Familiar scoreline as Exeter City win again

Match report: Exeter City 2 Wycombe 1

Exeter City came from behind to defeat league leaders Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 at St James Park.

Despite trailing to an early Peter Murphy goal, the Grecians responded well through a well-taken goal by David Wheeler after Graham Cummins had a shot saved.

And in the second half it was captain Scot Bennett that hammered in from close range to complete the turnaround and secure the points.

Liam Sercombe missed out injured in the only change, with David Wheeler stepping into the starting XI and Ollie Watkins taking a seat on the bench.

After a minute’s applause to celebrate the life of Arnold Mitchell, the visiting Chairboys kicked off and went immediately on the attack and trying to stretch centre-half and captain Scot Bennett down their inside-right channel.

Parity lasted until just the sixth minute when the Chairboys went ahead through Murphy. It was a cross from the left flank by Sam Wood which found the forehead of the midfielder, who guided his effort inside the far post to give the visitors a lead.

The deficit served to galvanise the Grecians, who twice went close to grabbing an equaliser within minutes. First Craig Woodman flighted a ball from deep into the path of Wheeler, but he couldn’t quite control as it dropped to him in the box, and then a dissecting ball from Matt Grimes found the run of Graham Cummins, who dragged a shot narrowly wide of the far post as the angle narrowed.

Only the fingertips of Christy Pym prevented the Chairboys extending the lead before the 20-minute mark, as Max Kretzschmar caught Matt Grimes in possession in the City half – he set away Paul Hayes with a first-time ball and the striker was denied by a stretching save by the City stopper.

Wheeler almost earned a fortuitous goal with sheer tenacity – his mazy run was ended as he overran the ball, but he closed down goalkeeper Matt Ingram well. The stopper’s clearance cannoned off Wheeler’s legs and mercifully over the bar.

But it was indeed Wheeler that got the leveller; Cummins was played through onside by Wheeler and the striker saw his initial shot saved, but the former Staines man was alive to follow in and hammered home in front of the Big Bank with 26 minutes played.

The Chairboys could well have gone ahead for a second time as full-back Joe Jacobson sent in a low shot from the left which almost rounded off a great attacking move, but captain Bennett scrambled back to clear off the line.

It was almost a quick turnaround for Exeter as Woodman released Wheeler down the left – he delivered a low ball for Jimmy Keohane, whose first-time effort was inadvertently blocked by Cummins, and on the follow-up Grimes shot over the crossbar.

Half-time: Exeter City 1 Wycombe Wanderers 1