armband.

And with an intensity about their play, it took the Grecians no time at all to race into a lead through a two-goal salvo from Nichols.

Nichols’ first came as he was released to break the offside trap by a swinging forward ball and, seeing Marcus Bettinelli advancing off his line, calmly lifted a left-footed lob over the stopper.

His second, minutes later, was slightly more intricate as Alan Gow flicked a cute pass into the striker’s path and there was only going to be one outcome with Nichols bearing down on goal. He was typically decisive with his finish.

Liam Sercombe could have made it three when he nicked the ball on the right flank and opted to shoot when he had Gow and Nichols as options in the centre. Tom Aldred recovered to block well.

And at the other end, the hosts wasted a glorious chance to cut the deficit as Danny Webber nicked the ball away from Moore-Taylor – the former Sheffield United man should have buried his chance but Artur Krysiak read the shot and held low.

Moments later the Grecians had opened up a three-goal margin – Nichols’ persistence won a throw-in deep in Stanley territory, and the strike came as Gow slipped clear of his marker and wrapped a strong left boot around it to beat Bettinelli, who got hands to the ball but couldn’t keep it out.

Stanley were threatening sporadically, and finally found there goal as Kai Naismith worked some space for a left-footed cross from the right flank – Murphy glanced a fine header into the corner to cut the shortfall to two.

Teenager Matt Grimes missed the target and missed a chance to re-establish the cushion with a right-footed strike after neat interplay down the left by Nichols, Gow and Arron Davies.

Half-time: Accrington Stanley 1 Exeter City 3