Exeter proved resilient on the road once again as they claimed a smash-and-grab win at Bootham Crescent, with on-loan winger Alex Rodman rifling into his own net to gift the Grecians an early lead. York recovered well when Exeter keeper Krysiak, not doing his chances of a national call-up any favours, spilt into the path of Michael Potts to smash home.
But it was the visitors who came out for the second half looking the fresher side despite a 300-mile trip north, with youngster Jimmy Keohane stealing the three points with the Grecians’ first shot on target.
A last-gasp header from goalkeeper Michael Ingham could have rescued a draw for the hosts, but Exeter held on to secure their ninth away league win of the season.
The sides shared the spoils in an eventful draw last September, and the opening stages were just as lively this afternoon. Exeter, after making their longest away-day journey of the season, started slothfully and just couldn’t get a foothold in the game. Jason Walker dragged his low effort across goal and narrowly wide on five minutes.
Patrick McLaughlin’s fierce strike then whizzed over the Grecians’ crossbar, before Exeter goalkeeper Atur Krysiak and York stopper Michael Ingham both looked sloppy.
But after fifteen minutes, loanee Alex Rodman netted what could quite possibly be crowned the best own goal of the year. Some excellent trickery in the final third from Matt Oakley put Jimmy Keohane through, and his cut back was met with a brutal drive from Rodman that nearly broke the net: A finish any striker would be proud of.
Exeter were quickly pegged back, though, when Krysiak failed to deal with Matty Blair’s close-range prod. Defenders fanned out like a flock of birds, leaving midfielder Michael Potts in plenty of space to tap in the leveller right in front of goal.
The match was ebbing and flowing; with Alan Gow’s delicate free-kick forcing a good save from Ingham after the goalkeeper had pushed John O’Flynn’s drive around the left upright just before the interval.
Exeter started the second half well, with Alan Gow finding space just outside the penalty area for a shot that cleared the crossbar. Another Exeter attack two minutes later was this time capitalised on by the away side. Keohane, following up on his earlier assist, slotted in under Michael Ingham with Exeter’s first shot on target and his first goal for the club.
York’s attack was failing to gel, with the side sorely missing top scorer Ashley Chambers. Gary Mills responded by hauling off striker Jason Walker, who himself has 7 goals this season, with big man Jamie Reed coming on up top. But clear cut chances were as rare as an ice cube in the Sahara for the Minstermen, with Matty Blair wiping out any mirage of victory the home supporters might have had, squandering a one-on-one with Krysiak.
Exeter proved difficult to break down, with half-time substitute Kevin Amankwaah having a strong influence down the right hand side. Gary Mills’ teamtalk will certainly need to talk about Kevin when the two sides next meet.
Michael Ingham nearly scored the first goal of his 15-year career, the goalkeeper coming up for a corner in stoppage time and directing a strong header towards the back post. But his opposite number 1 denied Ingham a famous goal and York a late equaliser.
York: Ingham; Smith; McGurk; Parslow; Fyfield (Oyebanjo – 64); Kerr; Blair; Potts (Reed – 83); McLaughlin; Rodman; Walker (Allen – 75)
Exeter: Krysiak; Tully; Woodman; Bennett; Baldwin; Coles; Oakley; Doherty (Amankwaah – 46); Keohane; Gow (Davies – 66); O’Flynn
Vision Man of the Match: Jimmy Keohane
NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN