Exeter City up to seventh

Match report: Exeter City 2 Carlisle 0

Exeter City ran out comfortable 2-0 winners at home against Carlisle United.

After a goalless first period, Exeter came to life and wrapped up the result through goals by Scot Bennett midway through the half and Matt Grimes with a couple of minutes to spare.

The result – and a first home clean-sheet of the season – put the Grecians into seventh at the end of the afternoon, seeing Exeter occupy a play-off place for the first time in over a year.

David Wheeler and Bennett came back into the starting XI for the Grecians’ meeting with Carlisle United at St James Park and Tom Nichols and Graham Cummins, in consequence, took a seat on the bench.

Liam Sercombe also missed out injured, with Arron Davies covering in midfield, while former Exeter City centre-half Troy Archibald-Henville started in defence for the Cumbrians.

After a measured start from both sides with little to trouble either goalkeeper, left-back Craig Woodman found space to burst into – he strafed a ball towards Alex Nicholls but saw the delivery headed away, and when he received again he almost picked out the head of Wheeler until Danny Grainger headed behind.

Grainger was also trying to prove his usefulness in attack with his ability from the long throw, but the City defence were dealing with the aerial threat.

Wheeler came close to providing a delicate lay-off for Bennett – who was leading the line – as he knocked down from a Woodman ball, but it just evaded the front-man. Soon after Nicholls picked up in space and put in a ball which was just cut out before it reached Wheeler.

Carlisle were threatening chiefly through direct play and set-pieces, and former Grecian Archibald-Henville wasn’t far away when he rose highest to get his head to a corner.

At the other end, Wheeler got a yard ahead of Archibald-Henville to meet a cross from the left by captain Matt Oakley, and was unfortunate to see his header directed straight into the arms of Dan Hanford.

Hamon was forced into his first read save when a ball from the right by David Amoo found the run of Derek Asamoah on the penalty spot – he lashed an effort which was kept out by the body of the Guernseyman.

Christian Ribeiro came within inches of making it goals in consecutive games when he rose highest to meet a right-flank corner from Matt Grimes, but it was a last-ditch saving header off the line by Grainger that kept the game goalless for the moment.

Half-time: Exeter City 0 Carlisle United 0