City make it three in a row

Match report: Exeter City 2 Bury 1

Exeter City overturned league leaders Bury at St James Park, recording a 2-1 win to make it three wins on the bounce.

An early Matt Grimes free-kick had Exeter off to a flyer, but Tom Soares’ rocket after an hour had the teams all square.

But a close-range effort from substitute Jimmy Keohane with less than ten minutes remaining was the difference at the end, giving Exeter City’s hard-working side a well-earned three points at the Park.

Craig Woodman’s injury kept him out of the matchday squad for the meeting with Bury, while Scot Bennett and Danny Butterfield both return as starters. David Wheeler was also an injury doubt and took a place amongst the substitutes for the clash with the league leaders.

Connor Riley-Lowe was named amongst the substitutes as well for City, while Bury made a single change – former Grecian Daniel Nardiello starts in place of Danny Rose.

Captain Bennett began the game high upfield alongside the strike-force of Alex Nicholls and Graham Cummins, meaning a place at centre-half for the returning Butterfield alongside Jordan Moore-Taylor and Matt Oakley.

The visitors looked lively in attack and were breaking with real pace, but it was hosts Exeter that opened the scoring through a peach of free-kick from midfielder Grimes.

Nicholls, receiving from Arron Davies, turned and drew a foul just outside the area. And the 19-year-old hit a sweet free-kick that left goalkeeper Rob Lainton totally stranded to give City a fifth-minute lead.

Things just weren’t quite sticking for the Shakers, with things just squirming away at the last whenever they tried to play forward. When Ryan Lowe did manage to pick out Nicky Adams, the Bury man miscued and hit the ball into his own face.

After a prolonged spell of pressure from City, Davies came close to doubling the lead – he was set up on the left, he powered a shot with his laces that just flashed across goal and wide.

Bury began to show their attacking prowess and Nardiello was a key part of that. Just onside, he cut back for Danny Mayor but the Shakers man fluffed his effort.

Nardiello and Lowe then both tested the palms of Pym with shots, but the stopper was twice well-placed to pull out crucial saves.

At the other end, some smart build-up down the left from Cummins and Grimes allowed the latter to send in a low cross from the byline – Pablo Mills was just positioned well enough to just edge out Nicholls and prevent a tap-in from inside the six-yard box.

Play was stopped for an extended period before the break – Pym dived in at the feet of Lowe – who, unbeknownst to the stopper had already been flagged offside – and came out with a head injury. After a few minutes receiving treatment, the stopper was able to continue.

Half-time: Exeter City 1 Bury 0