Peterborough United 1 Exeter City 1 - Grecians snatch 90th equaliser for a point
Exeter City snatched a late point away to Peterborough United as they ended a run of three successive defeats. The Grecians created little of note as a solitary first half goal looked like being enough for Posh to claim the three points, until Millenic Alli’s 90th minute goal made it 1-1.
Ryan De Havilland saw an effort brilliantly tipped onto the post as Posh created the better of the first half chances. And they finally took one with 34 minutes gone when a flowing team move was finished off by Hector Kyrpianou’s first time effort for his second goal of the season.
City huffed and puffed and had plenty of possession, but never really looked like threatening the Peterborough goal and created little of note. And only a brilliant goalline clearance from Jack Fitzwater kept the gap between the sides to one goal.
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That proved vital as when in the 90th minute, Demetri Mitchell was tripped in the box. Alli saw his penalty saved, but he tucked away the rebound to earn City a vital point which saw them rise to 14th in the League One table. Peterborough’s poor season continued as they stayed 19th.
After the 1-0 defeat to Birmingham City on Saturday, Gary Caldwell made six changes to the Exeter City team. Jack McMillan was suspended, while Vincent Harper was out with concussion. Jake Richards missed out with illness, while Caleb Watts was injured. Kevin McDonald and Mitchell dropped to the bench.
In came Ilmari Niskanen, Ben Purrington, Kamari Doyle, Jack Aitchison, Josh Magennis and Joel Colwill, the latter making his full debut for the Grecians. A fit-again Ed James was also on the subs bench in what was an unfamiliar looking line-up and squad for City.
And it was Posh who had the first good chance with just four minutes on the clock. Ricky Jade-Jones worked some space on the left wing, he pulled the ball across to De Havilland who was unmarked no more than eight yards out, but he snatched at the chance and poked it wide. Jade-Jones then was played in after a good run by Cian Hayes, but as he tried to round Joe Whitworth, the angle was too narrow and he could only find the side netting.
With 20 minutes gone, City had their first shot of the game – and indeed the previous game. Doyle saw a 30-yard strike narrowly whistle wide of the post. Alli then saw a dipping strike pushed behind for a corner. From the resulting set piece, Ed Francis on the half volley lashed over.
On the half hour, Posh should have taken the lead. Malik Mothersille picked out De Havilland with a cross, the midfielder struck a sweet first time effort, but Whitworth did brilliantly to get down low and palm the strike onto the post. It was a great save and a vital one.
In the 34th minute, Peterborough did take a lead. It was a well worked move between Mothersille, De Havilland and then Jade-Jones, who nodded it down to Kyprianou, who poked the finish back across goal and past Whitworth. There were some half-hearted appeals from the Grecians for offside, but the goal stood, as City failed to keep a clean sheet for the 12th successive outing.
It soon should have been two. Mothersille floated in a teasing cross, Hayes got to it ahead of Francis, but he just did enough to put him off as he volleyed over from six yards out. It was 1-0 at the break, with work for the Grecians to do.
Neither Caldwell nor Darren Ferguson made a change at half-time. With less than a minute played, Mothersille headed wide as Posh looked to find that second goal. Emmanuel Fernandez then did the same from a corner, while Niskanen then had to make a last ditch challenge to deny Jade-Jones as the space opened up for the attacker.
Aitchison saw a snap-shot well saved by Nicholas Bilokapic with City’s first second half attempt. But City were wasteful in the final third, seemingly giving the ball away too easily, and not making the most of set pieces they won. Mitchell replaced Doyle with the first change just after the hour. Alli saw half a shout for a penalty waved away by referee Sunny Gill as the Grecians were probing without any real threat, and sloppy with the ball. Pat Jones and McDonald replaced Niskanen and Ryan Woods on 73 minutes.
Fitzwater had to make a brilliant goalline clearance to keep Exeter in with a chance. Mothersille’s effort was saved by Whitworth, but he only parried it to Gustav Lindgren. The Swede looked certain to score, but for Fitzwater somehow hooking it off the line.
Jay Bird and Cheick Diabate replaced Magennis and Purrington with the final changes. And in the 90th minute, City won a penalty and a chance to rescue something. Alli’s ball to Mitchell looked to be too heavy and running out of play, but he just kept it in play as Tayo Edun tripped him. Referee Gill took his time before pointing to the spot.
Alli, who had missed his only previous penalty for the Grecians, stepped up to take it. Bilokapic guessed correctly, diving low to his right to save it, but he could only parry it back into the path of the Irishman, who slotted home for his ninth goal of the season.
Seven minutes of stoppage-time were added-on. But neither side could find a winner and the spoils and the points were shared. Exeter City are back in action on Saturday when they host Blackpool at St James Park.
Exeter City: Joe Whitworth, Ilmari Niskanen (Pat Jones, 73), Jack Fitzwater, Ben Purrington (Cheick Diabate, 85), Ed Francis, Ryan Woods (Kevin McDonald, 73), Kamari Doyle (Demetri Mitchell, 64), Joel Colwill, Jack Aitchison, Millenic Alli, Josh Magennis (Jay Bird, 85)
Subs: Shaun MacDonald, Ed James,
