Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell hailed his Grecians side as they got back to winning ways as they made it three successive wins at Oakwell over Barnsley. Josh Magennis’ goal in the final ten minutes ensured the Grecians came away with all three points and move closer to a fourth straight season in League One with a 2-1 win.
The Grecians started brightly and took a 13th-minute lead. Kieren Flavell produced a string of point-blank saves before his parry fell to Ryan Trevitt, who swept home into an empty net for his first goal of the season.
Exeter appeared to have doubled their lead through Ed Turns on the stroke of half-time when Ed Turns headed home, only to see the goal ruled out dubiously for a foul by Caleb Watts in the build-up. That seemed to be costly when Stephen Humphrys drew Barnsley level on the break before he finished emphatically past Joe Whitworth.
However, the Grecians won it nine minutes from time and made it count. Captain Magennis overpowered his marker and slotted a low finish in at the near post to make it 2-1 as Exeter rose up the League One table.
Goal celebrations for Josh Magennis of Exeter City during the EFL League 1 match between Barnsley and Exeter City at Oakwell Stadium, Barnsley on 1 April 2025 (Photo: Jake Manuell/PPAUK)
“That was really good for lots of different reasons,” Caldwell said. “We showed all aspects of our game. We started really well, would have liked to have been further ahead, we were really dominant and didn’t press that home with goals as it was just 1-0.
“We had to adapt and thought the players defended the box brilliantly and had to show the character and then as the game wore on we looked a real threat and Josh got the goal for us and a massive three points.
“They had moments but a bit of a freak goal as it ricocheted into their path and we get done on the counter. They get the goal, but we didn’t crumble, we stood up to the test, grew back into the game, created chances, and got the goal to win it.
“Josh has been fantastic, led the line well, and great to get the goal. And then it didn’t feel like they were going to score. After a disappointing performance at the weekend, the character to come back is incredible.”
Following the 2-0 defeat to Wrexham on Saturday, which was a first loss in seven, Caldwell made three changes to his Exeter City side. In came Ilmari Niskanen, Ed Francis and Caleb Watts, with Ben Purrington and Tony Yogane dropping to the bench, and Joel Colwill not in the 18, out with sickness.
The Grecians had a golden chance to take the lead in the third minutes. Francis swung in a corner, it was only half cleared to Trevitt 12 yards out, but arriving onto it on his left foot, the Brentford loanee blazed the volley over the bar. On target, and it probably would have been a goal.
City created another opportunity on the break, but Niskanen’s angled effort was blocked. Another chance came when Pat Jones danced into the area, but Kieren Flavell kept it out. But seconds later, Exeter had the lead. Francis slipped the ball into the box when Trevitt ran onto it. His shot was blocked, as was Watts’ follow-up, but the ball broke back to Trevitt six yards out, who tapped into the net for his first goal of the season, and was no less than what City deserved for their start.
Ryan Trevitt of Exeter City is pressured by Kelechi Nwakali of Barnsley during the EFL League 1 match between Barnsley and Exeter City at Oakwell Stadium, Barnsley on 1 April 2025 (Photo: Jake Manuell/PPAUK)
“He is outstanding and we are so happy to get him back again,” Caldwell said, of the Brentford loanee, who returned for a second spell in January. “He has been outstanding, can play all aspects in midfield and has been a brilliant player for us on two occasions.”
In the 44 th minute, City thought they had doubled their lead. Alex Hartridge launched a long throw into the box, Magennis flicked it on, and Turns’ header towards goal crept over the line. It looked like it was 2-0, but referee Will Finnie, having consulted with his assistant, ruled it out from a foul by Watts on Jon Russell in the build-up. It looked harsh, as the pair were pulling each other’s shirts. “No comment,” said Caldwell, with a smile on his face, when asked about the disallowed goal.
The Grecians came close to a second on the break when Yogane, a half-time sub, saw a deflected effort loop over Flavell, but crept agonizingly wide, with Niskanen just unable to get a touch on it. But from the resulting corner, there was a goal, but for Barnsley.
The corner was half cleared to Francis and his 25 yard shot was blocked by Jon Russell. But the ball rebounded out to Humphrys and with City having committed men forward, he had space to burst into, and from the edge of the box, drilled home a strike into the bottom corner to make it 1-1.
Barnsley should have gone ahead shortly after. Keiller-Dunn was picked out with a cross and his shot was blocked. It broke to Humphrys who had to score, but Whitworth made himself big and did enough to turn it behind for a corner.
But the Grecians restored their lead with ten minutes to go against the run of play. Magennis was lightning fast to rob de Gevigney on the edge of his own area. The skipper broke into the box and smashed home the effort at the near post to make it 2-1 with a 12 th of the season, as Exeter claimed only a second away win of 2025, but a vital and deserved one.
Goal celebrations for Josh Magennis of Exeter City during the EFL League 1 match between Barnsley and Exeter City at Oakwell Stadium, Barnsley on 1 April 2025 (Photo: Jake Manuell/PPAUK)
It is now just one defeat in eight for City who rise to 16 th in the League One table and on 48 points, albeit with Burton Albion’s win, the gap to the bottom four stays at nine points. Barnsley’s slim play-off hopes are fading as they are winless in five as they stayed 11 th .
Exeter City are back in action on Saturday when they host Stockport County at St James Park. But City are likely to be without both Demetri Mitchell, who is seeing a specialist for an issue with his knee, and also Jack Aitchison, who has a hernia issue and may need surgery on it next week.