GRECIANS FIGHTBACK THRILLS TAYLOR
EXETER City manager Matt Taylor was delighted with the character shown by his team as they came from a goal down to beat Northampton and move into second.
The Grecians showed great spirit to recover from Charlie Goode’s spectacular half-volley, which put the Cobblers in front. Randell Williams scored a fine individual goal to level things up, before Exeter took command after the break with thumping headers from Aaron Martin and Alex Fisher. Sam Hoskins set up a tense finale, but the home side held on.
“The first half was too scrappy for my liking, we didn’t give ourselves any control but, in the second half, we had control for a 25-minute spell and we got on top,” said Taylor.
“They got the goal, but we got back in the game with a moment of quality and second half, that was more like us. We were tough when we needed to be, we gave ourselves a platform to play and we knew there’d be space on that pitch if we were able to do that.
“I was so pleased we managed to get two goals ahead because Northampton are a good team and they keep coming and coming at you.
“In the second half, we looked a really good team and we got two goals off the back of set-pieces. You have to put the ball in the back of the net when you are on top – it is something we have spoken about so many times this season – but we did that today.”
Northampton broke the deadlock after 33 minutes when a clearance led to the ball falling for Goode on the edge of the box and he lashed a superb shot into the bottom corner.
However, Exeter were level after 38 minutes when they played a quick free-kick to Williams, who cut inside before firing low into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Jack Sparkes struck the base of a post with an excellent free-kick for Exeter and they went in front after 64 minutes when Williams crossed and Martin headed in at the back post.
It was 3-1 three minutes later when Fisher headed in a superb cross by Sparkes, but Northampton were back in the game when Hoskins scored an excellent individual goal after 79 minutes, beating two men, before slotting the ball into the bottom corner.
Northampton manager Keith Curle rued his side not taking their chances.
“We were competitive in the game, they are a good team with a decent record and we rattled them,” he said.
“We had a few chances and, if we take those chances, it could be a different story. You have to give them credit, they have got a good understanding of the way they want to play.
“We got enough balls into the box and it just didn’t drop for us. We wobbled them and asked them questions. If we had got that second goal earlier it could have been a different story.