Reach Ex-ocet sees off frustrated Taylor

ANDY HOLDSWORTH savoured his moment in the spotlight as he guided Sheffield Wednesday to a first-ever win at Exeter.

Adam Reach conjured a touch of the sublime to fire the Owls in front in the 27th minute before Callum Paterson made it three goals in three games.

Holdsworth stepped up from academy coach to interim manager after the Owls were hit by Covid-19.

He said: “I have loved every minute of it, it has been a great experience all round.

“The commitment, desire and work ethic of the lads to go and win was pleasing.”

Holdsworth became the fourth manager in the Wednesday dugout this season and he was only able to name four substitutes.

Exeter raced out of the traps and Lewis Page picked out Matt Jay who stooped to send a header a whisker wide.

Reach lashed an effort into the arms of Lewis Ward before the one moment of quality.

Barry Bannan’s free-kick caught Rory

McArdle napping and, with the angle narrowing, midfield ace Reach chested the ball down and smashed a volley past Ward at his near post.

McArdle looped a header into the hands of Joe Wildsmith after latching on to Jay’s corner and that proved a costly miss as Paterson killed off League Two Exeter in the 90th minute.

Liam Shaw robbed Nigel Atangana and burst upfield before laying the ball into his path and the striker made no mistake.

Exeter boss Matt Taylor said: “In my three years in the job this is the most frustrated and disappointed I have been after a match.”

EXETER: Ward 6; Caprice 6, McArdle

5, Parkes 6, Page 6 (Sparkes 46th) 7), Key 6; Taylor 6 (Atangana 77th), Collins

6, Randall 6 (Ajose 77th); Jay 6 (Law

(61st) 6), Bowman 6 (Seymour (61st) 5) Wildsmith 7; Odubajo

7, Brennan 7, Shaw 7, Galvin 6 (Eratt-Thompson 90th); Harris 6, Hunt

6 (Dele-Bashiru (64th) 6), Bannan 8, Pelupessy 6; Reach 7, Paterson 6 (Rice 90th)