Exeter City 1 Rotherham United 0: Millers suffer defeat on opening day
Substitute Caleb Watts scored the only goal as Exeter City started their League One season with an excellent 1-0 win over big-spending Rotherham United.Substitute Caleb Watts scored the only goal as Exeter City started their League One season with an excellent 1-0 win over big-spending Rotherham United.
Jonson Clarke-Harris headed wide from barely five yards out on the stroke of half-time with Rotherham’s first attempt.After the break, Reece Cole was twice denied by Phillips before Rotherham’s Hakeem Odoffin struck the outside of the post and missed another great chance, heading over from six yards.
It proved costly as Watts, who had only been on the pitch for three minutes, turned in an exquisite cross from Johnly Yfeko from close range to give Exeter a deserved lead.
Rotherham rarely looked like getting an equaliser as the Grecians dealt with them comfortably to get their season off to the perfect start.
An end-to-end game entertaining game had chances at both ends for either side, but a ball off Caleb Watts’ chest mid-way through the second half marked the difference between Exeter City and Rotherham United at St James Park.
Gary Caldwell handed out six debuts prior to kick-off, with Joe Whitworth starting in goal behind a defence featuring Tristan Crama and Johnly Yfeko. Jack McMillan continued in the middle of midfield, partnering Ed Francis, while Josh Magennis led the attack.
An end-to-end game entertaining game had chances at both ends for either side, but a ball off Caleb Watts’ chest mid-way through the second half marked the difference between Exeter City and Rotherham United at St James Park.
Gary Caldwell handed out six debuts prior to kick-off, with Joe Whitworth starting in goal behind a defence featuring Tristan Crama and Johnly Yfeko. Jack McMillan continued in the middle of midfield, partnering Ed Francis, while Josh Magennis led the attack.Jack Aitchison then had the Millers’ stopper concerned with an effort that curled millimeters wide of the post. Reece Cole played a delightful ball low across the box after being found by Ilmari Niskanen, but the ball evaded everyone. Aitchison picked it up with his back to goal on the far corner of the box, turned, and shot inches wide