Grimes is Grecians’ set-piece superstar
ANOTHER free-kick and another three points for Exeter City as set-piece extraordinaire Matt Grimes settled a thriller in Accrington.
In a game which saw five goals of the highest quality, Liam Sercombe volleyed home his first of the season for the visitors to set up a high-octane second half.
The Grecians doubled up through Tom Nichols’ solo effort, though John O’Sullivan soon pulled a goal back in spectacular style.
But Grimes’ 30-yard free-kick ultimately settled the game – with Stanley substitute Shay McCartan’s drilled effort proving in vain.
It extends Exeter’s unbeaten run in League Two to seven games and Grimes, who had already scored twice from deadball situations this season, admits his starring role was no fluke.
“I do practice with our coach Mel Gwinnett every week – if I strike them like that every time I’m happy,” said the teenager.
“Obviously not every one will go quite as well as that one did, but I hope to keep practicing them.
“They say practice makes perfect and that’s what you’ve got to do if you’re going to nail down a skill.
“It’s another massive three points and we hope to keep winning and keep climbing the table. I think the sky is the limit at the moment.
“It shows great character from us to stick in it, and when they grab a goal back, to get another goal and then hang on in the end.”
Sercombe put the visitors in front just before half-time, meeting Craig Woodman’s cross in fine style.
Just four minutes after the break Nichols netted his sixth in six games, driving past two defenders and finding the top corner.
Christian Ribeiro then rattled the post but O’Sullivan’s piledriver restored Stanley hopes shortly after the hour mark.
But Grimes soon wrapped his free-kick around Jack Rose and despite McCartan’s intervention – before Rob Atkinson headed wide – Exeter clung on.
And frustrated Stanley boss John Coleman took issue with Tom Aldred’s foul on Sercombe, which set up Grimes’ winner.
“We get ourselves back into the game at 2-1 then you get a farcical free-kick. It’s a great free-kick by the lad but it’s not a foul,” he said.
“These things can conspire against you and it’s just not your night so you’ve got to move on and go to the next game.
“It’s disappointing.We didn’t put into practice what we trained, we didn’t press them as much as I thought we should have done.
“We’ve created more chances than them but they’ve been more ruthless than us and that’s what won them the game.”