A man-of-the-match performance from Kamari Doyle on his first league start inspired City to a 2-0 victory away at Bolton Wanderers.

The Brighton loanee opened the scoring just after the half hour mark when he scored from a free-kick he won 30 yards out. Then, moments after the game restarted for the second half, Doyle's corner was flicked on by Josh Magennis to meet Millenic Alli at the back post, who tapped into an empty net for two.

Resolute defending from the Grecians then held Bolton at arms' length for the next 45 minutes, with the Trotters coming closest through a rattled cross-bar, after Aaron Collins struck in the box.

On a sun-soaked afternoon in Greater Manchester, Gary Caldwell handed Kamari Doyle his first start since joining on loan from Brighton. He was the only change from lineup against Peterborough, replacing Reece Cole, who had struggled with injuries throughout the week but was fit enough for a seat on the bench.

City were the first to win a corner, just three minutes in. A smart pass from Jack Aitchison released Ilmari Niskanen down the right, and his low cross was deflected out of play by a defender. The resulting set-piece was swung towards an unmarked Jack McMillan at the back post, but the Wanderers’ keeper got a hand to it and pushed the ball out for a throw.

Bolton responded with some clever possession-based play, knocking the ball around City on the edge of the Grecians’ box, but they couldn’t find enough space to create a meaningful opportunity. After Pierce Sweeney committed a late challenge 35 yards out slightly to the left, the Trotters attempted to work a set-piece but could only direct a tame header wide of Joe Whitworth’s net.

The Crystal Palace loanee was first forced into a save just shy of the 15-minute mark, when a short corner was tapped around several attempted red and white interventions. John McAtee found space to the right of goal, but his low drive was held by Whitworth.

Wanderers continued to ramp up the pressure, and then won a free-kick out wide when Johnly Yfeko bundled over a winger. The low cross was half-cleared by Niskanen to the edge of the box, where Josh Dacres-Cogley’s shot luckily flew well over the bar for City.

Following a break in play when Whitworth required medical treatment, City began to settle and make inroads into Bolton’s half. A smart pass from Sweeney allowed Aitchison to win a corner, which was swung in by Doyle. The initial cross was cleared to the edge of the box, where Aitchison hit a teasing half-volley that was cut out by a defender just centimetres away from the lurking Josh Magennis. 

Doyle then had a chance of his own when he found some space on the top left corner of the penalty area, but his curling shot took a deflection off a defender to go off-target.

The Brighton loanee continued to be a thorn in Wanderers’ side and, just past the half-hour, his persistence paid off. Winning a free-kick 30 yards from goal in a central position, Doyle struck the ball perfectly over the wall and into the back of the net, putting City 1-0 up. 

Exeter began to purr after that goal, and Alli turning a defender inside out on the left, before flashing a ball across the six-yard box. Unfortunately, there was nobody there in red and white to tap it in.

Bolton still posed a threat, and the Grecians were fortunate to escape a close call when firstly Dion Charles sliced a volley, followed by McAtee skying the final chance of the half from just yards out. 

Second Half

To say City began the second half on top was an understatement. Sweeney sent in an early cross toward Alli, but the ball was headed behind for a corner. From the left, Doyle delivered the set piece to the near post, where Magennis flicked it on for Alli to tap into an empty net, doubling City's lead.

Bolton responded with a triple change from the bench, and immediately went on the attack, searching for a way back into the game. Defending a cross from the Trotters’ right, Tristan Crama timed a perfect interception to clear before a shot from George Johnston on the edge of City’s box was blocked by his own teammate. 

City were forced to dig in as Bolton brought on more attacking players, and one of those switches next came closest. A deflected shot from Jordi Osei-Tutu kindly fell at the feet of Aaron Collins in down the inside-left of the box, and with time and space he thought he picked out the perfect shot, only to see the top of the crossbar rattle and the ball go out of play.

Jack Aitchison then tried to drive the Grecians up the pitch, and he found Josh Magennis in space. The Northern Irishman tried a low drive across the goalkeeper, but it went well wide.

With 15 minutes remaining, City began picking up warnings and cautions from the referee as they tried to wind the clock down. However, this didn’t keep Bolton out of their penalty area, and Whitworth was called into action with a crucial low save, pushing Osei-Tutu’s powerful shot away from danger.

On for his debut, Amani Richards nearly extended City’s lead to three when he broke down the right, but his low effort narrowly missed the target with the keeper beaten.

Despite mounting pressure, City’s back three remained steadfast, with Crama making several key blocks and interceptions. When the ball did get past the defense, Whitworth was there to gather it safely.

As tensions rose in the closing minutes, City managed to see out the match with some tactical stalling from Whitworth and a wayward Bolton shot, securing three valuable points from their trip to the North West!

Up next, before the international break the Grecians have a home match against Swindon Town, this Tuesday, in the EFL Trophy. Get your tickets here.

Bolton Wanderers: Baxter, Thomason, Santos ©, Johnston, Sheehan (Sheehan), Charles, Dacres-Cogley, Forino, Dempsey (Collins), Schön (Osei-Tutu), McAtee (Adeboyejo).

Substitutes: Southwood, Adeboyejo, Osei-Tutu, Collins, Matete, Matheson, Sharples-Ahmed.

Exeter City: Whitworth, McMillan, Sweeney, Crama, Yfeko, Niskanen, Woods, Doyle (Cole), Aitchison (Purrington), Alli (Cox), Magennis (A. Richards).

Substitutes: MacDonald, Purrington, Fitzwater, Francis, Cole, Cox, A.Richards.

Attendance: 22,086 (509 away)