Exeter City 2 Chesterfield 0 - Grecians cruise into FA Cup third round

Exeter City booked their spot in the FA Cup third round draw on Monday night after cruising to a comfortable victory over Chesterfield. Goals in either half saw them cruise through with a 2-0 triumph at St James Park.

The Grecians dominated the first half against the League Two opposition and created a hatful of chances, with Jack Aitchison, Ryan Woods and Josh Magennis all coming close, before in first half stoppage-time, the dominance was rewarded. Tristan Crama was left unmarked from a corner to head City ahead.

Magennis doubled the lead midway through the second half when the experienced striker tapped home from close range into an empty net to make it four in the FA Cup for him this season.

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After three successive games without a goal and back-to-back defeats, it was a welcome return to form for the Grecians who were much improved and back towards their best. And it was a sweet triumph for Gary Caldwell as well against his former club where he won just three of 29 matches in charge.

Following the 2-0 defeat at home to Birmingham City on Tuesday night, Caldwell made two changes to the exeter-city-fc>Exeter City side. A fit-again Millenic Alli returned up front in place of Jay Bird, while the other change saw 17-year-old Jake Richards come into the midfield for his first appearance outside of the EFL Trophy this season, in place of Vincent Harper. Chesterfield made six changes to their line-up, and then had to make another when Paddy Madden got injured in the warm-up.

The Grecians had the first chance with three minutes on the clock. Woods picked out Ilmari Niskanen, he squared it to Aitchison, but the Scot’s effort from the edge of the area was well kept out by Max Thompson with a strong hand. Alli was twice found down the left by Ed Francis, but couldn’t create a goalscoring moment.

City were on top and getting closer. After Jamie Grimes had to make a vital interception to turn a cross behind for a corner, the Spireites skipper was again needed. Francis’s corner found Magennis, he turned and shot, but the defender cleared it off the line.

Niskanen had the next chance and it was one he should have buried. The Finn was clean through after a well-worked move, but six yards out, one-on-one, he elected to try and square it to Magennis rather than shooting. The pass was behind him and the chance went begging rather than being buried.

Aitchison and Alli then forced smart saves from Thompson, while the goalkeeper was again called into action to deny Woods from 25 yards, but no-one was there to follow up on the rebound. Paul Cook’s men had yet to get into the game, and then were forced into a change when Michael Jacobs went off injured, Armando Dobra replacing him.

It was all City with Aitchison again forcing a save from the goalkeeper, before Alli after skinning his defender, fizzed in a dangerous cross that no-one could get on the end of for a tap-in. But in first half stoppage-time, the Grecians finally got the goal their dominance deserved. Woods swung in a corner and Crama was unmarked six yards out to head home his third of the season to break the deadlock. It had been coming.

Caldwell made no changes at the break, while Cook replaced Tom Naylor with Ollie Banks. The visitors had their first chance of the match when Darren Oldaker tested Joe Whitworth with a free-kick from the edge of the box. At the other end, Niskanen picked out Magennis with a teasing cross, but again, the goalkeeper was equal to the task and smothered the finish.

Niskanen again was causing chaos and after Crama picked him out with a defensive splitting pass he was through. Grimes did just enough to put the Finn off when he shot from inside the area, and the effort was tipped wide, although it looked like the Spireites skipper had fouled the City man in the process.

The second goal did come midway through the second half, and again, it had been coming. Aitchison drove forward as City broke. He picked out Niskanen down the right, he slid the cross in, and Magennis from two yards out had the simplest of tap-ins in front of the Big Bank to make it 2-0 and ease any nerves.

Kamari Doyle off the bench saw a shot go just wide, while Pierce Sweeney saw a shout for a penalty when the skipper was seemingly hauled down was waved away. Caldwell then brought on Bird and Harper for Magennis and Niskanen, before then Sonny Cox and Kevin McDonald came on for Aitchison and Jack McMillan.

Dobra had a chance to make it a nervy finish when he robbed Crama on the edge of the box, but his finish was poor and easily saved by Whitworth. Bird came close in stoppage time to making it three, but the victory had long since been sealed.

Exeter City are back in action on Tuesday night when they host League One leaders Wycombe Wanderers at St James Park. But first, Monday night’s draw, and the chance of keeping the cup run going.

Exeter City: (4-4-2) - Joe Whitworth, Jack McMillan (Kevin McDonald, 83), Pierce Sweeney, Tristan Crama, Ed Francis, Ilmari Niskanen (Vincent Harper, 78) Ryan Woods, Jake Richards (Kamari Doyle, 68), Millenic Alli, Jack Aitchison (Sonny Cox, 83), Josh Magennis (Jay Bird, 78)

Subs: Shaun MacDonald, Jack Fitzwater, Ben Purrington , Caleb Watts,

Booking: Woods, Francis