Will Aimson's late strike gives Salford victory over Exeter City

Summarised from 3 outlets · 6 reports · Updated 2 Nov, 11:17 · Archive

Exeter City lost 2-1 at League Two leaders Salford City when Will Aimson scored from 25 yards in the final minutes.

Exeter City lost 2-1 at League Two leaders Salford City in a match that saw the visitors perform well but ultimately fall to a late winner. Sonny Cox put Exeter ahead on 34 minutes with what the outlets describe as no less than they deserved for an impressive first-half display. Salford equalised midway through the second half when Luke Garbutt bundled home from close range after Macaulay Langstaff's low cross.

With time running out and both sides pushing for a winner, the match turned on a moment of individual brilliance. Will Aimson, the former Exeter captain, fired a shot from 25 yards into the left corner with two minutes remaining to secure victory for Salford and extend their winning run in League Two to eight games. The defeat ended Exeter's five-match unbeaten run.

Exeter manager Matt Taylor was full of praise for his players despite the result. 'What an outstanding performance from my players up against the best team in the league,' he told BBC Radio Devon. He said Exeter 'could have come here and got absolutely battered' but instead took on one of the best teams in the division. Taylor acknowledged that his side could have been 'more ruthless' with their chances but insisted 'it took a wonderstrike to beat us'.

City midfielder Taylor Perry echoed his manager's sentiment, saying the three points 'were there for us' and that they had been 'comfortably ahead at half-time'. He acknowledged the quality of Aimson's goal but said there was little anyone could do to stop it. Perry said the team could 'still come away and hold our heads held high'.

The defeat saw Exeter drop to 12th place in League Two, though they remain just a point off the play-offs and three points off the automatic promotion spots. Taylor stressed that despite the loss, his side are 'going in the right direction', having risen from near the relegation zone at the start of October after winning four of their previous five matches before this game.

How it is being reported

• Taylor hails 'outstanding' Exeter in Salford lossExeter City manager Matt Taylor has hailed his side's "outstanding performance" in their 2-1 loss at League Two leaders Salford City.BBC Devon · 2 Nov, 10:53
• 'Tale of our season' as Exeter Chiefs errors costly and focus 'all over the place' in another defeat"I don't think we are that far off where we need to be but our individual focus is all over the place."DevonLive · 1 Nov, 19:19
• 'Three points were there for us' but Exeter City beaten at Salford"But we can still come away and hold our heads held high."DevonLive · 1 Nov, 09:33
• Exeter City going in the 'right direction' despite 'cruel' Salford defeat“Could we have been more ruthless with our openings and our moments, and our chances in the game? Yeah, but it took a wonderstrike to beat us."DevonLive · 31 Oct, 18:53
• Late Aimson thunderbolt denies Exeter City at leaders SalfordSalford v Exeter City ends in narrow defeat for the GreciansNorth Devon Gazette · 31 Oct, 18:30
• Exeter City haunted by former captain as Grecians beaten late at Salford CitySalford City win it 2-1 as Grecians beatenDevonLive · 31 Oct, 16:58

In this story: Exeter City · Salford City · Will Aimson · Sonny Cox · Luke Garbutt · Matt Taylor · Taylor Perry · Macaulay Langstaff

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log