Exeter City 1 Bolton Wanderers 2 - Grecians suffer another stoppage-time defeat
Exeter City suffered a second successive defeat as two late goals saw Bolton Wanderers snatch all three points at St James Park. A second half goal from Demetri Mitchell had put the Grecians ahead, but two late goals saw Bolton win it with Aaron Morley scoring a stoppage-time winner for the second time in four days.
Ricardo Santos almost put a backpass into his own net before the Bolton defender saw a header hit the crossbar as an even first half was short of real clear cut chances. Klaidi Lolos missed a sitter early in the second half, and that was costly.
With the next attack, Mitchell put the Grecians ahead. The attacker chased down a long ball and poked the finish past the onrushing goalkeeper. But Aaron Collins snatched a point for Bolton late on when he pounced on a defensive error to poke home.
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And then in stoppage-time, Morley swung in a cross which evaded everyone and crept into the back of the net to steal the victory and make it 2-1. It was only a second win away from home in three months for Bolton who stayed 10th in League One. City dropped to 14th with the loss.
After the New Year’s Day defeat to a controversial stoppage-time penalty away to league leaders Wycombe Wanderers, Gary Caldwell made just the one change to the Exeter City side. In came Demetri Mitchell, with Ilmari Niskanen dropping to the bench. Millenic Alli and Jack Aitchison were both fit enough to be a substitute.
The man who scored that winner on Wednesday, Aaron Morley, was one of five changes for Bolton Wanderers after the Trotters recalled him from the loan spell. Former Grecian Randell Williams also started for the visitors.
The Grecians nearly took the lead in the fourth minute. Santos played a backpass to Nathan Baxter, only to misjudge where the goalkeeper was. Fortunately for Bolton, the pass went just wide of the post to avoid the embarrassment.
The visitors though were creating some early chances. Tristan Crama and Jack Fitzwater had to make vital interceptions to clear crosses, before a well-worked corner found George Thomason, but the skipper in space scuffed his strike. Aaron Collins then put the ball in the back of the net after a swift counter-attack, but the striker was well offside and the flag was correctly raised.
Ian Evatt’s men came close from a 20th minute corner. Williams swung it in dangerously and with pace, Santos rose highest in the six yard box, but his thunderous header hit the crossbar and bounced over. Bolton had looked threatening, and came close again when John McAtee's volleyed effort slipped through Joe Whitworth's arms but thankfully for City, he got just enough on it to turn it behind for a corner.
Just before the break City came close to an opener. A nice move saw Jack McMillan break down the right. He floated in a cross which the onrushing Fitzwater was inches away from getting his head to. Vincent Harper and Josh Magennis also just couldn’t get on the end of subsequent crosses from City’s best moment. Watts then lashed an effort from the angle just over as it was 0-0 at the break.
Neither manager made any changes at the break. Bolton had half a shout for a penalty when Watts seemed to clatter into an attacker but the appeals were waved away. The visitors then came close when McAtee saw a volley well saved by Whitworth and Lolos volleyed the rebound from six yards out over the bar.
That was a pivotal moment as seconds later, the Grecians led. Whitworth launched a long ball clear, Santos and Baxter were involved in a defensive mix-up as they left the ball for each other, and Mitchell nipped in to poke home a finish to make it 1-0 in the 54th minute.
Suddenly City were on top and nearly extended the lead. Firstly Magennis saw an effort deflected wide. Then Harper beat an offside trap but clean through on goal, he fired straight into Baxter’s arms. At the other end, Williams and Morley saw an effort for the visitors blocked.
Caldwell’s first changes saw Niskanen and Aitchison replace Watts and Mitchell. The Scot had a decent opening 25 yards out but his low effort was straight at the goalkeeper. Morley for Bolton tested Whitworth with a strike from 15 yards.
But in the 88th minute, Bolton snatched an equaliser. Dion Charles, off the bench, hooked a long ball forward. Fitzwater tried to head it back to Whitworth, but didn’t get enough pace on the header. Collins pounced as he got there first and poked into the empty net to make it 1-1.
And then in stoppage-time, Bolton won it. Morley swung in a cross, right as a tannoy announcement reporting that an allegation of racial abuse had been made was taking place. City’s defenders didn’t deal with the cross, a whole raft of players tried to get a touch on it, but seemingly no-one did as it crept home. It was a second winner for the midfielder against City in three days.
City had six minutes to fight back, but couldn’t do so, with Aitchison having a late effort blocked as close as they came. Exeter City are back in action next Saturday when they host Oxford United in the FA Cup third round. They return to League One on Tuesday, January 14, at home to Mansfield Town.
Exeter City: – Joe Whitworth, Jack Fitzwater, Tristan Crama, Ed Francis, Jack McMillan, Ryan Woods, Jake Richards (Pat Jones, 90) Vincent Harper (Millenic Alli, 83), Caleb Watts, (Jack Aitchison, 64) Demetri Mitchell (Ilmari Niskanen, 64), Josh Magennis
Subs: Shaun MacDonald, Johnly Yfeko, Kamari Doyle,
Booking: Richards
