FA Cup: Exeter City 2-0 Port Vale
- Published
Exeter reached the third round of the FA Cup for the first time in 11 seasons with victory over League One Port Vale.
The League Two side dominated early on, taking the lead when an unmarked Jordan Tillson headed in Lee Holmes' corner.
Ajay Leitch-Smith hit the crossbar for Port Vale just before the break, but Ollie Watkins sealed victory for the Grecians late on in the second half.
The substitute raced onto Matt Oakley's through ball with one minute of normal time remaining, as Vale bowed out.
It was the first time they had failed to score in eight FA Cup ties.
Exeter last reached round three in 2004-05, when they took Premier League giants Manchester United to a replay.
Exeter manager Paul Tisdale: "I am absolutely delighted with the way we played. It was a fabulous performance and a great result.
"We are all very excited now about what might come out of the hat on Monday night.
"We had lots of challenges coming into the game with the injuries we have dealt with over the last week or so. It was bit of a Rubik's cube, but whoever I selected had to play their game.
"It is a really good result for us, it was the complete performance in many ways and a lot of the players have done themselves a lot of good."
Port Vale manager Rob Page: "It was embarrassing and they let the club down. I am very angry. I told them at half-time that it wasn't acceptable and told them to go and do something about it.
"Credit to Exeter in the first half, they were excellent and thoroughly deserved it, but we were as bad as they were good.
"I will take a defeat, but not that kind of defeat, not one when you question their attitude and effort.
"I want a group of players that represent me and what I stand for. That is far away from what I stand for and I'm not going to accept it."
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