Leyton Orient 2 Exeter City 2 - Grecians fight back to snatch dramatic late point

Exeter City made it seven unbeaten after a dramatic late comeback to snatch a point at Leyton Orient. Two poor defensive moments saw them slip to a 2-0 behind, before goals in the 88^th and 92^nd minutes sealed a 2-2 draw.

Jake Richards volleyed into the side netting for the Grecians in their best chance of the first half. Two minutes later, Ollie O’Neill gave Orient the lead in the 35^th minute with an Olympico goal as his deep corner curled over everyone and into the back of the net.

Ilmari Niskanen twice came closer to an equaliser at the start of the second half. But after an error by Tom Carroll, O’Neill set up George Moncur just after the hour mark to make it 2-0. Millenic Alli grabbed an 88^th minute goal to set up a grandstand finish, before in stoppage-time, Will Aimson flicked home a dramatic late leveller to earn a point.

City, now unbeaten in seven, stayed 12^th in the League One table, the division they will be playing in again next season, as results elsewhere ensured that City mathematically are safe from relegation.

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After the 1-0 win over Stevenage on Saturday, Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell made four changes to the Grecians line-up. In came Zak Jules in defence, after his three match suspension was served. Niskanen, Richards and Jack Aitchison were the other players recalled.

Vincent Harper and Luke Harris dropped down to the bench, while Sonny Cox was not involved after picking up a hamstring injury at the weekend. Alex Hartridge, who is to depart in the summer, was not in the matchday squad. Ben Purrington was back on the bench though as recovering from his concussion.

The first chance fell to Orient when Ruel Sotiriou danced into the box, but Jules made a vital block before he could get a shot off. City then countered and went straight up the other end, and Niskanen saw a deflected strike go into the side netting.

Jordan Brown’s powerful volley was blocked by Aimson in a delicate area for the hosts, while after a mazy run by Dion Rankine, Tom Carroll’s effort was comfortably saved by Sol Brynn as blows were traded in the early stages, without either goal really being under threat.

But it took 33 minutes for the first real chance for either side. Rankine danced forward, fizzed in a low cross, and Richards’ effort from 12 yards out beat the goalkeeper, but went wide of the post. It was close to a first goal for the 16-year-old.

Two minutes later, City were behind. Aimson was frustrated with himself as slicing a clearance from a cross out for a corner. And from that corner, Orient scored. O’Neill’s inswinging delivery evaded everyone and dropped into the far corner. Despite the protests of Vil Sinisalo that he was fouled, there didn’t look to be much wrong with it, and the referee gave the goal.

Alli replaced Aitchison shortly before the break, with the Scot limping off injured. In the seven minutes of first half stoppage-time, Rankine, who was Exeter’s most lively player, broke free, but his touch didn’t allow him to get a shot off, and while he found Carroll, he was crowded out. City had played well, but went in 1-0 down.

Caldwell made his second substitution of the night at half-time, with Harris replacing Richards. Harris then combined with Carroll to slot in Niskanen on the left wing, but again, the Finn could only find the side netting with his finish. The chances kept coming for the wing-back, a curling effort was pushed wide by Brynn.

But in the 64^th minute, City gifted Richie Wellens’ men a second goal. Carroll gave the ball away in a dangerous position straight to O’Neill. The Irishman drove into the area, cut the ball back to Moncur, who had the easiest of finishes from close range to make it 2-0.

Caldwell then made a double change, with Harper and Yanic Wildschut replacing Rankine and Reece Cole. The latter nearly pulled one back with his first involvement and he broke forward and cut inside, but his powerful strike just flew over the crossbar. He then saw a volley from a corner headed almost off the line.

Carroll saw a volley tipped over by the goalkeeper as it was all City as they tried to grab something from the game. Alli then did brilliantly from a tight angle to beat two men and put it seemingly on a plate for Niskanen, but he sliced the finish wide.

Cheick Diabate replaced Harper, who seemingly picked up a knock, in Caldwell’s final change, with the centre back playing as a makeshift striker. And in the 88^th minute, City finally got the goal they had been threatening. Harris’ cross was clipped in, and Alli, unmarked at the far post, nodded home his first City goal.

Six minutes of stoppage-time were added-on, and in the first, Harris just couldn’t get a long ball under control when he would have been one-on-one, and then saw a shot pushed wide for the corner. But from the corner, it was played short to Niskanen, he cut it back to Carroll, and his shot was flicked in by Aimson to make it 2-2.

It cued wild scenes in the away end, but City weren’t finished and pushed for what would have been the most unlikely of winners. It didn’t come, but Exeter moved onto 55 points, just one short of their tally from last season.

Exeter City are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Port Vale.

Exeter City: Vil Sinisalo, Pierce Sweeney, Will Aimson, Zak Jules, Dion Rankine (Vincent Harper, 66, Cheick Diabate, 85), Tom Carroll, Ryan Woods, Ilmari Niskanen, Reece Cole (Yanic Wildschut, 66), Jake Richards (Luke Harris, 45), Jack Aitchison (Millenic Alli, 43)

Subs: Shaun McDonald, Ben Purrington

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