Dominant Exeter beat Cambridge

City rise in League One table

Exeter hosted Cambridge in League One, searching for a win following a fallow few weeks.

A solid City display was enough to hold the visitors to take all three points. No Exeter player put a foot wrong, showing aggression and character,

Central midfielders Archie Collins and Kevin McDonald got onto the scoresheet: a header from Collins; a half-volley by McDonald from near the edge of the box.

The game started evenly, with both sides having the ball and not doing much with it. Each suffered some misplaces passes and overhit a few, but gradually Exeter built momentum.

It took 17 minutes for Exeter to move on their first attack with McDonald and midfield partner Harry Kite both shooting, both unsuccessfully. 

Not too long after, Exeter’s centre back Pierce Sweeny's beautiful cross met a leaping Archie Collins to head it home to give Exeter the lead.

This gave the Grecians the confidence they needed and they came close to doubling their lead in the 26th minute after a deflected Collins shot was parried in the air by Cambridge keeper Dimitar Mitov straight to Exeter centre forward Sam Nombe, although Mitov recovered in time to catch the ball. 

Exeter created the majority of chances in the first half, but Cambridge came back with what they thought was a goal of their own from striker Joe Ironside, which was ruled out for offside.

The fist half ended 1-0 in the Grecians' favour.

Exeter's lead doubled thanks to McDonald when a pass from Collins enabled his to curl the ball into the Cambridge net.

 The last big moment of the match was again from McDonald where half volley was heading for the back of the net only for Cambridge right wing back Liam Bennet to heads it off the line.

Before the game Exeter manager Gary Caldwell had hoped to see more crosses and shots from his team - and although City made 16 shots, only 28 per cent of their crosses were accurate. 

This win moves Exeter up to twelfth. The next game is at Wycombe on Saturday.