Wrexham 3 Exeter City 0 - Grecians suffer heaviest defeat of season

It was no Welcome to Wrexham for Exeter City as the Grecians suffered their heaviest defeat of the season against the Welsh outfit. The Hollywood backed side owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney ran out comfortable 3-0 winners as they returned to winning ways.

A series of early corners paid dividends as with seven minutes gone, Wrexham took the lead as Max Cleworth was left unmarked to head home. The lead was doubled midway through the first half when Ollie Palmer ended his goal drought when no-one picked up the big striker from a cross.

The Grecians were much improved after the break and threatened to stage a comeback. But those hopes were extinguished 20 minutes from time when again they were undone from a set piece as Oliver Rathbone headed in from a corner.

The victory for Wrexham ended a run of just one victory in six as the side with now the best defensive record in League One rose up to second in the table, with a seventh win from eight at home.. Exeter, who have now won one of the last five in the league, drop down to 11^th.

After the 0-0 draw with Lincoln City last weekend, Gary Caldwell made three changes to his Exeter City side, with all three players who missed out while being on international duty returning. Ilmari Niskanen, Kamari Doyle and Josh Magennis were all back in the starting line-up, with Vincent Harper dropping down to the bench.

Millenic Alli was not in the squad, nor was the suspended Ryan Woods after his red card. Kevin McDonald was among the substitutes after re-joining the Grecians last week.

On a miserable day in Wales as Storm Bert hit, with both sides having to contend with wind and rain, it was inside the first 30 seconds when City had the first chance when they stole the ball straight from kick-off, but Jack Aitchison's effort was blocked.

But it was Wrexham who took an early lead after pressure from a series of corners eventually told. From the fourth in quick succession, Cleworth was left unmarked at the near post to head home what was his fifth goal of the season which broke the deadlock.

City rallied and both Jack McMillan and Caleb Watts saw efforts go off-target, before Niskanen who broke an offside trap saw his effort blocked by a sprawling defender. But from another corner, the Dragons thought they had doubled the lead. James McLean’s corner was swung in and caused chaos, Elliot Lee headed the ball back across goal and Oliver Rathbone from a yard out poked the ball into the net. The celebrations were cut short by the offside flag – as City got away with one as the ball would have gone in anyway had Rathbone not touched it.

The second goal though did come shortly after in the 25^th minute. A cross was swung in from deep by Ryan Barnett and Ollie Palmer rose highest, getting between Tristan Crama and Pierce Sweeney who left the striker to each other, and from six yards out, he headed home his third of the season to end a 12-game goal drought.

McLean had a decent shout for a penalty for a handball waved away, before just before the break, City thought they had one back. Ed Francis slotted Watts through on goal and he clipped home a beautiful finish, only for the Australian’s celebrations to be cut short by the offside flag being raised. It looked tight. But Exeter went in 2-0 down having struggled to impose themselves on the game.

Caldwell made one change at the break and switched things up as defender Ben Purrington was replaced by Sonny Cox, as City went two-up top. With his first involvement, the sub saw a shot deflected behind for a corner. Palmer almost then diverted a corner into his own net as the Grecians were much improved, with Aitchison forcing a brilliant save out of Callum Burton, before he then denied Magennis from the set piece.

Demi Mitchell replaced Watts with City’s second change as they continued to push for something in the game. But with Wrexham’s first real foray forward in the second half, in the 72^nd minute, they secured the win. McLean’s corner was whipped into the near post, Rathbone rose highest, and powered the header home to make it 3-0 and end the game as a contest.

McDonald and Jay Bird replaced Aitchison and Doyle, but it was Phil Parkinson’s men who nearly got a fourth, Paul Mullin volleying just over late on as the hosts secured all three points.

Exeter City are back in action on Tuesday night when they host Birmingham City.

Exeter City: (3-4-3) - Joe Whitworth, Pierce Sweeney, Tristan Crama, Ben Purrington (Sonny Cox, 45), Caleb Watts (Demetri Mitchell, 60), Jack McMillan, Ed Francis, Ilmari Niskanen, Jack Aitchison, (Kevin McDonald, 66) Kamari Doyle (Jay Bird, 76), Josh Magennis (Vincent Harper, 85)

Subs: Shaun MacDonald, Jack Fitzwater,

Booking: Watts, Aitchison