Exeter City stumble against AFC Wimbledon

Report: AFC Wimbledon 2 Exeter City 1

Exeter City were defeated 2-1 at the hands of AFC Wimbledon at Kingsmeadow in an entertaining but ultimately disappointing fixture.

The frustration was compounded because City had taken an early lead through a Jack Midson own-goal, heading Matt Grimes’ corner into his own net.

But Luke Moore levelled the game before the interval from close range, before Dons striker Midson earned his redemption by turning in a low cross 15 minutes from time as the turnaround was completed.

Added to the result, the sight of Grimes having to be withdraw at the interval after suffering a really poor tackle by Sammy Moore was equally unedifying.

Liam Sercombe was a late casualty for the game after picking up a knock in training during the week, while Alan Gow and Pat Baldwin both took seats on the bench to begin.

A young-look squad also featured Jimmy Keohane in midfield, with Tom Nichols once again retaining his place leading the line.

And when the opening goal came in the third minute, it already felt like it had been coming. The Grecians had been spritely since kick-off and Grimes and Matt Gill linked up nicely before the former drew a save from Ross Worner with a powerful shot.

Grimes forced Worner into action again from the resultant corner as he palmed around his near post, but he was powerless to do anything from the next flag-kick as Midson inadvertently nodded past his own teammate for a City lead.

It almost got even better for the Grecians when Jordan Moore-Taylor, who had retained his left-back berth, swung in a beautiful cross for Keohane, but the midfielder’s acrobatic volley fizzed just over the crossbar.

The Wombles had been struggling to score on their own patch before the Grecians rolled into town – and Artur Krysiak was doing his utmost to continue that misery. Alan Bennett rose well at the far post to a cross from deep on the right, and his fingertips were called into action.

The play ebbed and flowed with both sides taking turn to make inroads into each other’s half. Exeter could have doubled the advantage but David Wheeler and Davies both had efforts blocked out.

Another chance went begging as a cool Grimes pass sent Keohane away, and the Irishman found his midfield teammate Davies, but the Welshman curled his effort straight into the hands of the goalkeeper. And debutant Darren Jones appeared to haul Nichols to goal in the area but the referee wasn’t interested.

The Wombles left Exeter ruing missed chances when they found and equalising goal before the interval. Charlie Wyke somehow came away with the ball near the left-hand corner-flag and made a beeline for the penalty area, and a ball slipped across the face of goal allowed Luke Moore to slot in from under the bar.

The goalscorer’s namesake Sammy Moore was lucky to be remain on the pitch after a poorly-timed lunging tackle just before the interval, which called physio Andy Proctor into action. Teenager Grimes was the victim, and wasn’t so fortunate as to be able to emerge after the interval.

Half-time: AFC Wimbledon 1 Exeter City 1