Match ends, Exeter City 3, Cheltenham Town 0.
ExeterExeter City3CheltenhamCheltenham Town0
Exeter got their promotion bid back on track with a first win in eight games as they cruised to victory against Cheltenham at St James' Park.
The Grecians were looking to bounce back from Saturday's disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Accrington, and they started with intent.
Lloyd James' cross fizzed across the six-yard box with no-one on hand to convert, and Ryan Harley saw a shot deflect just over the crossbar.
However, Exeter's pressure told a minute before half-time when David Wheeler was felled by goalkeeper Scott Brown and Reuben Reid converted the penalty for his 10th goal of the season.
It was 2-0 six minutes after the break as Reid bagged his second goal of the game, lashing home from 12 yards from Jake Taylor's lay-off.
And it was 3-0 shortly afterwards as a Taylor shot from 12 yards took a wicked deflection to leave Brown wrong-footed.
Cheltenham, with manager Gary Johnson absent through illness, rarely threatened and were well beaten with their best chance coming late in the game, Exeter goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik pushing Jack Munns' effort wide of the post.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Exeter
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Olejnik
- 28Stacey
- 39Brown
- 15Moore-Taylor
- 3WoodmanBooked at 79mins
- 7Harley
- 6Tillson
- 4James
- 25TaylorSubstituted forOakleyat 81'minutes
- 33ReidSubstituted forWatkinsat 59'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 11WheelerSubstituted forMcAlindenat 77'minutes
Substitutes
- 12Grant
- 14Watkins
- 16Oakley
- 19McAlinden
- 21Hamon
- 29Croll
- 31Sweeney
Cheltenham
Formation 5-3-2
- 1Brown
- 2Barthram
- 23OnariaseBooked at 18mins
- 24O'ShaughnessySubstituted forMunnsat 45+1'minutes
- 32Plavotic
- 17CranstonBooked at 90mins
- 21Dayton
- 7Pell
- 27WinchesterBooked at 38minsSubstituted forRoweat 55'minutes
- 8Waters
- 19WoottonSubstituted forWrightat 69'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Downes
- 9Wright
- 11Munns
- 18Rowe
- 22Lovett
- 30Holman
- 33Davis
- Referee:
- Brett Huxtable
- Attendance:
- 3,539
Match Stats
Home TeamExeterAway TeamCheltenham
- Possession
- Home53%
- Away47%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away3
- Corners
- Home8
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away5
Live Text
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Post update
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Exeter City 3, Cheltenham Town 0.
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Post update
Foul by Jack Stacey (Exeter City).
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Post update
Jack Munns (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Foul by Ryan Harley (Exeter City).
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Post update
Harry Pell (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Booking
Jordan Cranston (Cheltenham Town) is shown the yellow card.
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Post update
Attempt missed. Liam McAlinden (Exeter City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left.
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Post update
Ollie Watkins (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Foul by Manny Onariase (Cheltenham Town).
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Post update
Attempt missed. James Dayton (Cheltenham Town) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
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Substitution
Substitution, Exeter City. Matt Oakley replaces Jake Taylor.
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Post update
Attempt saved. Billy Waters (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Post update
Corner, Cheltenham Town. Conceded by Jake Taylor.
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Post update
Corner, Cheltenham Town. Conceded by Robert Olejnik.
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Post update
Attempt saved. Jack Munns (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
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Booking
Craig Woodman (Exeter City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Post update
Foul by Craig Woodman (Exeter City).
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Post update
James Dayton (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution
Substitution, Exeter City. Liam McAlinden replaces David Wheeler.
