Exeter City cruise to comfortable victory over Stevenage

Exeter City cruise to comfortable victory over Stevenage


Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell was left delighted with the Grecians’ performance as they strolled to a convincing and comfortable 2-0 win over Stevenage. City eased to victory and cruised to all three points at St James Park with early goals in each half.

Ed Francis continued his hot streak in front of goal for the Grecians when he hooked home a strike from a corner in the eighth minute to put City ahead. Kamari Doyle doubled the lead though early in the second half when he rifled home from close range.

The Grecians had chances to make the scoreline more emphatic, but settled for just the two against woeful opposition who offered next to nothing all afternoon as they bounced back from the disappointing stoppage-time defeat at Blackpool last Saturday. City rose to 11th in the League One table, just two points off the top six.

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“It was a massive result,” Caldwell said. “We knew it would be awkward and full of chaos and first contacts, second balls, and there was a foul every 20 seconds. I must have been a great watch on Sky!

Gary Caldwell, Manager of Exeter City celebrates after winning with his goalscorer Ed Francis of Exeter City and Kamari Doyle of Exeter City during the Sky Bet League 1 match between Exeter City and Stevenage at St James Park, Devon on 21 September 2024. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
Gary Caldwell, Manager of Exeter City celebrates after winning with his goalscorer Ed Francis of Exeter City and Kamari Doyle of Exeter City during the Sky Bet League 1 match between Exeter City and Stevenage at St James Park, Devon on 21 September 2024. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

“We tried to play our best and had moments where we played really good football. We scored from a set piece again which we have been working on, it gets us the lead in the game and the second goal which is all important as in other games we have lost we didn’t get it, but we got it today.

“We started the game well on the front foot, created a lot of set pieces, had four or five and the momentum and quality told, and then for the first 20 minutes of the second half, had our best spell in the game and that second goal effectively killed the game off.

“But I said to the players I still think there is more. We can be much better as individuals and as a tram, but it is the sign of a good team and our progression that when not fully firing we can still win a game fairly comfortably.

“Our big thing was game management. We had great ownership and discussed it with the players and staff and we try to learn from every game, and the players drove their own standards and learning from the disappointment from last week. There are still areas we can improve, but where we are is a brilliant place to be. I will continually push and drive them to be better and a good thing for them even if at times they look at me as if I am a mad Scotsman!

Caldwell made just one change from the side who were beaten 2-1 at Blackpool last Saturday. Francis came into the starting line-up, with Millenic Alli dropping to the bench. Also on the bench was new signing Mustapha Carayol, who signed on Friday. There was no Reece Cole in the squad with the midfielder not fully fit.

City were slow to get going as Stevenage had a couple of early chances from set pieces. But that was as good as it got for the visitors as Exeter took an early lead when City’s pressure from a flurry of corners paid off. Doyle whipped in a corner with pace, Josh Magennis won the header and nodded it down, and from two yards out, Francis hooked the ball over his head and into the net.

Goal celebrations for Ed Francis of Exeter City during the Sky Bet League 1 match between Exeter City and Stevenage at St James Park, Devon on 21 September 2024. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
Goal celebrations for Ed Francis of Exeter City during the Sky Bet League 1 match between Exeter City and Stevenage at St James Park, Devon on 21 September 2024. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

Magennis could have made it two on the half-hour. Ilmari Niskanen drove forward down the right hand side. He found Doyle, who played a lovely reverse ball to the Northern Ireland international. The striker had time to pick his spot from ten yards out, but he dragged the effort just wide of the far post. Jack McMillan then put a good chance wide in stoppage-time, but Exeter fully deserved their 1-0 lead at the break.

Within five minutes of the second half, and with their first foray forward, City doubled the lead. Niskanen broke down the right after a sweeping move, the Finn cut the ball back from the byline to Doyle, who took a touch, and then lashed the finish from eight yards out into the roof of the net. It was a stunning finish from a player who had been running the show.

Goal celebrations for Kamari Doyle of Exeter City during the Sky Bet League 1 match between Exeter City and Stevenage at St James Park, Devon on 21 September 2024. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
Goal celebrations for Kamari Doyle of Exeter City during the Sky Bet League 1 match between Exeter City and Stevenage at St James Park, Devon on 21 September 2024. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

Alli and Francis had chances to extend the lead and make it more comfortable, but a third goal didn’t come, while it took until the 89 th minute for Stevenage to have a shot on target, when Luther James-Wilden snuck in around the back from a free-kick, but tamely volley into Joe Whitworth’s arms. It was as easy an afternoon as City have had all season as they strolled to victory.

“Tristan a cut on his lip which is tremendous and I said to him in 10/15 years he’ll look like me and a transformation from what he looks like now,” Caldwell joked! “But he was superb today and the whole backline was and that gave us a platform.

“He will get plenty more cuts and that pretty face will look worse when he is retired. Clean sheets is something we have to get better at, and Joe breeds confidence through the team and deserves the clean sheet. We want to keep winning and put a run of games where we don’t feel defeat.”

Exeter City are back in action on Tuesday night when they host Tottenham Hotspur U21s in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy. “We have to be bang at it to get a result and keep the momentum going, but we will pick a team capable of winning as we are taking it seriously,” the manager added.