Back to winning ways for the Valiants as Ollie Arblaster's first half strike is the difference in Devon
On an incredibly blustery day in Devon the hosts had the first opportunity of the game on eight minutes. Ilmari Niskanen drilled a low ball across the box where the ball fell to Harry Kite but the anticipation from Connor Ripley meant that Kite’s angle was small and our number one was able to smother the ball.
Three minutes later Conor Grant was given time and space in the area but his cross come shot just drifted wide of the far post.
On 29 minutes the Valiants won a corner which was taken by Sang. It was struck towards the front post where Ben Garrity won the flick which fell for Ollie Arblaster who volleyed the ball unmarked past Vil Sinisalo to give the Vale a one goal lead.
We launched a counterattack on the 40 minute mark lead by Funso Ojo. He then laid the ball off to Garrity before playing it to Sang who crossed the ball into the area. The delivery was headed away only as far as Grant who chested the ball down and volleyed towards goal but Sinisalo in goal was able to grab hold of it.
Both sides improved in the second half and knocked the ball around much better than in the first. Despite this, it took 18 minutes for either side to register a shot on target after the break. A whipped ball in from Pierce Sweeney found Yanic Wildschut in the box but his effort was weak and gathered by Ripley.
On 71 minutes an almighty goal line scramble began in the Vale goalmouth. The ball fell to Jack Aitchison who was only a few yards out but he was denied by Ripley before the Valiants finally got the ball clear.
Two minutes later we came close to doubling our advantage through a set piece. The ball was whipped in towards Jesse Debrah but the defender’s effort was too high as went over the bar.
Ryan Trevitt came close to an equaliser on 88 minutes as he opened up his body on the edge of the area and let fly but his effort went wide of Ripley’s post.
Ikpeazu almost wrapped the points up on 89 minutes as he skipped past a couple of Exeter defenders before striking at goal but a fine save from Sinisalo kept the hosts in the game.
Trevitt again almost equalised for Exeter in the final minute of regular time when his curled attempt just went wide of Ripley’s goal as a huge gasp was heard around St James Park.
The final nail in the coffin for City’s chances of nicking a point was hammered in when Will Aimson was sent off for a second bookable offence after pulling down the shirt of Ikpeazu.
Exeter City | Vin Sinisalo, Zak Jules, Will Aimson, Tom Carroll (64’ James Scott), Ryan Trevitt, Yanic Wildschut (83’ Vincent Harper), Ilmari Niskanen, Harry Kite, Dion Rankine (64’ Kyle Taylor), Pierce Sweeney, Jack Aithcison
Unused Subs | Shaun MacDonald, Alex Hartridge, Reece Cole
Port Vale | Connor Ripley, Tom Sang, Nathan Smith, Ben Garrity, Ethan Chislett (76’ Baylee Dipepa), Funso Ojo, Conor Grant, Jason Lowe, Ollie Arblaster (88’ Alex Iacovitti), Rhys Walters (46’ Uche Ikpeazu), Jesse Debrah
Unused Subs | Jayson Leutwiler, Kofi Balmer, Gavin Massey, Ben Lomax