A brace from Jack Aitchison helped Exeter City complete a comprehensive victory against Wycombe Wanderers booked their place in the third round of the FA Cup. Goals came elsewhere from Akeel Higgins and Jayden Wareham as Exeter overcame their fellow League One side 4-0.
The two sides met after first round wins against Halifax Town and Plymouth Argyle respectively, although Exeter entered the game on the back of a fire at the club’s stadium and in the midst of a financial crisis uncovered this week by The Times. The visitors also sit eight places above The Grecians in the league, in 12th position.
Wycombe had the better of the chances early on. Sam Bell was played through on goal by a quickly taken free kick, but saw his attempt saved by Joe Whitworth. Momentum then swung the other way, and Ilmari Niskanen’s cross was met by a phenomenal diving header by Jack Aitchison to put the hosts Infront. The lead could have been doubled on the stroke of half time when Jack McMillan struck one sweetly from outside the box, but his attempt wasn’t directed far enough out of the reach of Wycombe keeper Will Norris.
After the break, the visitors looked to find opening, but moments of defensive inspiration from Pierce Sweeney and McMillan kept the score 1-0. At one point, Akeel Higgins picked the ball up to initiate a counterattack, before putting the ball on a plate for Aitchison, who had no trouble slotting home to secure his brace. It seemed as if Exeter could do no wrong as a fantastic save from Whitworth stopped Cauley Woodrow from halving the deficit.
The pressure from the home side bore fruit once more in the final ten minutes. Higgins, one of The Grecians’ biggest creative forces on the day, cut inside from the edge of the box and placed his shot into the bottom corner to put the hosts out of touching distance. In the game’s dying embers, Ilmari Niskanen, having already assisted one goal, played a great pass for Jayden Wareham, who put his shot beyond the reach of Norris. Wareham’s backflip celebration signified the confirmation of Exeter’s progression to the next round.
Attention for Exeter will turn back towards the league and a mid-week clash with AFC Wimbledon. But, The Grecians’ will keep one eye on the FA Cup’s upcoming third round, where they have been drawn with an away trip to seven-time winners Manchester City.
