Exeter City earn huge three points in comfortable Shrewsbury Town victory

Exeter City picked up a huge three points as they comfortably beat struggling Shrewsbury Town to ease their relegation fears. Goals in either half gave the Grecians a 2-0 win at St James Park as they moved to seven points clear of the bottom four and are now unbeaten in three.

Josh Magennis had missed a great chance to break the deadlock when he saw his penalty saved by Jamal Blackman. But from the resulting corner, City went ahead as Caleb Watts squeezed a header in off the post and just over the line for his first goal since the opening day of the season.

Demetri Mitchell on the volley doubled the lead early in the second half as he struck a sweetly timed effort from just inside the box. It was a brilliant finish and deserving of winning a game – as City cruised to the three points.

The victory saw Exeter rise to 18 ^th in the League One table, and now the gap to 21 ^st Burton Albion is now seven, with City having two games in hand. Shrewsbury, who are winless in seven, stay bottom, now 11 from safety and looking doomed.

“It was a great result and it was a very difficult game,” manager Gary Caldwell said. “It is never easy to play games of this magnitude in terms of the league placings and at this time of the season, every point is crucial.

“It was a huge result, the clean sheet is really pleasing, and we created big chances of our own and could have scored more. At 2-0 it was fairly comfortable in the end and a huge three points.

“I thought the mentality of the group and the quality we showed at times was very good, we could have scored more goals if we had shown a bit more composure and a bit more quality but why we didn’t is understandable at this moment. We showed great mentality, team spirit, and the togetherness of the group has really grown. I am delighted for the players as they are showing much and getting the rewards.

“A key thing was a clean sheet and I think the defenders and Joe (Whitworth, goalkeeper) were the foundation for this victory. The more clean sheets we get in our remaining games, the more points we can pick up and, like I have always said, make this a successful season.

“When asked to defend we stood up to that. We wanted it to be more comfortable but we had that bit of quality in the final third.”

After the 0-0 draw at Reading on Tuesday night, Caldwell made just one change to his Exeter City team. Pat Jones came in for only his second start of the season, replacing Jack Aitchison who dropped to the bench, in what was the only alteration to the 18 man squad.

The visitors had the first chance. Luca Hoole pounced on a poor clearance and drove into the box, but flashed his finish over the crossbar. City’s first chance came on the break as Mitchell found Magennis, the skipper teased in a cross, but Watts on the stretch just couldn’t get a touch on it. The pair combined again moments later, but the Australian put the half volley just over.

In the 28 ^th minute, the Grecians had a golden chance to go ahead. Jones tried to get on the end of a bouncing ball but Josh Feeney shoved him over. It looked a bit soft, but referee Tony Parsons pointed to the spot. Up stepped Magennis, but former Grecian Jamal Blackman guessed correctly, diving to his left, to save the spot-kick.

The reprieve was short-lived though, as City took the lead from the resulting corner. Ryan Trevitt swung it in and Alex Hartridge and Ben Purrington both scuffed at effort. Hartridge then nodded the ball back towards goal, Watts’ flicked on a header that crept past the dive of Blackman, in off the post, and just over the line before it could be cleared. It was scrappy, but they all count, as City led 1-0.

Moments into the second half, it was 2-0. Hartridge launched a long-throw into the box which was only half headed away to Mitchell. The 28-year-old struck his volley sweetly into the bottom corner of the net for a sixth goal of the season and to double the lead and ease nerves and make it more comfortable.

Salop had a good chance for a penalty when George Lloyd seemingly was fouled in the box. It looked like a foul, but referee Parsons waved it away, albeit Lloyd seemed to be in an offside position anyway. Trevitt had half a chance to make it three when a Blackman clearance was straight to the Brentford loanee, but he couldn’t get the ball out from under his feet to take aim.

Callum Stewart off the bench missed a sitter for the Shrews, hitting the ball from yards out, although an offside flag spared his blushes. Whitworth made a fingertip save to deny Hoole as the visitors finally showed some attacking intent. But as they pushed, City should have had a third. Harper picked out Magennis with a cross, but the striker couldn’t get a clean connection on what looked like a tap-in.

It mattered little as Exeter fully deserved their 2-0 win. It was only a second win in 13 in the league, and a first at home since Boxing Day, but it is just one loss in the last five, and City are unbeaten since their four-day trip to La Manga at the end of February.

“The team came back with a different mindset and have to continue that form,” Caldwell added. “Where we finish in this league table is really open and we have to keep on pushing to finish as high as we possibly can. It is one defeat in the last five games now, positivity is coming into the group, the togetherness is coming into the group and there is a real spirit amongst everyone.”

Up next to City is a home game against Mansfield Town on Tuesday night. If City beat the Stags, who are 13 without a win, nine of which have been defeats, they will go 16 ^th and ten points above the relegation zone.