Accrington Stanley 2-3 Exeter City

Tom Nichols scored twice in Exeter's 3-2 victory over Shrewbury last weekend

Exeter City moved level on points with the League Two play-off places with victory at Accrington Stanley.

Liam Sercombe's volley from Craig Woodman's pass put Exeter ahead and Tom Nichols beat two defenders to fire in his sixth goal in five league games.

John O'Sullivan's 25-yard drive briefly closed the gap, before Matt Grimes scored a spectacular 30-yard free-kick to put Exeter into a 3-1 lead.

Shay McCartan broke clear to score the home side's second but Exeter held on.

The game was lively from the first whistle and after Sercombe and Alex Nicholls had early chances for Exeter, Stanley's Andy Procter saw his looping header go over and Sean Maguire went close.

Five goals of the highest quality followed as the crowd of 1,443 were treated to a thrilling game.

Tom Aldred had a late chance to level but mis-timed his header, as Accrington's run of four straight home wins came to an end.

Exeter are now level on 30 points with seventh-placed Bury and sixth-placed Plymouth, while Accrington remain 12th.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Accrington

• 26Rose
• 6Winnard
• 25Atkinson
• 5Aldred
• 3Liddle
• 4Joyce
• 24Proctor
• 15MingoiaSubstituted forNaismithat 84'minutes
• 19Maguire
• 18O'Sullivan
• 33CrooksSubstituted forMcCartanat 61'minutes

Substitutes

• 7McCartan
• 9Gray
• 11Naismith
• 12Simpson
• 14Carver
• 16Hunt
• 23Barry

Exeter

• 21Hamon
• 6Ribeiro
• 2Butterfield
• 8Oakley
• 3Woodman
• 7Sercombe
• 19Noble
• 23NichollsSubstituted forHarleyat 79'minutes
• 14GrimesBooked at 13mins
• 20NicholsSubstituted forWheelerat 89'minutes
• 31CumminsSubstituted forDaviesat 79'minutes

Substitutes

• 10Keohane
• 11Davies
• 22Wheeler
• 26Tillson
• 30Pym
• 33Harley
• 34Morrison

Referee:

Andy Haines

Attendance:

1,443

Match Stats

Home TeamAccringtonAway TeamExeter

Possession

Home54%

Away46%

Shots

Home11

Away6

Shots on Target

Home2

Away4

Corners

Home9

Away2

Fouls

Home7

Away3

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Accrington Stanley 2, Exeter City 3.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Accrington Stanley 2, Exeter City 3.

Posted at 90'+3'

Corner, Accrington Stanley. Conceded by David Noble.

Posted at 90'+1'

Corner, Accrington Stanley. Conceded by Matt Oakley.

Substitution

Posted at 89'

Substitution, Exeter City. David Wheeler replaces Tom Nichols.

Posted at 89'

Michael Liddle (Accrington Stanley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 89'

Foul by Liam Sercombe (Exeter City).

Posted at 87'

Attempt missed. Robert Atkinson (Accrington Stanley) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.

Posted at 87'

Corner, Accrington Stanley. Conceded by Craig Woodman.

Substitution

Posted at 84'

Substitution, Accrington Stanley. Kal Naismith replaces Piero Mingoia.

Posted at 84'

Corner, Accrington Stanley. Conceded by Christian Ribeiro.

Posted at 82'

Attempt saved. Liam Sercombe (Exeter City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

Substitution

Posted at 79'

Substitution, Exeter City. Arron Davies replaces Graham Cummins.

Substitution

Posted at 79'

Substitution, Exeter City. Ryan Harley replaces Alex Nicholls.

Posted at 77'

Corner, Accrington Stanley. Conceded by Matt Oakley.

Posted at 75'

Attempt missed. John O'Sullivan (Accrington Stanley) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.

Goal!

Posted at 73'

Goal! Accrington Stanley 2, Exeter City 3. Shay McCartan (Accrington Stanley) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner.

Goal!

Posted at 69'

Goal! Accrington Stanley 1, Exeter City 3. Matt Grimes (Exeter City) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the top right corner.

Posted at 68'

Foul by Tom Aldred (Accrington Stanley).

Posted at 68'

Liam Sercombe (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Goal!

Posted at 65'

Goal! Accrington Stanley 1, Exeter City 2. John O'Sullivan (Accrington Stanley) right footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner.

Posted at 63'

Foul by Shay McCartan (Accrington Stanley).

Posted at 63'

Matt Oakley (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 61'

Corner, Accrington Stanley. Conceded by Liam Sercombe.

Substitution

Posted at 61'

Substitution, Accrington Stanley. Shay McCartan replaces Matt Crooks.

Posted at 56'

Corner, Accrington Stanley. Conceded by Matt Oakley.

Posted at 55'

Corner, Accrington Stanley. Conceded by Danny Butterfield.

Posted at 52'

Corner, Exeter City. Conceded by Jack Rose.

Goal!

Posted at 49'

Goal! Accrington Stanley 0, Exeter City 2. Tom Nichols (Exeter City) right footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner.

Second Half

Posted at

Second Half begins Accrington Stanley 0, Exeter City 1.

Half Time

Posted at 45'+7'

First Half ends, Accrington Stanley 0, Exeter City 1.

Posted at 45'+6'

Attempt missed. Sean Maguire (Accrington Stanley) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner.

Goal!

Posted at 45'+3'

Goal! Accrington Stanley 0, Exeter City 1. Liam Sercombe (Exeter City) right footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Matt Grimes.

Posted at 44'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 44'

Delay in match John O'Sullivan (Accrington Stanley) because of an injury.

Posted at 40'

Delay in match David Noble (Exeter City) because of an injury.

Posted at 39'

Attempt blocked. Luke Joyce (Accrington Stanley) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 39'

Corner, Accrington Stanley. Conceded by Craig Woodman.

Posted at 37'

Christian Ribeiro (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 37'

Foul by Matt Crooks (Accrington Stanley).

Show more updates