Exeter City 2-0 Colchester United

Offrande Zanzala celebrated his second goal for Exeter City since he left Barrow on loan in January

Exeter took another step towards automatic promotion from the Second Division with a comfortable 2-0 win over Colchester at sun-drenched St James Park.

Exeter dominated possession for the first half but didn’t create any chances before taking the lead with their first try in the 32nd minute.

Former Colchester player Jevani Brown played an inch-perfect pass down the barrel of Jack Sparkes and the Greek Academy graduate fired a low shot over the goal into the corner to send a sold-out crowd into a frenzy.

Archie Collins then hit the outside of the post from 20 yards as Exeter grew in confidence and took a narrow lead at the break.

The second half continued in a similar way. Tim Dieng was denied by a brilliant save from Shamal George and Exeter scored the second in the 63rd minute when Collins’ cross was smashed over by Matt Jay and Offrande Zanzala fired in from close range.

Substitute John Akinde had the ball in for Colchester but was ruled offside while Padraig Amond forced George into another fine save at the other end.

Match report by PA Media.

lineups

exeter

formation 3-4-1-2

1dawson

26Sweeney6stub34Hartridge

12button8thCollins14service3Spark

7jay

20Brown18they are hungry

• 1dawson
• 26Sweeney
• 6stub
• 34HartridgeReplaced bydiabetesat the 75′protocol
• 12button
• 8thCollins
• 14service
• 3Spark
• 7jayReplaced byRoweat the 86′protocol
• 20Brown
• 18they are hungryReplaced byamondat the 77′protocol

substitute

• 2Mood
• 11amond
• 15Phillips
• 21Rowe
• 31coley
• 39diabetes
• 40Brown

colchester

formation 4-2-3-1

29George

27coxe4chambers18Ostman5blacksmith

8thskuse6Sarpong Wiredu

7Hannant28whoops14Chilvers

11sears

• 29George
• 27coxeBooked at 66 minutes
• 4chambers
• 18Ostman
• 5blacksmith
• 8thskuse
• 6Sarpong Wiredu
• 7HannantReplaced byJudgeat the 64′protocol
• 28whoopsReplaced byAkindat the 65′protocol
• 14ChilversReplaced byWrightat the 75′protocol
• 11sears

substitute

• 2Welch Hayes
• 10Judge
• 17kenlock
• 22goodbye
• 23Hornby
• 24Akind
• 46Wright

Referee: Will Finnie

Number of visitors: 7,549

live text

1. Game ends, Exeter City 2, Colchester United 0.

2. End of the second half, Exeter City 2, Colchester United 0.

3. Cheick Diabate (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

4. Foul by John Akinde (Colchester United).

5. Foul by Padraig Amond (Exeter City).

6. Tommy Smith (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

7. Foul by Pierce Sweeney (Exeter City).

8. Shamal George (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

9. Corner, Exeter City. Goal conceded by Tommy Smith.

10. Substitution, Exeter City. Callum Rowe replaces Matt Jay.

11. Foul by Matt Jay (Exeter City).

12. Shamal George (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

13. Corner, Exeter City. Collected from Shamal George.

14. attempt saved. Padraig Amond (Exeter City) header from the center of the box is saved in the top center of the goal. Assisted by Jevani Brown with a cross.

15. Offside Colchester United. Alan Judge tries a through ball, but Tyreik Wright is caught offside.

16. Handball by Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu (Colchester United).

17. Substitution, Exeter City. Padraig Amond replaces Offrande Zanzala.

18. Off Exeter City. Cameron Dawson tries a through ball, but Offrande Zanzala is caught offside.

19. Substitution, Colchester United. Tyreik Wright replaces Noah Chilvers.

20. Substitution, Exeter City. Cheick Diabate replaces Alex Hartridge due to injury.