Three goals secured all three points as City turned around an early opener to win 3-1 in the Grecians' final home game of 2024/25.
It was the visitors who took the lead at SJP, with Josh Koroma slotting past Whitworth just past the 20th minute after cutting in from the left. However, City calmed the game down and responded well, slowly building into the match before Niskanen levelled proceedings by slotting home Jack McMillan's cross five minutes before the break.
The Scotsman went from provider to scorer after the interval to turn the game around and put City in front, as he dinked the ball smartly on the turn over the keeper and in.
That win was sealed at the start of added time, when Andrew Oluwabori turned home Tony Yogane's cross for his first goal in red and white to seal the victory!
For the final home game of City's 2024/25 season, Gary Caldwell made four changes from the side that lost on the road at Crawley on Monday. The headline news was one of our own, Tom Dean, made his first EFL start, just a few days after his League One debut in Sussex. Reece Cole, Angus MacDonald and Kevin McDonald returned to the team too, while Alex Hartridge once again donned the captain's armband.
First half
City looked comfortable pressing Huddersfield high up the pitch to begin with, and from an early corner Reece Cole almost caught out the goalkeeper. His in-swinging ball has to be punched away by Jacob Chapman from under his own crossbar.
Whitworth was first called into action in the 15th minute, when Josh Koroma drove into the box from the left, however his well-struck effort was parried by the Palace loanee before being cleared.
That was just a warning shot though, as six minutes later the visitors took the lead through Koroma. Herbie Kane won the ball back inside his own half before feeding Koroma, who was stood a few yards past the half-way line. From there the Terriers man cut in from the left again, before this time curling his shot beyond Whitworth's reach and in.
The game evolved after that goal to become a cagey midfield affair, with neither team carving out a chance of note until a wonderful ball from Reece Cole unlocked the game and allowed City to level the match.
The Greicans' number 12 chipped a delightful pass down the right from the half-way line that Jack McMillan ran on to. Once level with the box, he drilled in a low ball that Sonny Cox attacked at the front post, and while he couldn't get anything on it Ilmari Niskanen could, calmly slotting home his second goal of the season.
Second half
City's goalscorer Niskanen initiated the first chance after the restart, when he nicked the ball smartly past a Town player on the left. With opportunities blocked looking up and down the wing, the Finn decided to pass inside and found Cox, who shot from 25 yards, but it was palmed away by the keeper.
Huddersfield's Koroma should've done a lot better when he rounded Whitworth just moments later following a swift counter-attack, however City's keeper closed the angle well to block the ball over.
From the resulting corner the visitors looked like they took the lead when Kane met the free-kick with a perfect volley, however it was ruled out for an offending offsider player impeding Whitworth.
Football's a game of fast-paced varying emotions, and within 90 seconds of City looking like they had fallen behind, the Grecians took the lead.
A long throw from Hartridge was nudged on by MacDonald, before McMillan hooked the ball on the turn over the keeper and in to turn the score around!
Confidence flowed through City from that goal, and full debutant Dean almost added a third two minutes past the hour, when Colwill played him in from the left and he Cruyffed the ball towards goal, but it was saved. The wing-back then had another half-volley moments later, however agonisingly for the Big Bank that was also blocked.
For all of the Grecians' good play they had to remain vigilant of the Terriers' threat, but not for the first time this season Whitworth produced the spectacular to keep City in front. After playing a one-two with substitute Joe Taylor on the edge of the box, Koroma sent a curling effort goalwards, but it was kept out by a superb diving save before the Palace keeper held the rebound.
Huddersfield went even closer moments later as Pearson's bouncing header hit the crossbar, but City managed to clear away.
City controlled the game from there forwards, before just as the referee put up the board for added time, Colwill strode forward. From the edge of the box the Welshman shot, and his effort was parried out by the keeper. From that corner, the ball fell to Yogane on the edge of the box, who sent the ball back goalwards where it was tapped in by Oluwabori for his first goal in red and white, sealing three points with three goals.
A winning end to 2024/25 at St James Park, but the Grecians still have one match left this season, next Saturday on the road at Mansfield Town.
However, there's one more game left at St James Park this season and that's tomorrow, as Exeter City Women take on Watford. With over 2,500 tickets sold already, can you be there to help Pack The Park? Get your tickets now!
Exeter City: Whitworth, Dean (Yogane, 65'), Turns, MacDonald, Hartridge (C), Niskanen, McMillan, McDonald (Woods, 65'), Cole (Oluwabori 80'), Watts (Richards, 46'), Cox (Colwill, 49').
Substitutes not used: Fitzwater, Harper.
Goals: Niskanen 38', McMillan 56', Oluwabori 90'
Huddersfield Town: Chapman, Pearson (C), Koroma, Charles (Taylor, 65'), Kane, Spencer (Sorensen, 46'), Kasumu, Turnton, Evans (Wiles, 75'), Eccleston, Hodge.
Substitutes not used: Nicholls (GK), Hogg, Iorpenda, Ayina.
Goal: Koroma 21'
Yellow cards: Turton 66', Kane 79', Sorensen 82'
Attendance: 7276 (731 away)