"Thankfully the whole stadium, including the Big Bank, got to see two excellent goals and another group of players celebrating with them.”

Storm Austen failed to dampen Exeter City’s momentum as the Grecians continued their climb up the League Two table with a 2-1 victory over Fleetwood Town at a wet and windy St James Park on Saturday afternoon.

After a lacklustre first half, the game came to life after the break as Charlie Cummins headed home from a Reece Cole corner to put Exeter ahead just before the Hour. Ronan Coughlin quickly equalised for the Cod, but Luca Woodhouse's stunning 25-yard strike restored City's lead within three minutes.

Despite late Fleetwood pressure, Exeter held on to extend their unbeaten home run to nine games and move up to eighth, just outside the play-offs on goal difference. and manager Matt Taylor hailed his side’s 2-1 victory over Fleetwood Town as a “big win”, after so far a very positive month for the Grecians.

“Big win, big week. So far, a big month for this football club,” Taylor said. “It was not a pretty game in the first half, especially with the conditions. We knew yesterday what part the weather was going to play.

“Fleetwood played that first half better than we did. I liked us in the second half because we had more forward intent and more speed in our game.

“I think there was a bit of respect shown by the opposition in terms of the way they set up today. We have to take that as a pat on the back, but then know that we have to find solutions and ways to break down stubborn teams who don't commit bodies towards the ball. Despite their goal, I'm so proud of the group.”

Taylor made two changes to the Exeter City side who beat Crewe Alexandra 2-0 on Tuesday night. Josh Gordon was restored upfront with Sonny Cox dropping down to the bench. The other saw Harry Kite come in for his first league start of the season - and a first in the league for City since New Year's Day 2024.

It was wet and windy and miserable at St James Park in conditions not conducive to free-flowing football and it was a scrappy start with City off the pace in the opening moments, but on five minutes, they should have gone ahead. Laykle Samuel's corner was flicked on by Gordon and found Jack Taylor at the far post. The defender's effort beat goalkeeper Jay Lynch but came back off the post and the hit the glovesman and went behind.

Exeter were on top and created another great chance shortly after. Anthony Scully danced into the box and probably should have gone for goal himself, but instead picked out Taylor Perry, and his shot dribbled just wide of the goal. The midfielder had another chance on the break but spent too long over his shot and it was eventually blocked by a defender.

Just before the hour, he opening goal came and the Grecians had the lead they merited. Reece Cole swung the ball in which was met by Cummins at the near post and he powered his header into the back of the net, and Taylor was delighted to see him “get his knee-slide in front of the Big Bank”.

“We’ve asked for so much from Charlie. There’s another one whose intensity was excellent. He’s a good size, he plays in the middle of the pitch with a good physical presence, and he has to be able to meet the ball in the opposition box as well as he does from box to box. We’ve been crying out for it, demanding it and practising it.

“Moving towards a set-piece goal, the timing of that one couldn’t have been better. I’m delighted he got his knee slide in front of the Big Bank. There’s no better feeling.

“But I’ve said, for a team that doesn’t score enough and quite create enough, if we can add set-piece output to our game, we’ll be a lot better for it.”

The lead though lasted two minutes as Fleetwood hit straight back. A free-kick was swung in from deep by McLean, the City defence seemed to leave the ball alone, and Coughlan was able to poke it from close range to make it 1-1. It was only the second goal at home the Grecians had conceded and came completely against the run of play.

But moments later, Woodhouse produced a potential goal-of-the-season contender with a stunning long-range strike from 25 yards to restore the lead, which Taylor admitted was “not in the coaches’ book”.

“Luca’s goal, that’s not one from the coaches’ book. He’s probably in the right position when Birchie chopped back inside, but that is just him. Instinctive, reactive, moving out of bodies, shifting onto his left foot and then bending it into the top corner.

“Those are ones as a coach and manager you just luckily get to witness. We’re lucky to witness that.

“Luca is a talented player. His form in the last month has gone to another level. He’s showing why there was interest in him in the last window. I’d like to think that goal today, on top of his performances this month, will get a few ears pricking up.”

Ethan Sutherland who was six yards out with the goal gaping blazed over the bar and that was the cue for late pressure from Matt Lawlor's men who pushed for an equaliser, but it didn't come and the Grecians claimed the win and could celebrate with their fans,.

Despite the challenging weather conditions, attendance remained strong at St James Park, with Taylor praising the Grecians faithful for their support and describing them as “the 12th man today”.

“It’s a testament to those who came out today because they’ve got soaked through on the way here, and they’ll get wet through on the way home. They might have got wet at the ground, but all of a sudden they’ve seen a team going above and beyond.

“I said there was the Barcelona-PSG game on Tuesday, and today there was a whole host of fixtures people could easily have stayed indoors to watch. But I love the fact that, especially in the Big Bank, everyone was trying to keep each other dry.

“The atmosphere everyone created in the second half, ourselves included, really drove us home. For the players, there’s no better feeling than scoring at that end, and thankfully the whole stadium, including the Big Bank, got to see two excellent goals and another group of players celebrating with them.”