Exeter City lost for the first time this season as two second half goals secured three points for Northampton Town at Sixfields.
Tristan Crama put City ahead with his first goal for the club within the first ten minutes when he headed a corner home at the back post.
Despite several more chances and dominating the game in spells, Northampton made a resurgance in the final 25 minutes and flipped the game on it's head, with Callum Morton and Cameron McGeehan scoring to win the Cobblers three points.
For City’s first away trip in League One this season, Gary Caldwell made one change from the Grecians’ opening day win against Rotherham. Millenic Alli replaced the injured Vincent Harper, prompting a tactical shift to a back four. 17-year-old Liam Oakes retained his place in the squad after Tuesday night’s EFL Cup defeat, while Kamari Doyle, just two day safter signing, joined him on the bench.
City began the match confidently, controlling possession as they swifty passed their way around a high Cobblers press on the edge of Joe Whitworth’s box.
When they did opt to go long, Alli was released down the left and broke into the penalty area. Though his shot was blocked, the follow up from Reece Cole – a powerful strike aimed at the top corner – went just wide into the stand within the opening two minutes.
Just five minutes later though, City capitalised on their early momentum. Another long ball found Alli, who won a corner that Cole swung in. The ball was flicked into the six-yard box, finding Tristan Crama at the back post to head Exeter 1-0 up.
City nearly doubled their lead from a corner moments later, but this time Cole’s corner from the opposite side was fed low into the box, but Jack McMillan’s half-volley was blocked.
Northampton began to grow into the game from there on. Pierce Sweeney had to get a strong leg behind Mitch Pinnock’s low shot from the edge of City’s box to clear it away, and then Whitworth comfortably caught Matt Dibley-Dias’ free-kick from 25 yards.
This period of pressure gave the Cobblers a boost in confidence as they began to press more aggressively. City’s back four stood firm, each making key blocks. One shot that did manage to breach the defensive wall came from Callum Morton, who’s spinning effort from the edge of the box tricked some home fans into thinking it had found the net, only to drift wide.
Morton continued to be a thorn in City’s side, winning a free-kick just outside the penalty area after being caught by Ed Francis' high foot. Following a lengthy delay for treatment, Sam Hoskins’ free-kick was ultimately sent into the stands.
City responded with by going long again on the left before the half’s end. The first ball found Alli who won an inconsequential corner, before the second was flicked to Aitchison, who’s cross found Niskanen but the Fin’s shot went wide.
Second Half
The second half began slowly, with City dominating the ball and creating several half-chances, most of which were blocked by a stubborn defence before Crama fired a speculative effort from 35 yards well over.
It took 15 minutes for Cobblers stopper Lee Burge to be tested, when Francis picked up a loose ball 20 yards inside City’s half. The Grecians’ number eight immediately played the ball forwards to Josh Magennis who took a touch before passing Alli through. The forward was forced wide but still managed to get a shot off that was held.
Whitworth wasn’t going to get anywhere near Northampton’s next chance. Substitute Tariqe Fosu jinxed past Sweeney and played in Hoskins on Town’s right, but his low cross evaded everyone inside the six-yard box.
However, against the run of play, Northampton equalised. Hoskins played a ball over the top which Whitworth came out to meet, but it was poked through his legs by Morton and the ball trickled over the line.
In response, Gary Caldwell brought on Brighton loanee Kamari Doyle for his debut, who almost made an immediate impact. Found inside the penalty area, Doyle sent a low shot towards the bottom corner which the keeper had to palm round the post, but the corner was cleared.
City were left to rue missed opportunities when Cameron McGeehan put the Cobblers ahead in the 77th minute. Fosu nicked the ball back of Jack McMillan when he thought he had won it in the penalty area, and then laid it off to Guthrie. The defender then swung a fizzing ball to the back post for McGeehan to launch into the roof of the net.
Following that, City struggled to create a clear-cut chance to equalise, and the Cobblers finished the match with a swinging shot that sailed over Whitworth’s bar before the full-time whistle sounded.
The Grecians will have to now wait a week before they can get out on the pitch again, returning to SJP next Saturday for the visit of Peterborough United at 3pm.
Northampton Town: Burge, McGowan (Odimayo), Guthrie ©, Willis (Baldwin), Hoskins, Fox, Pinnock, Dibley-Dias (Fosu), McGeehan, Mbete, Morton
Substitutes: Tzanev, Wilson, Koiki, Odimayo, Hondermarck, Fosu, Baldwin
Exeter City: Whitworth, Niskanen, Sweeney, Crama, Yfeko, McMillan (Purrington), Francis, Cole (Doyle), Aitchison, Alli, Magennis
Substitutes: MacDonald, Purrington, Fitzwater, Doyle, Diabate, Oakes, Borges
Attendance: 5981 (490 away)