Exeter City extended their unbeaten run to five as they came from behind to draw at Rotherham United. Having gone behind at the end of the first half, Alex Hartridge’s equalizer in the second half saw City pick up a point and move them closer to League One safety.
Both sides had chances in a lively first half. The Grecians hit the post from a goalmouth scramble from a corner and then Ryan Trevitt had a shot cleared off the line, but in the 45th minute when Rotherham went ahead when Reece James reacted quickest to poke home after Mallik Wilks’ initial effort was saved.
Hartridge though was the unlikely man who levelled for Exeter early in the second half. The defender finished neatly on his weaker foot for what was the first league goal of his career to make it 1-1.
Both sides pushed for a winner, and Josh Magennis had the best chance for City to win it, but headed wide. The point saw Exeter stay 16th, just a point behind Rotherham United, although Burton Albion’s win means the cushion to the relegation zone is eight points, with City still having a game in hand.
Goal scored by Alex Hartridge of Exeter City during the EFL League One Match between Rotherham United and Exeter City at The Aesseal New York Stadium Stadium on 15 March 2025 in Rotherham, England (Photo by Steve Taylor/PPAUK)
Goal scored by Alex Hartridge of Exeter City during the EFL League One Match between Rotherham United and Exeter City at The Aesseal New York Stadium Stadium on 15 March 2025 in Rotherham, England (Photo by Steve Taylor/PPAUK)
After the 2-0 win at home to Mansfield Town on Tuesday night, Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell made just the one enforced change to his side. Ben Purrington missed out with illness, so Joel Colwill came into the eleven, while Ilmari Niskanen was on the bench, where once again, City had no sub goalkeeper, despite Shaun MacDonald being fit again. Former Grecian Sam Nombe started for Rotherham, while Cameron Dawson was among their subs.
And it was the former City man who had the first chance, and it was a golden one. A cross was swung in, Nombe was unmarked inside the six yard box, but he got his header all wrong and it looped over the bar. It was a lucky escape for Caldwell’s men who were slow out of the traps, but soon they had a decent chance of their own, but Colwill couldn’t divert his header from a Pat Jones cross on target.
A flurry of City corners piled the pressure on the Millers, with four in the space of a minute. From the second one, Exeter nearly scored as it was inside the six yard box and the ball bounced off a defender, but unfortunately for the visitors, it squirms across goal and off the post and wide. Eventually the hosts weathered the storm.
In the space of 60 seconds though, both sides should have scored. Firstly a brilliant Grecians move between Jack McMillan and Ed Francis saw a chance fashioned for Trevitt, which was cleared off the line. Steve Evans’ men launched it long, Angus MacDonald made a mistake, and Nombe was clean through one-on-one. He had to score, but somehow a combination of Hartridge getting back and Joe Whitworth denied him.
There were chances at both ends. McMillan for City saw a shot blocked. Hakeem Odoffin came close with a header for Rotherham. But on the stroke of half-time, United took the lead. Wilks came close with his effort, which Whitworth could only parry back out, where James was arriving and he tapped into the empty net to make it 1-0 at half-time.
Josh Magennis of Exeter City and Jack McMillan of Exeter City appeal referees decision during the EFL League One Match between Rotherham United and Exeter City at The Aesseal New York Stadium Stadium on 15 March 2025 in Rotherham, England (Photo by Steve Taylor/PPAUK)
Neither manager made a change at half-time, and after a slow start to the second period, the Grecians drew level in the 55th minute. Francis swung in a free-kick, Ed Turns had the first shot on the turn which deflected into the path of Hartridge, who with his weaker right foot, slotted home from a narrow angle. It was only the fourth goal of the 26-year-old’s career, and a first since August 2023.
The Millers hit back and nearly restored their lead immediately. They won a corner, it was met by Shaun McWlliams, but Turns did brilliantly to clear it off the line. Whitworth then denied Joe Rafferty, before the goalkeeper then denied Wilks. Pelly Mpanzu had a great chance on the follow-up, but he skewed the finish wide.
Caldwell made a triple change just after the hour. Niskanen, Tony Yogane and Caleb Watts replaced Francis, Jones and Demetri Mitchell. The hosts though were in the ascendancy, looking to restore the lead, with shots blocked, before Whitworth had to claw a corner away from his goalline. Jack Aitchison replaced Colwill with City’s fourth change.
Pat Jones of Exeter City rides a tackle during the EFL League One Match between Rotherham United and Exeter City at The Aesseal New York Stadium Stadium on 15 March 2025 in Rotherham, England (Photo by Steve Taylor/PPAUK)
As the game entered the final ten minutes, City should have gone ahead. Yogane did brilliantly down the left, he swung in a cross which Magennis got his head to, but the skipper couldn’t angle his header on target from close range. It was a big chance. Yogane then curled an effort into the keeper’s arms as both teams were going for the winner.
Four minutes of stoppage-time were added-on, and Rafferty had a chance in the first of them, but he couldn’t get the finish away. Liam Kelly then saw a shot saved by Whitworth with the final shot as it finished all-square, with the five unbeaten in the league Exeter’s longest run of the campaign.
Exeter City will be back in action next Saturday away to Lincoln City – unless there are late call-ups to international squads before Monday morning which causes either side to request a postponement.
Exeter City: Joe Whitworth, Ed Turns, Angus MacDonald, Alex Hartridge, Jack McMillan, Ed Francis (Tony Yogane, 63), Ryan Trevitt, Pat Jones (Ilmari Niskanen, 63), Joel Colwill (Jack Aitchison, 77) Demetri Mitchell (Caleb Watts, 63), Josh Magennis
Subs: Ryan Woods, Reece Cole, Sonny Cox
Booking: Watts