Exeter City manager Matt Taylor hailed a dream start for his side as a brace of early goals earned them a 2-0 win against Accrington Stanley in League Two. After a Devon Derby defeat to Plymouth in the Carabao Cup and losing 1-0 at Grimsby last week, there was a bit of anxiety around St James Park, but captain Jack Fitzwater settled any nerves inside two minutes with a terrific bicycle kick finish. Ten minutes later, it was 2-0 as a Gwion Edwards shot took a wicked deflection of Accrington skipper Seamus Conneely before ending up in the net. Exeter were rarely troubled as they saw out the rest of the game with ease to get their first win of the season, and end a horror run stretching back to last season where they had won just one in 22 games.
Early Goals Secure Victory
Within 90 seconds, the Grecians took the lead and in some style. Charlie Cummins launched a long throw into the box, Luca Woodhouse won the first header, before Fitzwater with an overhead kick put the ball into the top corner. It was some finish by the captain and the perfect start to the afternoon. It soon could have been two. Edwards pulled a cross back which was half cleared to Reece Cole. The attacker danced in the box past two men before firing towards goal, and it took two Accrington defender to clear the ball away as the shot looked to heading into the bottom corner.
Manager Hails Team's Performance
Taylor made two changes to the Exeter City side who were beaten 1-0 at Grimsby Town last Saturday. Edwards replaced Andrew Oluwabori in a wing-back role, while the other saw Josh Gordon make a full debut in place of Taylor Perry. The Grecians were on top and on 13 minutes they doubled their lead in fortuitous circumstances. Firstly Cole took aim from 25 yards and his strike was parried away by Louie Moulden out to Edwards on the right. On the bounce the winger volleyed the ball towards goal, and it took a deflection off Conneely, looped over the goalkeeper, and into the net. Edwards tried to claim it, but it went down as an own goal.
Taylor added: 'We should really have scored a third, but I felt we were quite comfortable in the game and we kept them at arm's length and defended the middle of the pitch really well.' The Grecians were 2-0 up and good value for their lead and had chances to have been further ahead. But Accrington improved after the break and finally fashioned something. With Shaun Whalley slashing over from 15 yards, and then Josh Woods on the turn flashed a shot inches wide of the goal.
