Exeter’s promotion hopes suffer blow with defeat at Walsall

Posted Sunday, March 08, 2020 by PA

Exeter had a goal controversially disallowed as their Sky Bet League Two automatic promotion hopes suffered another blow with a 3-1 defeat at mid-table Walsall.

Ryan Bowman thought he had put City ahead after cancelling out Rory Holden’s opener but he was eventually ruled offside after a long consultation between the officials and Elijah Adebayo’s double won it for Walsall.

Walsall went ahead after only three minutes as Exeter keeper Lewis Ward pushed Josh Gordon’s cross out to Holden who steered home from eight yards.

They should have doubled their lead but Caolan Lavery lifted off target with only Ward to beat from six yards and Dan Scarr headed Danny Guthrie’s free-kick over.

Exeter equalised after 51 minutes as Bowman headed home from Randell Williams’ cross for his 14th goal of the season.

Then came the controversy as Bowman got a faint touch to flick home Williams’ free-kick but, after initially giving the goal, referee Tom Nield ruled it offside.

Adebayo rubbed salt into their wounds, heading home Cameron Norman’s cross after 71 minutes before tapping in Gordon’s pull-back in stoppage time.