It was not a Happy New Year for Exeter City as they were beaten at the death by Wycombe Wanderers. A controversial 93rd minute penalty gave Wycombe all three points over the Grecians in a 2-1 win as they went top of League One.
An uneventful first half lacked many real chances for either side. Cameron Humphreys seeing a curling strike saved the best the Chairboys created, while Ilmari Niskanen had a goal harshly ruled out for a foul in the build up for the Grecians, while Josh Magennis headed narrowly over.
Luke Leahy’s deflected free-kick put Wycombe ahead midway through the second half, with Joe Whitworth left with no chance. Vincent Harper missed a golden chance to level it for the Grecians as they pushed for an equalizer – which came late on when Tristan Crama headed home from a corner.
But Aaron Morley won it in stoppage-time for Wycombe. Ed Francis was adjudged to have handled in the box, and the Bolton Wanderers loanee stepped up to slam home the penalty to win it. The victory sent Wycombe back to the top of the table. With defeat, Exeter stayed 13th.
Vincent Harper of Exeter City shows his frustration after missing a good chance to score during the Skybet League One Match between Wycombe Wanderers and Exeter City at Adams Park, Wycombe on 1 January 2025 – PHOTO: Alan Stanford/PPAUK
Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell made three changes from the side that dramatically battled back from 4-1 down to draw 4-4 against Crawley Town on Sunday. Out dropped Jay Bird and Kamari Doyle who were on the bench, with Magennis returning to lead the line. Harper and Caleb Watts, who impressed as substitutes, were also in the starting line-up.
Millenic Alli though, after scoring three in three, was not in the 18 due to injury. Johnly Yfeko though was fit enough to be on the bench after his hamstring injury after more than two months out.
Wycombe, who saw their 19 game League One unbeaten run end on Sunday, had the first chances, with Caleb Taylor snatching at an effort in the box, before Humphreys saw a curling effort well kept out. There were nervy City moments with Ryan Woods nearly giving the ball away on the edge of the box, while Tristan Crama’s backpass put Whitworth under pressure.
City’s first chance saw Harper pick out Watts, but the Australian steered his attempt wide. He then went on a mazy run, but saw his strike from the edge of the box blocked. The Grecians thought they had taken the lead in the 35th minutes when Niskanen headed in at the back post from an Ed Francis corner, only to see the goal ruled out for a foul, seemingly for a soft looking shirt pull by Magennis on a Wycombe defender, much to City’s annoyance.
The Northern Ireland international then headed over from a Francis free-kick as in a game of few real chances, it was the Grecians who were fashioning the best of them. Richard Kone though perhaps should have done better for the Chairboys when he was picked out by a cross. It was goalless at the break.
Neither manager made a change at half-time. It was Matt Bloomfield’s men who had the first opening, but Jack Grimmer’s strike from distance just sailed over the crossbar. Caldwell’s side then had a better chance when Watts teased in a cross, but Niskanen from just six yards out, looped the header onto the roof of the net.
Kone then threw himself to the floor under a challenge from Jack Fitzwater, clearly looking for a penalty. Referee Scott Simpson rightly waved the appeals away. Taylor then saw a header deflected over as the hosts were having their best period of the game.
Luke Leahy of Wycombe Wanderers scores the opening goal from a free kick during the Skybet League One Match between Wycombe Wanderers and Exeter City at Adams Park, Wycombe on 1 January 2025 – PHOTO: Alan Stanford/PPAUK
And in the 65th minute, Wycombe took the lead in fortuitous circumstances. Leahy’s free-kick was 25 yards, took a wicked deflection off the head of Magennis and left Whitworth totally wrongfooted as it flew in. It was an unfortunate way for City to go behind.
Demetri Mitchell replaced Jake Richards in Caldwell’s first change as Exeter now had to chase the game. And the Grecians soon after had a golden chance to level. Watts’ 30 yard strike was only parried away by Franco Ravizzoli and straight into the path of Harper. He looked certain to score, but somehow missed the target. It was the last action from the pair as Pat Jones and Doyle replaced them.
Beryly Lubala missed an even better chance to ease Wycombe’s nerves, but the striker from eight yards out placed his attempt the wrong side of the post. Daniel Harvie saw a free-kick just miss the target. Bird and Yfeko replaced Niskanen and Fitzwater in City’s final subs.
And in the 87th minute, City got the equalizer which on the balance of play they deserved. Francis swung in a corner, and Crama escaped his marker to guide his header in at the near post. It was a fourth goal of the season for the Frenchman which looked like snatching a late point and sent the away fans wild.
Tristan Crama of Exeter City celebrates after scoring the equaliser for 1-1 during the Skybet League One Match between Wycombe Wanderers and Exeter City at Adams Park, Wycombe on 1 January 2025 – PHOTO: Alan Stanford/PPAUK
Five minutes of stoppage-time were added-on as both teams pushed for a winning goal, and in the second of those, Wycombe were handed a penalty. The ball was bouncing inside the box and Francis was adjudged to have handled under pressure from Humphreys. There was fury from the City players, while Caldwell was sent-off for his protests against the decision. Up stepped Morley, and he dispatched the penalty into the bottom corner of the net to restore Wycombe’s lead.
There wasn’t time for another late City fightback as they slipped to defeat. Exeter City are back in action on Saturday when they host Bolton Wanderers.
Exeter City: – Joe Whitworth, Jack Fitzwater (Johnly Yfeko, 83), Tristan Crama, Ed Francis, Ilmari Niskanen (Jay Bird, 83), Jack McMillan, Ryan Woods, Jake Richards (Demetri Mitchell, 67), Vincent Harper (Pat Jones, 75), Caleb Watts (Kamari Doyle, 75), Josh Magennis
Subs: Shaun MacDonald, Ben Purrington
Booking: Harper, Magennis, Woods, Crama
Sent off: Caldwell