Here is a look at the Cobblers opponents in the Sky Bet League Two Final at Wembley Stadium.
Stadium: St James Park
Manager: Matt Taylor
Nickname: The Grecians
Exeter City was founded in 1904 and began at St James Park, where they remain to this day. They joined Division One of the Southern League in 1904. After a tour of South America in 1914 to generate awareness of football in the continent, the club became the first side to play a national team from Brazil. As a result, City and Brazilian side Fluminense are now also partner clubs. Exeter was invited to help create the Football League Third Division in 1920. They were assigned to Football League Third Division south the next year and won the Football League Third Division Cup in 1934. They remained in the division until becoming founder members of the Fourth Devision in 1958. They were promoted in 1963–64, only to be relegated after two seasons. They were promoted out of the Fourth Division again at the end of the 1976–77 season and managed to stay in the Third Division for seven seasons before being relegated in 1984.
Last time out
Exeter 3 – Colchester 1 | 22nd June | St James Park
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The Grecians’ forward beat the offside trap to run through and score left-footed in the 111th minute to clinch victory in an entertaining second leg.
Exeter trailed 1-0 from the first leg but started the game well and went ahead early as Aaron Martin fired in from 15 yards after Alex Fisher’s shot had been blocked.
The hosts took an aggregate lead when Jayden Richardson’s weak second-half shot squirmed under Dean Gerken, but the U’s finished the 90 minutes strongly and brought the tie level after Courtney Senior side-footed home from seven yards.
Fisher, one of four changes made by manager Matt Taylor, impressed early on as the hosts tested the Colchester defence with some teasing crosses before and after Martin’s opener.
Exeter’s danger man Randall Williams, who was subdued on Friday, had three good efforts to double the lead before the break. He forced Gerken into a good save with a curling free-kick, headed a Dean Moxey cross over and curled a stoppage-time effort just wide after a good counter-attack.
At the other end, Luke Gambin blasted over from 25 yards before Luke Norris had a flicked header palmed away by Jonny Maxted with Colchester’s best effort.
Pierce Sweeney should have doubled the lead 10 minutes after the break when he was found unmarked at the far post, but his close-range header was well over.
But City only had to wait a minute or so to take the lead as Nottingham Forest loanee Richardson was gifted his second senior goal by Gerken’s mistake after good build-up work from Nicky Law saw Bowman hit the post with a header.
Colchester had their best period in the final 20 minutes of normal time as Senior made it 2-2 on aggregate when he reacted instinctively after Maxted had weakly palmed away Cohen Bramall’s cross into his path.
The U’s should have been celebrating going through without extra time – Kwame Poku found himself one-on-one with Maxted but the teenage attacker could not beat Exeter’s keeper as the Grecians seemed to run out of steam.
Extra time saw few chances. Bowman and substitute Nigel Atangana both missing the target for Exeter in a tame first additional 15 minutes.
But Bowman’s goal saw the Grecians become the first team to overturn a first-leg deficit to make a Wembley final since Bradford City in 2013.
Archie Collins strongly held off a challenge in the centre circle to play a well-weighted through-ball and Bowman perfectly timed his run to beat the offside trap before shooting across Gerken into the bottom corner with his weaker left foot.
The Manager
Taylor was appointed manager of Exeter City, who he had previously captained, on 1 June 2018 replacing Paul Tisedale. A bright start led to Taylor being nominated for the August 2018 League Two Manager of the month award. Taylor voiced his disappointment at missing out on the League Two Play-offs the side missing out on a third successive top 7 finish by a single point.
Taylor won the August 2019 EFL League Two Manager of the Month award following a strong start to Exeter’s 2019-2020 with the side winning four and drawing two of their opening six matches. A strong set of results over the festive period meant Exeter finished 2019 in second place, with Taylor himself being named EFL League Two Manager of the Month for December 2019.
One to Watch
Ryan Bowman
Ryan signed for the Grecians in January 2019 from Scottish side Motherwell.
He came through the youth ranks with Carlisle United where he worked with current City assistant manager, Eric Kinder.
After departing Carlisle in 2011 permanently, he made the move to Darlington where he would spend one season before joining Hereford United.
Despite making a host of appearances in the 2012/13 season, he then opted to join York City before his first spell in Devon arrived in 2014. The striker spent one season with Torquay United where he netted 12 times in 37 appearances before moving back north to Gateshead.
The striker would then arrive in Scottish football in 2016 where he would go on to play 86 times before heading back to Devon to join the Grecians.
Ryan’s arrival at St James Park saw him put in several positive performances as he led the line for the team. His first goal for the club came when he headed home from close range against Macclesfield Town before he quickly added his second with a well-taken finish. That preceded a good run of goalscoring form as he found the net against the likes of Crawley Town, Stevenage and Oldham Athletic.
Recent Meetings
Northampton Town 2 Exeter City 0 | February 22, 2020, | Sky Bet League Two
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The Cobblers stopped their four-game losing run thanks to Vadaine Oliver’s first-minute goal and Sam Hoskins’ late penalty as they moved back into the play-off places.
Northampton was ahead after just 54 seconds as Exeter failed to clear Chris Lines’ ball into the box and Oliver emphatically thumped into the top corner from a tight angle.
The visitors responded through Matt Jay, who had a couple of attempts saved by David Cornell, but they were fortunate not to be further behind at the break after goalkeeper Lewis Ward brilliantly kept out Ryan Watson’s close-range effort.
Exeter struggled to turn their dominance of possession into clear chances and, if anything, Northampton carried the greater threat on the break after half-time with Ward saving with his legs from Lloyd Jones.
The Cobblers scored their second goal with nine minutes to go when Callum Morton was tripped in the box and Hoskins sent Ward the wrong way from the penalty spot, wrapping up the victory.
Exeter City 3 Northampton Town 2 | December 17, 2019 | Sky Bet League Two
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Cobblers broke the deadlock after 34 minutes when a poor clearance led to the ball falling for Charlie Goode on the edge of the penalty box and he lashed a shot into the bottom corner.
However, Exeter was level soon after when they played a quick free-kick to Randell Williams and he cut inside before firing in a low shot from 20 yards.
Jack Sparkes struck the base of a post with an excellent free-kick for Exeter and they went in front just after the hour when Williams crossed and Aaron Martin headed in at the back post.
It was 3-1 three minutes later when Alex Fisher headed in a superb cross from Sparkes, but Northampton were back in the game when Sam Hoskins scored an excellent individual goal in the 79th minute, beating two men before slotting the ball into the bottom corner.
That set up an exciting finale with Northampton threatening on occasions, but Exeter held firm for an important three points.
Head to Head
Northampton Games Won: 53
Games Drawn: 34
Exeter Games Won: 30
How to watch the Final?
The Sky Bet League Two Playoff Final with Northampton V Exeter will be live exclusively on Sky Sports Football and Main Event in the UK.