City 2 Grimsby Town 0

Exeter City took all three points in Sky Bet League Two as they beat Grimsby Town 2-0 at St James Park.

Jayden Stockley got City's first of the afternoon in the first half with a tidy finish at the back post, before Liam McAlinden confirmed the victory with an excellent finish in the second half.

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Paul Tisdale made two changes to the side that beat Heybridge Swifts in the FA Cup last weekend, as Lee Holmes and Liam McAlinden replaced the suspended Lloyd James and striker Reuben Reid.

The Grecians started the opening minutes well with Holmes delivering some dangerous crosses from set-plays.

Both central defenders, Troy Brown at Jordan Moore-Taylor, had opportunities with headers early on, but were unable to force their efforts past James McKeown in the Grimsby goal.

City continued to dominate possession in the opening 20 minutes, consistently looking for the likes of Jayden Stockley and the spritely McAlinden in the Town box in blustery conditions.

But Tisdale’s side made their good start count on 27 minutes when they took the lead through Stockley.

The lively Holmes took a quick free-kick with Dean Moxey, before cutting in on his right foot to curl a cross towards goal, and the City number 11 was on hand at the back post to knock the ball in from close range.

Pierce Sweeney then had a good opportunity to double City’s lead on 38 minutes when he won possession back in the centre of the field and unleashed an effort from distance which edged just over the Town goal.

The away side had to wait until the 41st minute to create their first meaningful chances when they forced Christy Pym into two saves.

The first, a good clearance from a dangerous corner, but the City keeper had to be at his best as he tipped over from Sam Jones’ close range header to keep the scores level going into the break.

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