Exeter City continued their positive start to the season as they beat Morecambe 2-0 at the Globe Arena.
In what was a tough test for Matt Taylor’s side, they had to defend bravely and take their chances when presented.
And they did just that when Pierce Sweeney comfortably converted a penalty on the stroke of half-time before Jayden Stockley doubled City’s lead with an excellent header just after the hour mark.
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City manager Matt Taylor named an unchanged team from the side that beat Carlisle United on the opening day of the season.
However, it was the home side – beaten away at Crewe Alexandra 6-0 last weekend – who started the brighter. Kevin Ellison had the first chance of the game but fluffed a volley at the back post following a cross from the left.
Jonathan Forte then flashed a shot just wide of the post before Hiram Boateng hit a free-kick that Morecambe keeper Barry Roche got his fingertips to. City then had a couple of penalty appeals turned down – one for handball as Troy Brown went to win a header and another for a pull back on Jake Taylor.
So, it was third time lucky when Lee Holmes showed a great bit of control on the touchline and a good turn of pace to get away from Jordan Cranston.
The Morecambe full-back clumsily ran into the back of him in the area and referee Thomas Bramall pointed to the spot. Up stepped Pierce Sweeney to take the penalty as he sent it above Roche’s dive to the left to give the Grecians the lead at the break.
The second period continued in the same format as the first with the Grecians battling hard against a determined Morecambe outfit.
On 50 minutes Jayden Stockley turned to shoot over from the edge of the box before Liam Mandeville cut inside to shoot waywardly.
Zak Mills then had another chance for Jim Bentley’s side when he peeled away at the back post to send a fierce volley just over Christy Pym’s goal.
But it was City who were more clinical when Sweeney did well to get down the right and deliver a wonderful cross for Stockley to head in from six yards out as they doubled their lead and sent the travelling City fans - who had a long journey north - wild.
Matt Taylor’s side then continued to manage the game well and frustrate their opponents, who when presented with opportunities, often struggled for composure.
And with the Shrimps unable to find the net, the Grecians took all three points back to Devon to confirm maximum points from their first two games.
Morecambe: Roche, Mills, Kenyon (Oates, 78), Old, Fleming, Oliver, Ellison (Jagne, 78), Yarney, Wildig (Leitch-Smith, 65), Mandeville, Cranston
Subs not used: Haslstead, Conlan, Oswell, Hedley
Booked:
Exeter City: Pym, Sweeney, A. Martin, Law (Tillson, 37), Holmes (L. Martin 71), Stockley, Forte (Abrahams, 83), Moxey, Taylor, Brown, Boateng
Subs not used: Hamon, Woodman, Jay, Oates
Booked:
Attendance: 1,654 (211, away)