Northampton Town 3-0 Exeter City
LINE-UPS:NORTHAMPTON TOWN: Smith, Taylor, Diamond (McDonald 45'), Cresswell, D'Ath (R. Holmes 54'), Byrom, Richards (capt), Adams (S. Hoskins 80'), Lelan, Potter, Buchanan.
SUBS: Corry, Calvert-Lewin, O'Toole, Clarke.
GOALS: Taylor 25', Cresswell 37', Richards 90'
EXETER CITY: Olejnik, McAllister (Woodman 73'), Ribeiro, Harley, Oakley (capt) Davies, Nicholls (W. Hoskins 57'), Nichols, Wheeler, Tillson (L. Holmes 45'), Brown.
SUBS: Hamon, Butterfield, Morrison, Oyeleke.
Goals:
Referee: Ross Joyce
Report
GOALS from Jason Taylor, Ryan Cresswell and Marc Richards consigned Exeter City to a first defeat of the season at Sixfields.
Jordan Tillson retained his place in the Exeter City line-up after an impressive showing at Swindon in the Capital One Cup in midweek, with Matt Oakley replacing Danny Butterfield in the only change to Paul Tisdale's starting eleven. Lee Holmes took a place on the Grecians' bench.
After an early Cobblers penalty appeal following a challenge by Ryan Harley, the home side took a spectacular lead through midfielder Jason Taylor, who capitalised on Arron Davies' header into a dangerous area to fire a peach of a strike past Bobby Olejnik on twenty-five minutes.
Tom Nichols broke clear and centred just out of Arron Davies's range in the Grecians' best chance yet, but after Jamie McAllister's free-kick from a promising area hit the wall, Northampton doubled their advantage, as Ryan Cresswell headed in from a free-kick that was angled in from near the left-sided corner flag. Matt Oakley did his level best to scrape it off the line, but the linesman had already flagged.
HALF-TIME: NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2-0 EXETER CITY
Northampton should have made it three soon after the break. Lawson D'Ath found himself clear of the Exeter City defence befroe drawing a save from Bobby Olejnik, and with the goal at his mercy, Alfie Potter missed the target completely.
Alex Nicholls received a round of applause from both the home and away ends of the ground as he made way for Will Hoskins shortly before the hour, and Hoskins was quickly involved in the action up front, pulling a smart stop from Adam Smith when played through by Ryan Harley. Tom Nichols couldn't direct a Harley cross goalwards.
Troy Brown had a great opportunity to halve the deficit when he headed Arron Davies's cross wide - his reaction afterwards proved his disappointment with his effort. But this was not to be City's day, as Northampton sealed their win as the game ticked over into injury-time - Marc Richards converted sub Ricky Holmes' pass unopposed.
FULL-TIME: NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3-0 EXETER CITY
Attendance: 4,313 (316 away)
Man of the Match: Arron Davies