Match report: Exeter City 3 Northampton Town 2

Grecians go second with victory over in-form Northampton Town! A rapid second-half riposte with goals from Aaron Martin and Alex Fisher saw Exeter City come from behind to beat Northampton Town 3-2 at St James Park on Saturday afternoon.

Grecians boss Matt Taylor made a single change from last Saturday’s 2-2 draw at home to Hartlepool - Alex Fisher replacing Ben Seymour, who dropped to the bench.

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Ryan Bowman had the first chance of the game after eight minutes with a surging run from deep, and the visitors stood off him and allowed the striker to get a shot away, but unfortunately for the Grecians it curled narrowly wide. Nigel Atangana crossed for Fisher a couple of minutes later, but it wasn’t anything more than a half-chance and the latter’s effort flew over the bar.

The visitors then had a great chance to open the scoring as Vadaine Oliver crossed from the left-hand side, and Andy Williams was in a yard of space but the forward could only head over Jonny Maxted’s goal with 24 minutes on the clock. The Grecians responded, with Law, Bowman and Fisher combining to produce a shooting opportunity for the latter, though his effort on the half-volley deflected out for a corner that ultimately came to nothing.

A slip from Dean Moxey then produced a further chance on the counter for the Cobblers, but a last-ditch block from Archie Collins spared his teammate’s blushes as City recovered. The visitors would take the lead, however, as City failed to clear their lines following Nicky Adams’ corner, and the ball eventually fell to Cobblers’ captain Charlie Goode, who smashed home from the edge of the box.

City responded well, and Nicky Law fired a volley towards Cornell’s goal after Ryan Bowman won an aerial duel, although the effort was wide of Cornell’s left-hand post. It was a sign of things to come, however, and the Grecians were soon level – a free-kick routine saw Randell Williams presented with the chance to cut inside onto his right foot, and the winger fired a superb effort into the bottom corner to level the scores after 38 minutes.

Goode had an opportunity late at the end of the first-half, again from a set-piece, but headed wide as the two sides went in level at half-time.

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