Ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup fixture against Barnet, we took a look back at some of our favourite First Round matches from the last 20 years.
Tickets are still available for the Grecians' meeting with the Bees this Saturday, with prices starting from just £11 for adults, seniors/18-23 from £8 and under-18s from £5. Buy them here!
CITY 2-1 BRADFORD CITY – 2021/22
What better place to start than the trilogy of fixtures against Bradford in 2021. Initially drawn away at Valley Parade, Sam Nombe’s 86th minute equaliser brought the Bantams back to Devon. Derek Adams’ side held the Grecians for 90 minutes, but as the game ticked into extra time Matt Jay was brought onto the pitch and changed the game, smashing home two goals, either side of Nigel Atangana’s smart flick, to give the Grecians a 3-0 win.
In a twist, Josh Key’s extra-time substitution was found to be against FA rules, forcing yet another replay. This time, Bradford took the lead, but a second-half comeback from City – featuring goals from Tim Dieng and George Ray – finally saw the Grecians through to the Second Round.
CITY 1-0 GRIMBSY TOWN – 2004/05
Exeter hadn’t faced Grimsby Town in almost 13 years before meeting in the First Round of the FA Cup in 2004. Then in the Conference, City had already played in the competition, having defeated Braintree 2-0 in the Fourth Qualifying Round with goals from Jake Edwards and Shaun Devine.
The Mariners were a recently relegated fourth tier team and so City went into the match as underdogs. However, wearing their new black and gold centenary kit, the Grecians took the lead after six minutes thanks to Santos Gaia’s header, the centre-back’s seventh goal of the season at that point. Grimsby were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half and City held on to their lead, heading into a Second Round tie against Doncaster before arguably the biggest match in the club’s history.
CITY 2-1 AFC FYLDE – 2020/21
With the match played behind closed doors due to the Covid pandemic, the visit of National League South side AFC Fylde was an interesting prospect for Matt Taylor’s team. In the first meeting between the two clubs, it was the sixth-tier side who took the lead, before Matt Jay equalised after a quick turn and shot from the outside of the box.
Then, on just his second start of the season, Alex Hartridge headed home the winner from a corner, and a goalless second half saw the Grecians secure their place in the next round to face Gillingham.
DIDCOT TOWN 0-3 CITY – 2015/16
After a disappointing exit in the first round the season before to Warrington, City were once again drawn against one of the lowest teams in the competition live on TV in 2015. This time though, the Grecians put in a professional performance in Oxfordshire to dispatch their lower league opponents.
After a goalless first half, Clinton Morrison scored his second goal for the club just three minutes after half-time with a scoop over the keeper as the former Crystal Palace striker continued his record of only scoring live on TV. Tom Nichols then netted from less than a yard out before Alex Nicholls finished off the game ten minutes from time as he tapped home Joel Grant’s cross.
City beat Port Vale at home in the second round before famously Liverpool were drawn to travel to St James Park.