A huge win for Wanderers as Dalby, Kenny, Gale, Cissoko and Johnston all get on the scoresheet to put five past the Grecians this afternoon!
The hosts almost took an early lead on 12 minutes. Jayden Wareham went up for an aerial duel with Jack Bonham and won it despite calls for a foul. The ball fell to Luca Woodhouse who shot on goal from outside the area with Bonham back pedalling but the effort went well over the bar.
Seven minutes later Wanderers responded. Josh Sheehan’s strike from 20 yards was blocked but fortunately the ball fell to Thierry Gale on the edge of the area but the shot was tame for Joe Whitworth.
The Whites took the lead on 21 minutes through Sam Dalby. Sheehan’s quick free-kick sent Johnny Kenny down the right flank who played a perfect ball into Dalby in the six-yard box who simply couldn’t miss.
Constant Wanderers pressure followed as Steven Schumacher’s side looked to double their lead. An Exeter mistake at the back saw Dalby run through on goal but the goalscorer’s effort rolled wide.
Shortly afterwards the Grecians were pinned in near the corner flag in their own half. The ball was cleared as far as George Johnston who squared the ball to Rob Apter. The winger saw his shot blocked and bounce up awkwardly for Kenny to hit but the strike went over the bar.
On 36 minutes, the hosts had a free-kick in a dangerous area. The ball in wasn’t dealt with by Wanderers which presented Wareham with an opportunity but the striker rushed his shot and could only find the side netting.
Five minutes later the Whites had a free-kick of their own. Sheehan delivered the ball in from the right which was brought down by Chris Forino who tried to get a shot away. The loose ball fell to Kenny but he could not get the strike on target under pressure.
A chance for Exeter before the break following a cross into the Wanderers area. The ball bounced around in the box and fell to Jack McMillan who shot first time but went straight down the throat of Bonham.
The Whites had one final chance in first half stoppage time. Great work by Kenny down the right to outmuscle his man and run into the area before laying the ball off to Apter but he could only find Whitworth with a tame effort.
A huge chance to start the second half for Wanderers. An Apter corner was met at the back post by Eoin Toal who headed across goal to Dalby to head goal-bound from close range but somehow Whitworth managed to save the effort with his foot before Exeter cleared the danger.
Soon after, Ethan Brierley tried his luck from distance, aiming for the top-right corner but the shot flashed wide of goal.
Wareham was next to challenge the Wanderers goal with a flicked header following a cross from the right but Bonham was equal to it and held on.
Despite the chances for the hosts, Wanderers extended their lead. Sheehan’s corner was met at the front post by Kenny whose glanced header beat Whitworth for pace and doubled the Whites lead just before the hour mark.
Dalby was denied yet again minutes after with a great save from Whitworth. Gale played a lovely chipped ball to the back post for Wanderers’ number 10. Dalby headed towards goal but Whitworth dived to his right to parry the ball away from danger.
From almost making it a three goal advantage, the Whites lead was halved. A Ryan Rydel free-kick was parried into the air by Bonham and Wareham was first to react to head the ball into an empty net.
But the goals were flying in and Wanderers restored their two goal advantage. Apter and Sheehan played a number of passes on the edge of the area trying to break through the Exeter block. Sheehan’s ball in from the right was blocked but fell nicely for Gale to smash home a third.
That was the last act for Gale who was substituted and replaced by Ibrahim Cissoko who took over where Gale left off. Shortly after coming on Dalby found the winger on the left who shot across the face of goal and beat Whitworth as the ball went in off the far post to make it 4-1.
The Whites added a fifth late on as George Johnston smashed home from close range to wrap up an emphatic win.
Wanderers | Bonham, Osei-Tutu, Toal, Forino, Johnston, Sheehan (80’ Simons), Erhahon, Apter (80’ Burstow), Kenny (80’ Dempsey), Gale (72’ Cissoko), Dalby.
Substitutes | Harrington, Christie, Conway,
Exeter City | Whitworth, Niskanen, Sweeney (46’ Cummins), Fitzwater (81’ Dean), Woodhouse, Rydel (75’ Higgins), McMillan (75’ Oakes), Brierley, Aitchison, Magennis (75’ Tutierov), Wareham
Substitutes | Bycroft, Cox
Referee | Craig Hicks