Stockport County 2 Exeter City 0 - Grecians slip to tame defeat

Exeter City are now without a win in five League One outings after the Grecians tamely slipped to defeat at Stockport County. City failed to have a shot on goal at Edgeley Park as Tristan Crama’s own goal and then a Louis Barry penalty gave Stockport a 2-0 win.

Barry fired into the side netting in the early stages for Stockport, while Caleb Watts headed wide from a corner for the Grecians in a first half that was short on any real action in either goalmouth. Callum Camps hit the post for County as they began to take control.

And midway through the second half they got the goal albeit in fortuitous circumstances. Lewis Bate found Kyle Wootton and his strike was parried away by Joe Whitworth, but only onto the shins of Crama who could do nothing about it and the ball rebounded into his own net.

Crama brought down Barry in the box in the dying stages as City pushed for an equalizer and left themselves open. Barry stepped up himself and converted the spot-kick to seal the three points. The victory for the Hatters saw them stay fifth in the League One table as they bounced back from a midweek loss. For Exeter, they stayed 11^th, but it is now just one win in eight in the league in the midst of a tough run of fixtures.

Following the 2-2 draw with league leaders Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday night which halted their 11 game winning streak, Gary Caldwell made four changes to the Exeter City side. Ryan Woods was back from suspension and returned, as did skipper Pierce Sweeney after injury. Watts and Vincent Harper also were given starts.

Jack Fitzwater and Josh Magennis dropped down to the bench, where they were joined by Reece Cole and Demetri Mitchell on their returns from injury. Kevin McDonald and Jake Richards though were not in the matchday 18.

The blustery conditions caused by Storm Darragh were making it difficult for both sides to keep the ball, but it was Stockport who fashioned the first chance in the early stages. Barry danced into the box as he attacked down the left, but he sliced the finish into the side netting. Jay Mingi had half a shout for a penalty when he took on Harper in the box, but the referee waved the appeals away.

City’s first chance came in the 13^th minute, and it was a good one. Ed Francis swung in a corner that swirled in the wind, Watts was free at the back post, but from inside the six yard box, he headed wide. He should have at least hit the target.

Wootton put a good chance from close range wide after he was picked out by Barry’s cross. But with conditions proving difficult, clear cut chances for either outfit were at a premium with goalkeepers not being called into action, and when there was a lengthy stoppage after Fraser Horsfall was forced off injured, the rhythm was interrupted again. Oliver Norwood replaced him, and his first involvement saw the sub drag a strike from 20 yards wide.

It was 0-0 at half-time, and neither manager made a change at the break, but Caldwell was forced into his first alteration early in the second half when Harper limped off injured, Magennis the man who replaced him. Barry again was County’s most likely threat to goal but the Aston Villa loanee tripped over his feet after a mazy run into the box before he could get a shot off.

The Hatters though were growing in confidence and were inches away from leading just before the hour. Camps’ curling effort from the edge of the box saw Whitworth rooted to the spot. But thankfully for the Grecians, the strike struck the base of the post and rebounded to safety. Cole then replaced Watts.

Barry had another effort on goal after Crama’s poor clearance went straight to the 21-year-old, but Whitworth kept out his tame effort. In the 67^th minute though, Stockport broke the deadlock. A well-worked move found Wootton on the edge of the area. His shot wasn’t the best, but Whitworth could only parry it into the unfortunate Crama. The ball struck the Frenchman and rebounded into the net to the Grecians’ despair.

City were perhaps fortunate to not concede a penalty in the next passage of play. Callum Connolly broke into the area and seemed to be clipped by Whitworth as he went around the goalkeeper. Referee Scott Oldham was unmoved though as he gave a goal kick.

Mitchell and Kamari Doyle replaced Ilmari Niskanen and Woods with City’s last changes as they looked to rescue something, having failed to have a shot on target in the first 80 minutes. Doyle with his first touch came close, but from 25 yards, fired narrowly wide of Ben Hinchliffe’s far post. At the other end, Whitworth made a smart save at the near post to deny Barry.

In the 87^th minute though, as City pushed forward, they were caught on the break. Barry danced into the box and Crama’s desperate attempt to stop him saw him bring him down, and this time the penalty was given. Up he stepped, and he sent Whitworth the wrong way to make it 2-0 and seal the win.

Six minutes were added-on, but it made no difference, as Exeter were beaten on the road for the third successive time, as they failed to have a shot on target all afternoon.

Exeter City are back in action on Tuesday night when they host Birmingham City in the EFL Trophy last 32. The Grecians then host Barnsley in League One at St James Park on Saturday.

Exeter City: (4-4-2) - Joe Whitworth, Caleb Watts (Reece Cole, 64), Pierce Sweeney, Tristan Crama, Ed Francis, Ilmari Niskanen (Demetri Mitchell, 81), Jack McMillan, Ryan Woods (Kamari Doyle, 81), Vincent Harper (Josh Magennis, 53), Millenic Alli, Jack Aitchison

Subs. Shaun McDonald, Jack Fitzwater, Sonny Cox,

Booking: Harper, Watts, Woods