Offrande Zanzala marked his Exeter debut with a goal as the play-off chasing Grecians got back to winning ways with a comfortable victory over second-bottom Scunthorpe.
Zanzala joined the club on loan from Barrow this week and was on hand to tap in from close range for his first league goal since the beginning of September.
Exeter made a strong start to the game with Timothee Dieng firing wide, while Jake Caprice curled off target and Jevani Brown sliced a volley.
Scunthorpe rarely threatened, although Manny Onariase headed a good chance wide with their best chance of a generally drab first half.
Exeter started the second half well with Zanzala firing tamely at Rory Watson, while Aaron Jarvis was off target at the other end with a flicked effort from six yards.
Dieng was denied when Watson clawed his header away but the deadlock was finally broken in style after 63 minutes when Brown received the ball, turned and curled a beauty into the far top corner from 25 yards.
The Grecians, one point off the top seven, went 2-0 up 14 minutes from time through Zanzala, who was replaced moments later and earned a standing ovation from the Exeter fans.
Report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Exeter
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Dawson
- 26Sweeney
- 6Stubbs
- 39Diabate
- 12Key
- 8Collins
- 14Dieng
- 2Caprice
- 7Jay
- 20BrownSubstituted forSparkesat 90+7′minutes
- 18ZanzalaSubstituted forAmondat 80′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Sparkes
- 5Ray
- 11Amond
- 17Taylor
- 29Kite
- 31Coley
- 40Brown
Scunthorpe
Formation 4-1-3-2
- 1Watson
- 41Matheson
- 6Onariase
- 5Taft
- 3O’Malley
- 12RoweBooked at 31minsSubstituted forDunnwald-Turanat 73′minutes
- 23Pugh
- 26HackneyBooked at 58minsSubstituted forWoodat 85′minutes
- 11HippolyteSubstituted forLewisat 90+5′minutes
- 19Jarvis
- 30BurnsSubstituted forBeestinat 59′minutes
Substitutes
- 8Beestin
- 13Collins
- 14Wood
- 17Bunn
- 24Davis
- 27Dunnwald-Turan
- 38Lewis
- Referee:
- Craig Hicks
- Attendance:
- 4,676
Live Text
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Match ends, Exeter City 2, Scunthorpe United 0.
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Second Half ends, Exeter City 2, Scunthorpe United 0.
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Attempt missed. Harry Wood (Scunthorpe United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Aaron Jarvis.
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Substitution, Exeter City. Jack Sparkes replaces Jevani Brown.
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Attempt missed. Aaron Jarvis (Scunthorpe United) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Alfie Beestin with a cross.
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Substitution, Scunthorpe United. Harry Lewis replaces Myles Hippolyte.
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Foul by Archie Collins (Exeter City).
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Myles Hippolyte (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Cheick Diabate (Exeter City).
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Kenan Dunnwald-Turan (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Joshua Key (Exeter City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Jake Caprice.
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Corner, Exeter City. Conceded by Alfie Beestin.
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Attempt blocked. Jake Caprice (Exeter City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jevani Brown.
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Matt Jay (Exeter City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Tom Pugh (Scunthorpe United).
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Substitution, Scunthorpe United. Harry Wood replaces Hayden Hackney because of an injury.
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Foul by Archie Collins (Exeter City).
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Hayden Hackney (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Exeter City. Pierce Sweeney tries a through ball, but Jevani Brown is caught offside.
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Substitution, Exeter City. Padraig Amond replaces Offrande Zanzala.
