Exeter City end 15-match winless run

Match Report: Exeter City 3-0 Doncaster

A beautiful, sunny Easter Monday in Devon, and where better to spend it than St James’ Park for the League One fixture between Exeter City and Doncaster Rovers. 

It had been a difficult few months for the Grecians, so this was a good opportunity to pick up much needed points. The team sat 21st in the league before this match - in the relegation zone - and three points off Wigan in 20th having played a game more. 

Doncaster at 17th were seven points clear of Exeter, but neither team's safety is guaranteed.

It was an even start to the first half, but Rovers’ winger Luke Molyneaux had the first opportunity, firing just wide on the seven-minute mark.

City eventually got to grips with things and began to exploit gaps in the final third, getting into some threatening positions. Forward Jayden Wareham forced Thimothee Lo-Tutala into a couple of saves, as well as narrowly missing the target from a 40-yard chip.

Minutes before half-time, deadlock was broken thanks to Wareham. Some nice play by Carlos Mendes Gomes created space for Reece Cole, who slid the ball nicely through to Wareham. He in turn picked his spot and slotted the ball away. 

At 1-0, and with the league position critical, this could be a big moment in Exeter’s season.

Doncaster didn’t finish the first half quite as strongly. When Molyneaux was penalised for a foul throw on the halfway line, it summed up their fist half, and is not to be expected at this level of football. 

Half Time: Exeter City 1-0 Doncaster Rovers

Doncaster knocked the ball about with a more urgency as the second half got under way, with them forcing Exeter's goalkeeper Jack Bycroft into some fine saves.

However, for all of Doncaster’s possession, Exeter scored again. The ball was thrown into the box from the right-hand side where Josh Magennis let it drop for volley into the bottom left corner. At 2-0 to Exeter, the Big Bank was rocking. 

On another day, Doncaster might have been sparked to life by going another goal down, but disappointingly for the away fans, this was not the case. Jayden Wareham scored his second in the 84th minute, smashing home from a corner past the onrushing Thimothee Lo-Tutala and sealing a huge three points for Exeter City.

Full Time: Exeter City 3-0 Doncaster Rovers. 

Exeter remain in the bottom four, just two points behind 20th place Blackpool, but with a new hope formed. Doncaster Rovers are perhaps starting to look over their shoulder as the result thrusts them closer into the relegation picture. 

Exeter boss Matt Taylor was happy with the performance. He told th Exeter City website: “There was no bigger game than today. That was a must-win game and they’ve delivered on the biggest stage."

He continued: "The goal-scorers will get the headlines but I’m so pleased as a collective today.”

If City can repeat this performance, League One survival is certainly possible. The next match is the Devon Derby at Plymouth's Home Park. It a huge game at both ends of the table.