Exeter City 2-3 Carlisle United

Carlisle staged a dramatic second-half fightback to seal a League Two play-off place after a 3-2 win at Exeter.

Danny Grainger cancelled out Reuben Reid's ninth-minute opener for City before Jordan Moore-Taylor headed the Grecians in front at the break.

But Grainger converted his second penalty of the match to haul Carlisle level after 72 minutes and Jamie Proctor sent 735 travelling supporters into raptures with the winning header three minutes later.

The thrilling comeback means Carlisle will face Exeter again in the semi-finals of the play-offs.

Having already clinched a play-off place, Exeter took the lead when David Wheeler headed the ball into the path of Reid, who smashed the ball past Mark Gillespie.

But Carlisle were gifted a route back into the match after Ethan Ampadu handled in the box.

Grainger made no mistake from the spot, ramming the ball into the roof of the net.

The hosts regained the lead when Wheeler headed on Ryan Harley's corner and Moore-Taylor crashed home a diving header.

Carlisle launched a second-half blitz and were awarded a penalty after Pierce Sweeney was adjudged to have tripped Proctor.

Grainger sent Christy Pym the wrong way from the spot and the visitors sensed blood.

And when Tom Miller's long throw was hurled into the Exeter box, there was Proctor to head home from close range.

Match report supplied by the Press Association.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Exeter

• 30Pym
• 31Sweeney
• 39Brown
• 15Moore-Taylor
• 11Wheeler
• 25TaylorSubstituted forGrantat 80'minutes
• 26Ampadu
• 4JamesSubstituted forTillsonat 70'minutes
• 7HarleySubstituted forCrollat 70'minutes
• 33Reid
• 14Watkins

Substitutes

• 1Olejnik
• 6Tillson
• 10Holmes
• 12Grant
• 19McAlinden
• 28Stacey
• 29Croll

Carlisle

• 1Gillespie
• 23Miller
• 28Liddle
• 5Raynes
• 12GillespheySubstituted forBaileyat 45'minutes
• 3GraingerBooked at 89mins
• 4JoyceSubstituted forO'Sullivanat 71'minutes
• 17Devitt
• 10Adams
• 14IbehreSubstituted forMillerat 66'minutes
• 9Proctor

Substitutes

• 13Tomlinson
• 16Bailey
• 18O'Sullivan
• 19Lambe
• 20Miller
• 22Crocombe
• 27Waring

Referee:

Steve Martin

Attendance:

6,774

Match Stats

Home TeamExeterAway TeamCarlisle

Possession

Home49%

Away51%

Shots

Home9

Away20

Shots on Target

Home3

Away5

Corners

Home6

Away15

Fouls

Home7

Away12

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Exeter City 2, Carlisle United 3.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+3'

Second Half ends, Exeter City 2, Carlisle United 3.

Posted at 90'+2'

Corner, Carlisle United. Conceded by Jordan Moore-Taylor.

Booking

Posted at 89'

Danny Grainger (Carlisle United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 89'

Foul by Danny Grainger (Carlisle United).

Posted at 89'

David Wheeler (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 87'

Corner, Exeter City. Conceded by Michael Raynes.

Posted at 86'

Foul by Michael Raynes (Carlisle United).

Posted at 86'

Reuben Reid (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 85'

Corner, Carlisle United. Conceded by Christy Pym.

Posted at 84'

Corner, Carlisle United. Conceded by Jordan Moore-Taylor.

Posted at 84'

Attempt blocked. Shaun Miller (Carlisle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Substitution

Posted at 80'

Substitution, Exeter City. Joel Grant replaces Jake Taylor.

Posted at 79'

Attempt missed. Michael Raynes (Carlisle United) header from the centre of the box is too high.

Posted at 78'

Tom Miller (Carlisle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 78'

Foul by Ollie Watkins (Exeter City).

Goal!

Posted at 75'

Goal! Exeter City 2, Carlisle United 3. Jamie Proctor (Carlisle United) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tom Miller.

Posted at 74'

Foul by Jamie Proctor (Carlisle United).

Posted at 74'

Troy Brown (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Goal!

Posted at 72'

Goal! Exeter City 2, Carlisle United 2. Danny Grainger (Carlisle United) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the top left corner.

Posted at 72'

Penalty Carlisle United. Jamie Proctor draws a foul in the penalty area.

Posted at 72'

Penalty conceded by Pierce Sweeney (Exeter City) after a foul in the penalty area.

Substitution

Posted at 71'

Substitution, Carlisle United. John O'Sullivan replaces Luke Joyce.

Substitution

Posted at 70'

Substitution, Exeter City. Luke Croll replaces Ryan Harley.

Substitution

Posted at 70'

Substitution, Exeter City. Jordan Tillson replaces Lloyd James.

Posted at 70'

Attempt missed. Jamie Proctor (Carlisle United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left.

Posted at 70'

Attempt blocked. Jamie Devitt (Carlisle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Posted at 69'

Attempt missed. Luke Joyce (Carlisle United) header from the right side of the six yard box misses to the right.

Posted at 67'

Attempt missed. Tom Miller (Carlisle United) header from the right side of the six yard box is high and wide to the right following a corner.

Posted at 67'

Corner, Carlisle United. Conceded by David Wheeler.

Substitution

Posted at 66'

Substitution, Carlisle United. Shaun Miller replaces Jabo Ibehre.

Posted at 66'

Corner, Carlisle United. Conceded by Pierce Sweeney.

Posted at 64'

Attempt blocked. Ollie Watkins (Exeter City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Posted at 62'

Ollie Watkins (Exeter City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 62'

Foul by Luke Joyce (Carlisle United).

Posted at 62'

Corner, Carlisle United. Conceded by Christy Pym.

Posted at 62'

Attempt saved. Jamie Proctor (Carlisle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

Posted at 62'

Corner, Carlisle United. Conceded by Troy Brown.

Posted at 60'

Tom Miller (Carlisle United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 60'

Foul by Ollie Watkins (Exeter City).

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