Amani Richards' first EFL goal was the only thing splitting City and Leyton Orient as the Grecians won 1-0 in East London.
While the home side had the majority of chances, piling the pressure on City during the second half, it was a lesson in how to take them as Richards converted to give the Grecians the win by just one goal.
That poke from close range came five minutes before the break, but the story of the second half belonged to Joe Whitworth. The keeper made save after save as the Grecians weathered a storm, including going down to 10 men when substitute Caleb Watts was sent off in added time.
Gary Caldwell made one enforced change from the squad that drew for the first time this season away at Wigan, with the injured Jack Aitchison dropping out completely. Ed Francis was elevated back to the starting lineup in his place, with Ben Purrington reclaiming a spot on the bench.
First half
Orient had the game’s first opportunity just three minutes in. Cutting down the right of City’s penalty area, Dan Agyei played the ball inside for Charlie Kelman who shot first time. His effort from little more than eight yards was well blocked though by a mixture of Tristan Crama and Joe Whitworth.
Exeter’s early tactics focused on exploiting space behind Orient’s defense, targeting Ilmari Niskanen and Amani Richards. This approach earned City their first attacking set piece when Richards was fouled just outside the box. From the right, Ed Francis swung in a dangerous ball to the near post, but it was cleared by the defense.
City’s first corner came in the 22nd minute after Richards’ cross was blocked. While the initial delivery was cleared, Niskanen recycled the ball and delivered a superb cross. Crama met it in the middle, but his header sailed just over the bar.
Six minutes later, Niskanen’s pressing earned City a second corner. Francis’ delivery was initially cleared, but Ryan Woods retrieved the ball and sent it back into the box. It fell to Kamari Doyle, but his deflected shot was cleared for a throw, keeping the match goalless.
First, Agyei blasted a powerful shot just over the bar. Moments later, a loose pass between the Grecians’ backline gifted possession back to Orient’s number seven. This time Agyei drilled a low ball across the face of goal, but nobody could reach it to tap it home.
Despite Orient’s growing momentum, City opened the scoring from a quick counter attack five minutes before the interval.
Niskanen sent another cross from deep to the back post, where it was met by Magennis. His header beat the keeper and looked like it was trickling across the line, but there to make sure was Amani Richards to score his first EFL goal!
Orient could’ve gone into the break level though had it not been for Whitworth in goal. Kelman snuck in behind the defence and shot, but City’s keeper was equal to it.
Second half
Orient started the second half strongly, forcing Joe Whitworth into two early saves from Ollie O’Neill and Jordan Brown, though both efforts were comfortably dealt with by the composed Palace loanee.
A defensive error from Orient nearly gifted Amani Richards his second goal after he received the ball from Kamari Doyle, but his quick Cruyff turn was followed by a shot that curled just wide.
Exeter then had a close call when Tristan Crama’s sliding block on a low cross almost deflected into his own net, but the ball narrowly missed the post. Moments later, Whitworth made a stunning save to deny Brandon Cooper’s bullet header from point-blank range, keeping City’s lead intact. The resulting corner was safely caught as Exeter began to look like they were holding on.
Another close shave came in the 68th minute when the ball fell to Jack Currie in the box. Crama quickly intervened, shielding the ball so Whitworth could gather, though the keeper was knocked in the process, leading to a brief pause.
During the stoppage, Caldwell took the chance to regroup his players, and City nearly doubled their lead moments later. Substitute Millenic Alli set up Niskanen on the left, who had two attempts cleared off the line. The ball eventually broke to Doyle, whose acrobatic overhead kick sailed just over the bar.
The pressure from Orient persisted, but Joe Whitworth remained determined to secure his clean sheet. Six minutes from time, he produced another outstanding save, tipping Charlie Kelman’s header—seemingly destined for the bottom corner—away with his fingertips.
Buoyed by the City fans singing relentlessly in the corner, the Grecians didn’t settle for simply defending their lead. Caleb Watts, introduced from the bench, had the next opportunity for Exeter. A Mustapha Carayol free-kick led to a corner that broke to Watts on the edge of the box, but his shot sailed over.
Watts’ next involvement was less fortunate. With six minutes of added time and Orient pushing forward, he cynically brought down an opponent near the centre circle, resulting in a straight red card.
Despite being down to 10 men, City held firm until the final whistle, securing three hard-fought points to take back to Devon.
The Grecians return to St James Park this weekend for a HerGameToo double header, with the men facing Cambridge on Saturday and the women taking on Billericay on Sunday. Get your tickets here!
Leyton Orient: Hemming, Simpson (Perkins, 77'), Agyei (Donley, 62'), Brown, Currie, Ball (Clare, 62'), Warrington (Cooper, 46'), Beckles (C), O'Neill (Graham, 62'), Galbraith, Kelman.
Substitutes not used: Phillips (GK), Obiero.
Exeter City: Whitworth, McMillan, Sweeney (C), Crama, Yfeko, Niskanen, Woods, Francis (Carayol, 83'), Doyle (Watts, 73'), A. Richards (Alli, 60'), Magennis (Cox, 83').
Substitutes not used: MacDonald (GK), Purrington, Fitzwater.
Goals: A. Richards 39'
Yellow Cards: Niskanen 44', McMillan 48', Sweeney 88'
Red Card: Watts 90+2'
Attendance: 6,439 (645 away)