Exeter City advanced to the Third Round of the FA Cup for the first time in four years with a professional 2-0 win against Chesterfield at SJP.
After a dominant first half, Tristan Crama opened the scoring seconds before the interval, meeting Ryan Woods' corner at the back post. Chesterfield laid more into City during the second 45, however Josh Magennis doubled the Grecians' lead with just over 20 minutes remaining, tapping home Ilmari Niskanen's drilled ball across the box.
Gary Caldwell made two changes for this FA Cup Second Round tie, bringing Jake Richards into the starting lineup for his third appearance of the season, alongside Ryan Woods in central midfield. Millenic Alli recovered from a knock to return to the XI, while Vincent Harper and Jay Bird moved to the bench. Demetri Mitchell remained sidelined, missing out again after a knock kept him out of Tuesday’s defeat against Birmingham.
First half
City wasted no time testing the opposition, registering their first shot on target within three minutes. Ryan Woods spotted Ilmari Niskanen in space on the right, and the Finnish winger cut inside before finding Jack Aitchison. The number 10 struck first time, drawing a smart save low to his left from Max Thompson.
Spireites skipper Jamie Grimes then came to his side’s rescue twice in quick succession. First, he intercepted Niskanen’s dangerous cross with Josh Magennis lurking behind, and from the resulting corner, a low cross from Ed Francis reached Magennis, but Grimes was on the line to block a certain goal.
The Grecians continued to exploit space down the right, with Niskanen proving a constant menace. In the 13th minute, he broke the offside trap to latch onto Pierce Sweeney’s ball over the top, delivering a low cross into the box. Unfortunately for City, the ball evaded both Magennis and Alli by mere inches before being cleared to safety.
After only providing crosses so far, Niskanen went for a shot of his own just before the half hour mark, when he cut inside from the right. The initial effort was blocked, but the Fin did well to push the ball out to Woods in space, and his long-range shot was saved.
Space kept on cropping up on both flanks, with Alli the next to threaten, this time on the left. Francis delivered a precise looping pass to the winger, who drove into the box before cutting it back to Jack Aitchison. The number 10 struck first time, but Max Thompson was equal to it, making another vital save.
As the first half entered four minutes of added time, it seemed the Grecians would go into the break without capitalising on their dominance. However, persistence paid off in the final moments.
Alli’s determined play earned a corner, and Ryan Woods delivered an inviting ball to the back post. Tristan Crama was left unmarked and made no mistake, powering a header into the net to give City a well-deserved 1-0 lead.
Second half
Chesterfield recorded their first shot on target within two minutes of the restart when Ryan Woods conceded a free-kick on the edge of City’s penalty area, picking up a yellow card in the process. Darren Oldaker stepped up and sent a well-struck effort over the wall, but Joe Whitworth was perfectly positioned to make a comfortable catch.
City quickly replied with a chance of their own. Niskanen delivered a pinpoint cross from the right to Magennis, who directed a close-range poke toward goal. Max Thompson, however, produced a superb save to keep the score at 1-0.
As the half aged, City rediscovered the space that had troubled Chesterfield in the first period. Crama showcased his defensive and creative abilities, winning the ball deep in City’s half and bursting past two Spireites players before lofting a pass over the top to Niskanen. The Finnish winger surged into the box but was bundled over before he could take a shot, with appeals for a penalty waved away by the referee.
The game was turning into an end-to-end affair, with Whitworth next to make a save, getting down quickly to deny substitute Ollie Banks from range.
Chances were piling up for the Grecians, and their persistence paid off in the 68th minute with a deserved second goal.
Aitchison seized possession at the base of the centre circle, and drove forward with intent before threading a perfectly weighted pass to Niskanen on the right side of the box. The number 14 showed his composure, cutting the ball back across the face of goal, where Magennis was on hand to tap it in from close range, sparking celebrations in front of the Big Bank.
The visitors should’ve had a goal back with seven minutes remaining when Crama was disposed inside the box, however Armando Dobra’s shot was well-saved by Whitworth.
On as a Grecian change, Jay Bird almost had his second in the Cup when he was released by Kevin McDonald, however the keeper got the slightest of touches on his low shot to send it round the post. Thompson then denied Alli as the Grecians finished the game on top.
City are now in the hat for the Third Round draw for the first time since 2020/21, and will find out their opponents on Monday evening, live on BBC 2 at 7pm.
Home games in the league keep coming thick and fast for City at the moment though, and we're back at SJP this Tuesday against Wycombe. Get your tickets now!
Exeter City: Whitworth, McMillan (McDonald, 82'), Sweeney (C), Crama, Francis, Niskanen (Harper, 78'), Woods, J. Richards (Doyle, 69'), Aitchison (Cox, 82'), Alli, Magennis (Bird, 78').
Substitues not used: MacDonald (GK), Purrington, Fitzwater, Watts.
Goal: Crama 45+2', Magennis 68'
Yellow card: Woods 47', Francis 54'
Chesterfield: Thompson, Sheckleford (Jessop, 72'), Horton (Gordon, 72'), Naylor (Banks 46'), Grimes (C), Oldaker, Jacobs (Dobra, 33'), Colclough, Williams, Berry (Mandeville, 66'), Grigg.
Substitutes not used: Boot (GK), Araujo, Cook.
Yellow cards: Oldaker 48', Paul Cook 80'
Attendance: 4782 (456 away)