Jevani Brown came off the bench to rescue a point for Exeter at home against League One bottom club Forest Green Rovers.
The first half was devoid of chances with defenses on top and it took until the 31st minute for the first effort at goal, but Josh Key poked wide as the Rovers defense failed to clear a corner.
The away side responded with Brandon Cooper glancing a header narrowly over the crossbar, while Jack Sparkes saw a cross-cum-shot go just wide for Exeter as a drab game limped towards half-time.
Rovers started the second half well, with Jamie Robson firing just over, and they went in front after 55 minutes when debutant Jordon Garrick tucked in at the back post from Robson’s low cross.
Exeter instantly made changes and looked better with Jay Stansfield heading over Brown’s cross from close range but, with 15 minutes remaining, City’s pressure told as they fashioned a chance for Brown and he lashed in a brilliant strike from 15 yards.
Harry Kite struck the post for Exeter with Key inexplicably striking the rebound against the crossbar from on the line, but despite finishing strongly, they could not find a winning goal.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Exeter
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 18Blackman
- 26Sweeney
- 39Diabates
- 5Hartridge
- 2Caprice
- 16Kiting
- 8CollinsSubstituted forWhiteat 61′minutesBooked at 87mins
- 3SparksSubstituted forBrownat 60′minutes
- 12key
- 9stansfield
- 10namesBooked at 51mins
Substitutes
- 4Stubbs
- 6Harper
- 11White
- 15Chauke
- 20Brown
- 22Lee
- 27grounds
Forest Green
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Doohan
- 22Godwin-MalifeSubstituted forO’Keeffeat 83′minutes
- 5Casey
- 23CooperSubstituted forCargillat 84′minutes
- 12Robson
- 4McGeouchSubstituted forHenryat 83′minutes
- 25Peart-Harris
- 7StevensonBooked at 79mins
- 11GarrickSubstituted forBakayokoat 64′minutes
- 28March
- 17McAllisterSubstituted forBernardat 90+2′minutes
Substitutes
- 2O’Keeffe
- 3Bernard
- 6Cargill
- 8Henry
- 9Stevens
- 21Bakayoko
- 24Thomas
- Referees:
- David Rock
- Attendance:
- 7.008
Live Text
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Match ends, Exeter City 1, Forest Green Rovers 1.
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Second Half ends, Exeter City 1, Forest Green Rovers 1.
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Offside, Exeter City. Alex Hartridge tries a through ball, but Joshua Key is caught offside.
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Substitution, Forest Green Rovers. Dominic Bernard replaces Kyle McAllister.
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Harry Kite (Exeter City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Amadou Bakayoko (Forest Green Rovers).
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Corner, Forest Green Rovers. Granted by Jake Caprice.
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Joe White (Exeter City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Joe White (Exeter City).
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Regan Hendry (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Substitution, Forest Green Rovers. Baily Cargill replaces Brandon Cooper.
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Substitution, Forest Green Rovers. Corey O’Keeffe replaces Udoka Godwin-Malife.
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Substitution, Forest Green Rovers. Regan Hendry replaces Dylan McGeouch.
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Attempt missed. Alex Hartridge (Exeter City) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box misses to the right following a corner.
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Corner, Exeter City. Granted by Oliver Casey.
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Attempt blocked. Jay Stansfield (Exeter City) right footed shot from the center of the box is blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Joe White (Exeter City) left footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alex Hartridge.
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Attempt blocked. Alex Hartridge (Exeter City) left footed shot from the center of the box is blocked.
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Joshua Key (Exeter City) hits the bar with a right footed shot from very close range following a corner.
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Harry Kite (Exeter City) hits the left post with a right footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Joe White following a corner.