Ryan Woods' first goal in over seven years proved to be the difference as Exeter City secured a 1-0 victory over Cambridge United at St James Park.
The midfielder’s decisive moment came in the 23rd minute when he unleashed a stunning shot into the top corner from the edge of the box after a cleared corner fell into his path.
The Grecians had to ride their luck at times thoughout the second half, with Cambridge seeing several good chances held by Joe Whitworth, but ultimately City held out and went into the international break on the back of a seven point week.
Following Tuesday evening's 1-0 win on the road at Leyton Orient, Gary Caldwell made three changes to his starting team. The headline change was Tristan Crama dropping out of the squad due to illness, giving Jack Fitzwater the chance to start his first League One game of the season. Jack Aitchison returned from one game through injury, while Millenic Alli replaced Amani Richards up top.
First half
After a quiet opening nine minutes, the game came to life when Johnly Yfeko found a yard of space for Ilmari Niskanen. Cutting in from the left, the Finn delivered a low ball across the box, aiming for Josh Magennis. United keeper Vincente Reyes bravely came out to block the effort, taking a blow in the process but able to continue playing.
City maintained the upper hand, creating the bulk of half-chances, but a strong Cambridge defensive line caught the Grecians offside on several occasions. However, in the 22nd minute, Exeter finally broke through after a sequence of back-to-back corners.
Alli won the first corner on the right, which Ed Francis delivered into the box. After it was initially cleared, the ball fell to Jack Aitchison, whose half-volley deflected wide. Francis's second delivery caused more chaos, with Reyes struggling to clear. Shots from Sweeney and Niskanen were blocked, but the ball eventually fell to Ryan Woods inside the box, who unleashed a rocket into the top corner for his first goal since 2017, putting the Grecians 1-0 up.
City didn’t seem content to sit on their 1-0 lead though and, five minutes later, Alli came close to doubling it. After a neat one-two with Aitchison, Niskanen delivered a cross into the box, but Alli couldn’t get over the ball, heading over.
Cambridge had their best chance seven minutes before the break when Dan Nlundulu found space on the edge of the area. Despite having City’s backline and Joe Whitworth in front of him, the striker opted to shoot, but his effort was well blocked by Pierce Sweeney.
As the half neared its conclusion, Exeter kept up the pressure throughout the five additional minutes. Sweeney played a superb through ball from City's half to Niskanen, whose pace earned a corner. While the initial delivery was cleared by the Cambridge defense, the ball fell to Francis, who chipped it to the back post. Yfeko connected with the header, but it lacked the power to trouble the keeper.
Second half
Within 30 seconds of the restart, Cambridge should’ve been level. After winning the ball back from City down the right, the U’s sent a low cross into the box. With the goal gaping, Nlundulu missed the ball and Elias Kachunga then had space in the box for a shot but fired it straight at Whitworth.
The visitors remained on top during the opening minutes of the second half, pinning the Grecians back with their high pressing. In the centre of defence, Fitzwater put in several blocks and crucial tackles, holding the Cambridge front two at bay.
One time they did manage to get a shot at goal came from a long ball, as the U’s went for a more direct route. Bouncing off the shoulder of Jack McMillan, the ball fell kindly for Loft to have a snap half-volley, but Whitworth remained strong, holding the ball down low.
Nlundulu dragged another chance wide in the 66th minute and then Jubril Okedina sent a header from a corner as City struggled to impose themselves on the second half.
Looking to react, Woods dragged his team forwards with a driving run, and despite being urged to shoot by the crowd he chose to play the ball out to Amani Richards. Cutting inside, the Leicester loanee attempted a curling effort into the far corner, but the first Grecian shot of the half landed in the Big Bank.
Gary Caldwell introduced a double substitution from the bench to try and re-energise his team, but again Whitworth had to keep City in the game, moving quickly across his goal to save Danny Andrew’s freekick from 30 yards.
With five minutes to go, City almost sealed the win with a second when Niskanen found Alli on the half-way line. The striker raced forwards after battling the ball away from a defender, but he could only send his shot at the keeper.
If City were to have got a second, it looked like that would come on the counter attack. Substitute Sonny Cox was next to race free, this time on the left, but he was denied by a fantastic fingertip save from Reyes in goal. From the resulting corner the referee had to wave away calls for a hand ball after Sweeney’s shot hit a defender from close range.
As the game went into six minutes of additional time, both sides went on the hunt for a crucial goal at either end, and Alli saw another effort blocked before Whitworth had to be alert again to hold a Cambridge shot.
City saw out the final few seconds though, finishing for the international break with a seven point week and five clean sheets in a row in all competitions.
Join us back at the Park tomorrow for the second half of the club's Her Game Too weekend, as City Women take on Billericay. Get your tickets here!
Exeter City: Whitworth, McMillan, Sweeney, Fitzwater, Yfeko, Niskanen, Woods, Francis (Carayol 82'), Aitchison (Doyle, 73'), Alli, Magennis (A. Richards, 37', Cox, 72').
Substitutes not used: MacDonald (GK), Purrington, Bird.
Goals: Woods 23'.
Yellow cards: Yfeko 45+2', Woods 74'.
Cambridge United: Reyes, Bennett, Andrew, Digby (C), Morrison, Nlundulu, Kachunga (Brophy, 68'), Smith (Kaikai, 76'), Okedina, Loft (Njoku, 62'), Gibbons (Longelo, 76').
Substitutes not used: Stevens (GK), Cousins, O'Rioran.
Yellow cards: Loft 19', Andrew 79'.
Attendance: 6406 (202 away)