Exeter City won at St James Park in League One for the first time since Boxing Day as eased their relegation fears. The Grecians cruised to victory over bottom of the table Shrewsbury Town to move them seven points clear of the bottom four.

Josh Magennis squandered a golden chance to give the Grecians the lead when his penalty was brilliantly saved by Jamal Blackman. But from the resulting corner, City went ahead as Caleb Watts squeezed a header in off the post and just over the line for his first goal since the opening day of the season.

Demetri Mitchell on the volley doubled the lead early in the second half as he struck a sweetly timed effort from just inside the box. It was a brilliant finish and deserving of winning a game.

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Salop rallied, but it was too little, too late, as City held on for the 2-0 win which was only a second in 13 in League One, but a vital one. Exeter moved up to 18th and the gap to 21^st Burton Albion is now seven, with City having two games in hand. Shrewsbury stayed bottom, winless in seven, and now 11 from safety, and surely doomed.

After the 0-0 draw at Reading on Tuesday night, Gary Caldwell made just one change to his Exeter City team. Pat Jones came in for only his second start of the season, replacing Jack Aitchison who dropped to the bench, in what was the only alteration to the 18 man squad. Former Grecian Blackman started for the Salop, while David Wheeler was on the bench.

The visitors had the first chance. Luca Hoole pounced on a poor clearance and drove into the box, but flashed his finish over the crossbar. City’s first chance on the break as Mitchell found Magennis, the skipper teased in a cross, but Watts on the stretch just couldn’t get a touch on it. The pair combined again moments later, but the Australian put the half volley just over.

It was scrappy and neither side could quite get their foot on the ball and control the play. Josh Feeney headed wide for the visitors from close range, but after the offside flag had already been raised. Watts saw an effort saved by Blackman.

But in the 28^th minute, the Grecians had a golden chance to go ahead. Jones tried to get on the end of a bouncing ball but Feeney shoved him over. It looked a bit soft, but referee Tony Parsons pointed to the spot. Up stepped Magennis, but Blackman guessed correctly, diving to his left, to save the spot-kick.

The reprieve was short-lived though, as City took the lead from the resulting corner. Ryan Trevitt swung it in and Alex Hartridge and Ben Purrington both scuffed at effort. Hartridge then nodded the ball back towards goal, Watts’ flicked on a header that crept past the dive of Blackman, in off the post, and just over the line before it could be cleared. It was scrappy, it was ugly, but they all count, as City led 1-0.

Gareth Ainsworth’s men had offered little, but set pieces gave them a way into the game. Vadaine Oliver saw a header saved by Joe Whitworth. After a free-kick was only half cleared, George Nurse’s deflected effort went behind for a corner. For Exeter, Watts tested Blackman with a strike from distance when the ball to Trevitt perhaps was the better option.

City led at the break, and neither manager made a change at half-time. Exeter had the first chance when Mitchell drilled in a cross that was diverted behind with Magennis and Trevitt lurking. But moments later, the Grecians were 2-0 up.

Hartridge launched a long-throw into the box with as a Salop man who could only half head away to Mitchell. The 28-year-old struck his volley sweetly into the bottom corner of the net for a sixth goal of the season and to double the lead and ease nerves and make it more comfortable.

Vincent Harper and Aitchison replaced Watts and Jones on the hour with Caldwell’s first changes. Salop had a good chance for a penalty when George Lloyd seemingly was fouled in the box. It looked like a foul, but referee Parsons waved it away, albeit Lloyd seemed to be in an offside position anyway.

Tony Yogane replaced Mitchell with the next chance as City introduced some fresh legs. Trevitt had half a chance to make it three when a Blackman clearance was straight to the Brentford loanee, but he couldn’t get the ball out from under his feet to take aim.

Callum Stewart off the bench missed a sitter for the Shrews, hitting the ball from yards out, although an offside flag spared his blushes. Whitworth made a fingertip save to deny Hoole, before Angus MacDonald did well to turn a dangerous Jordan Shipley cross behind as the visitors finally showed some attacking intent.

But as they pushed, City should have had a third. Harper picked out Magennis with a cross, but the striker couldn’t get a clean connection on what looked like a tap-in. Wheeler headed wide in stoppage-time as Salop rallied, but City had long since done enough to fully deserve the three points.

Exeter City are back in action on Tuesday when they host Mansfield Town. Win that and they could rise to 16th as City might be nearly safe.

Exeter City: Joe Whitworth, Ed Turns, Angus MacDonald, Alex Hartridge, Pat Jones (Vincent Harper, 60), Ryan Trevitt, Ed Francis (Ryan Woods, 85), Ben Purrington, Demetri Mitchell (Tony Yogane, 70), Caleb Watts (Jack Aitchison, 60), Josh Magennis

Subs: Reece Cole, Joel Colwill, Sonny Cox

Booking: Purrington, Jones, MacDonald, Trevitt