Gary Caldwell celebrated his 100th match in charge of Exeter City with a 2-0 win at Shrewsbury that sent the Grecians up to fourth in the League One table.
Kamari Doyle opened the scoring just nine minutes in, dispossessing a defender on the edge of the box and calmly slotting the ball past the keeper. Shrewsbury responded with a series of dangerous chances but were repeatedly thwarted by Joe Whitworth’s resolute goalkeeping.
Fresh from scoring for his country just two days ago, substitute Josh Magennis sealed the win midway through the second half, tapping in his first goal for City to secure all three points for the trip back to Devon.
For the Grecian's first match back after the international break, Gary Caldwell made three changes from the side that beat Cambridge United at SJP 12 days ago. Tristan Crama returned to the starting eleven after recovering from illness, while Sonny Cox earned his first start of the season, with Josh Magennis—who played for Northern Ireland against Bulgaria on Tuesday night—moving to the bench. Kamari Doyle was the other change, coming into the lineup in place of Jack Aitchison.
First half
Doyle was first to test Shrewsbury stopper Toby Savin just four minutes in. After Millenic Alli’s initial cross from the right was deflected back to him, he held off a defender and laid the ball off to Ed Francis, who picked out Doyle. With several defenders in his way, Doyle’s effort from the edge of the box was a tame one held down low by the keeper.
City began the game with strong attacking intent, and just nine minutes in, it paid off. Doyle battled with several defenders before nicking the ball off Toto Nsiala on the edge of Shrewsbury’s penalty area. The Brighton loanee took one touch and then shot across the goalkeeper, slotting it into the bottom corner to give City an early lead.
That goal jolted the home side into action, as they began to get hold of the ball and make inroads into City’s half.
Winning a corner in the 13th minute, Mal Benning sent the ball into a crowded penalty area, but the shot was blocked and cleared, despite some handball shouts. A second corner moments later, after a good tackle from Crama, was headed into the hands of Joe Whitworth.
Whitworth was called into action again in the 21st minute and had to be at his best to deny Shrewsbury twice. Funso Ojo found room inside City’s box and lashed a shot on target that was met by an outstanding save, before John Marquis’ follow up was blocked out by the Palace loanee’s leg. The resulting corner couldn’t break down a crowd of red and white bodies inside the area.
A rare hiccup by Crama then allowed Leo Castledine to slip down the right unchallenged, and cut the ball back to Benning, but former Salop man Ryan Woods stood firm, blocking the shot.
An injury to Johnly Yfeko just after the half-hour mark offered the Grecians a moment to regroup, and they quickly went on the attack once play resumed. Cutting in from the left, Ilmari Niskanen saw his shot blocked, sparking a series of City corners that helped quieten the home crowd.
The game then settled into a midfield battle, with Castledine firing a long-range shot that was comfortably saved, while Niskanen flashed a ball across goal only for a defender to clear after strong hold-up play from Cox.
Whitworth had to be alert again in the second of three additional minutes to make another great save, this time denying Jordan Rossiter to keep the Grecians ahead at the break.
Second half
Not content with his team’s performance in the first 45, Caldwell began the second half with a double substitution, bringing on Magennis and Aitchison for Cox and goalscorer Doyle.
The changes almost paid off immediately, with Aitchison testing Savin in goal four minutes after the restart. Finding space on the left edge of the box, Aitchison fired a low shot, but the Shrewsbury keeper held it well.
Shrewsbury then missed a golden opportunity to equalise through Marquis. Benning found room down the left and sent a low ball into the box, but with just Whitworth beat Marquis sent the ball over.
Following some Shrewsbury pressure, City countered over the top to Alli. A defender managed to poke the ball away from City’s number 11, but it fell straight to Niskanen, who fed Aitchison though his shot went well wide.
Shrewsbury continued to threaten, but with no real chances created, it was City who struck next.
Fancying his chances higher up the pitch, Crama strode forward before knocking the ball out right to Aitchison. The Scotsman fizzed a low dangerous ball across the box which was then tapped home by Magennis for his first in red and white.
After Magennis’ goal, City slowed the game down and managed the final 20 minutes in control. Magennis came close to adding a second in the 84th minute, as Woods flicked the ball to the back post, but the Northern Irishman’s header was blocked for a harmless corner.
Shrewsbury substitute Tommi O’Reilly nearly netted a consolation for the hosts in the closing moments, but his low, drilled shot went wide, allowing Whitworth to secure his fifth consecutive clean sheet. With all three points heading back to Devon, it was a fitting way to mark Gary Caldwell’s 100th game in charge.
The Grecians next return to SJP for their first Tuesday evening League One fixture at home this season, with Reading the visitors. Back the team and get your tickets here!
Shrewsbury Town: Savin, Benning, Rossiter, M. Feeney (C), J. Feeney, Lloyd, Ojo, Gillead, Castledine (O'Reilly, 68'), Nsiala, Marquis.
Substitutes not used: Young (GK), Winchester, Sagoe Jr, Perry, Bloxham, Nurse.
Exeter City: Whitworth, McMillan, Sweeney (C), Crama, Yfeko, Niskanen, Woods, Francis, Doyle (Aitchison, 46'), Alli (Bird, 82'), Cox (Magennis, 46').
Substitutes not used: MacDonald (GK), Fitzwater, A. Richards, Carayol.
Goals: Doyle 9', Magennis 65'
Yellow card: Sweeney 79'
Attendance: 4,965 (262 away)