Exeter City 2 - 1 Accrington Stanley: Exeter hang on for well-deserved victory over Accrington

Exeter fought back from a goal down to see off Accrington 2-1 at St James' Park.

Exeter made a blistering start to the game with Tom Nichols and Jordan Moore-Taylor both missing chances in the first two minutes and it was against the run of play that Accrington broke the deadlock just a minute later.

Shay McCartan benefited from Moore-Taylor's slip and ran through, rounded Bobby Olejnik and rolled the ball into an empty net.

However, Exeter hit straight back when Nichols latched on to Matt Oakley's superb through ball and drilled the ball past Jason Mooney for the equaliser.

Both sides continued to create chances in a wonderfully open game, but it was Accrington who came closest to regaining the lead when McCartan's shot came back off the inside of the upright.

Substitute Christian Ribeiro put Exeter back in front on 79 minutes when he bundled the ball home after Accrington failed to clear a corner and the ball fell at his feet six yards from goal.

Stanley enjoyed plenty of possession in the closing stages, but they did not test Olejnik in the Exeter goal as the Grecians held on for three well-earned points.