City 2 Stevenage 1

Exeter City moved back up into the automatic promotion places as they recorded a 2-1 victory at home to Stevenage.

The Grecians were the better side for the majority of the match and deservedly led 2-0 midway through the second half through goals from Lloyd James and Pierce Sweeney, but the visitors kept battling and set up a nervy finish with a volley from Matt Godden 11 minutes from time.

MATCH REPORT SPONSORED BY SPEEDY FREIGHT

City manager Paul Tisdale made three changes to the side that beat Forest Green Rovers in an FA Cup replay on Tuesday night.

Out went the suspended Jordan Tillson, along with Dean Moxey and Dan Seaborne. In came Troy Archibald-Henville, Craig Woodman and Hiram Boateng.

City started the match the brighter of the two teams and had the first meaningful effort of the game when Boateng swung a free-kick into the box that Jayden Stockley volleyed goalward. Joe Fryer made a good save though and then got up off the floor to block Jake Taylor’s follow up effort.

Then, on 15 minutes, Pierce Sweeney swung a low cross into the box that McAlinden and Stockley were close to getting on the end of before, two minutes later, Ryan Harley hit an effort from 30 yards which Fryer saved.

Fryer continued his impressive game as he tipped a Sweeney shot out of his net and then saved a sweetly-struck volley from Harley.

The visitors then came close to going in front three minutes before the break, but thankfully Chris Whelpdale’s shot was inches wide of Christy Pym’s post.

Full match report HERE