Impressive City form continues

Match Report: Exeter City 1-0 Cambridge United

Exeter City continued their fine run of form in League One with an, overall, deserved home win over Cambridge United. City were by far the better side in the first half, and took the lead on 20 minutes, eventually holding on to win despite wavering a little as the game ran on.
 
The dynamic between the two was initially exactly as one would expect of a game between a club without a win in the league and another just outside the play-offs, and Exeter immediately assumed a quiet control over Cambridge. The visitors seemed intent upon playing a long-ball game from the very start, but it was nothing for Exeter’s midfield pairing of Ryan Woods and Ed Francis. The former was especially impressive in mopping up any untidy play in his own half and midfield, and starting attacks with well-chosen passes.
 
And it was in fact Woods himself who managed to capitalise on City’s dominance. A deep corner was half punched away by Cambridge’s Chilean keeper Vincent Reyes, and Jack McMiIllan then dragged a shot wide. His strike should have been left entirely but was needlessly blocked by an outstretched Cambridge leg. It then fell to Woods a few yards into the box, who took a touch and curled it neatly past Reyes. His celebrations certainly seemed over the top for an early goal in an October League One fixture, that is until you note that a goal of any kind had eluded him since November of 2017.
 
A few half chances followed for Exeter, namely in the form of balls across the box by Niskanen and Alli which were narrowly missed by onrushing forwards. Josh Magennis’ first half injury forced Milenic Alli into the most central forward position, in place of substitute Armani Richards. This was certainly to the detriment of City’s attacking capabilities, with much of their threat having come from Alli’s willingness to stay wide, run the line and put low crosses across the face of goal.
 
Cambridge’s Elias Kachunga should have scored within a minute of the second half, but fired his loose ball straight at Joe Whitworth in the Exeter goal. It was in fact a poor miss, but certainly spurred Cambridge on, and the roles were almost reversed as the second half went on.
 
Former Bristol Rovers striker Ryan Loft nearly equalised for the visitors with a well-caught volley from 30 yards or so, but despite a clear improvement, and in some places dominance, Cambridge failed to create many more clear chances.
 
But in pushing forward in search of their opening win of the season, Cambridge left gaps at the back, which City began to exploit. On one such occasion, Millenic Alli ran the length of the pitch, but was forced wide and blasted the ball straight at Reyes from a narrow angle. Sonny Cox was played in behind the Cambridge defence as part of a delightful one-two between himself and spritely substitute Kamari Doyle, but had his low shot saved well and tipped round the post for a corner.
 
There was, however, somehow no addition to the score, and City held out for a win which has them up to 7th in the league. It also continues an impressive run of clean sheets combined with impressive attacking displays, which has put the club as whole in a good mood as they continue to operate at the right end of League One.