MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town 3-4 Exeter City

Richie Wellens’ winless cup competition streak continued as Swindon were outplayed by a youthful Exeter City side losing 3-4 at home in the EFL Trophy. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker gives his match report from the County Ground.

A seven-goal game made for a thrilling encounter at the County Ground as Swindon’s defensive frailties were once again exposed against a sub-par Exeter City. 

Quick-fire goals from the Grecians’ Nicky Ajose and Jack Sparkes inside the opening ten minutes made for a lightning start to proceedings, with Tyler Smith’s brace and Matty Palmer’s stoppage-time goal failing to impact the final result.

Two goals within the opening ten minutes sparked what was set to be an uneventful EFL Trophy game into life as Exeter’s squad consisting of mainly academy players stunned the League Two champions with two well-taken quick-fire goals. 

Nicky Ajose opened the scoring with a bullet effort from 20-yards out in the 4th minute after Swindon failed to properly clear the games opening corner, whilst more misery was heaped on the hosts just two minutes later as Hallam Hope gave away a penalty, hacking down Jack Sparkes inside the box.

Seymour converted from the penalty spot to give Exeter a two-goal cushion as goalkeeper Joe Fryer got his Swindon debut off to the worst possible start. 

Making nine changes from the starting side that lost 3-1 away to Peterborough at the weekend, Swindon looked a disjointed outfit, struggling to play fluidly through the channels when attacking and looking vulnerable in defence every time Exeter had the ball. 

High on confidence, the visitors should’ve made it three-nil after spurring multiple chance with Jack Caprice, Ajose, and Alex Fisher all presented with goalscoring opportunities but each failing to make their efforts count. 

Swindon eventually started to wake up and Tyler Smith should’ve pulled one back for the Robins but he lacked accuracy from close-range putting a Hope’s cut-back wide in the 25th minute. 

Making his first start for the club, Joel Grant looked to have won Swindon a penalty in the 27th minute after being pushed to the ground when under pressure but the referee waved play on despite shouts from the bench. 

Matty Palmer nearly pulled one back just moments later but his low shot rattled off the post and Exeter were able to breath a sigh of relief. 

Despite two early goals, there was little action to report on as the match edged closer towards half-time with Exeter firmly in control and Swindon appearing to treat the game like a training match in a competition that does little to excite STFC fans. 

Fisher forced Fryer into making a good save down to his right in the 21st minute after Swindon’s defence allowed the ball to bounce inside their box with the striker attempting to tap it in from close-range.

Whilst immediately up the other end Swindon looked to have pulled one back with Smith putting the ball in the back of the net only for the linesman to raise his flag for offside. 

Seymour looked set to double his tally for the evening on the stroke of half-time after Ajose found him unmarked inside Swindon’s six-yard box with a delicate cut-back but the attacker appeared almost to eager and somehow blasted his effort onto Swindon’s bar before Fryer collected. 

Smith and Jaiyesimi both called Maxted into action with strong strikes in added on time but neither could make an impact on the scoreline as the sides left the field with Exeter in front. 

Swindon emerged for the second half looking to make amends for a disastrous first period of play against an inexperienced Exeter side looking for their second win in the competition. But it was the away side who had the first chance as Fisher was played through one-on-one, with Fryer standing tall to come out on top with the ball. 

Swindon looking to get themselves back into the match increased their intensity levels and dominated the opening exchanges of the second half with the Robins controlling possession, but creating very little in front of goal.

Town looking the more dangerous of the two sides eventually got their breakthrough in the 61st minute as Smith latched onto Joel Grant’s cross to tap past Maxted and pull Swindon to within one. 

However whilst Swindon fans may have been dreaming of a cup comeback, Exeter dashed any hopes with an immediate response as Nigel Atangana rose highest to connect with Ajose’s corner and head past Fryer to restore their two-goal cushion. 

Jack Payne and Jonny Smith were introduced to add some attacking flair, but it was defensive reinforcements that Wellens should have opted for as Exeter’s Alex Hartridge heaped more misery on Swindon scuffing the ball into the Town net from close-range in the 67th minute as the Robins again failed to deal with a set-piece delivery. 

The fourth appeared to be the proverbial nail in the coffin as Swindon heads dropped and the red men resigned themselves to defeat but a late Tyler Smith goal gave Town hope before Matty Palmer scored his first goal for the club in added time. 

The scoreline reflects a close game but this match was anything but that as Exeter excelled and Swindon once again faltered in a cup competition.