Exeter City 2-1 Bradford City: Grecians win replayed FA Cup replay

Exeter City came from a goal down to beat Bradford City 2-1 in their replayed FA Cup first-round replay.

The initial replay a fortnight ago was declared void when Exeter mistakenly made six substitutions.

Lee Angol - who was sent off in that first replay - gave Bradford an early lead with a good finish.

Tim Dieng levelled shortly after the break before George Ray bundled in the winner from a corner nine minutes from time after his header had been blocked.

Exeter will travel to Cambridge United in the second round on Saturday.

Cricket star Carlos Brathwaite was among the crowd - the West Indies player came to the game with Birmingham Bears team-mate Jake Lintott

Eighty-one Bradford City fans made their third visit of the season to Exeter - a round-trip of just under 600 miles

Exeter had won the first replay 3-0 in extra time after the first round tie at the start of the month ended goalless at Valley Parade.

Exeter donated their profits from the evening's match to charity and also gave free entry to Bradford fans who made the near-600 mile round-trip for the second time in a fortnight.

Bradford had the best of the early chances as Paudie O'Connor and Liam Ridehalgh went close before Angol peeled off at the back post and fired in after controlling Oscar Threlkeld's cross from the right.

Former Plymouth defender Threlkeld saw a shot deflected wide soon after as Bradford took advantage of a disjointed Exeter team that showed seven changes from the side which drew 1-1 at Rochdale on Saturday.

The Bantams continued to dominate the first period - Callum Cooke blazed an effort over from an angle 10 minutes before the break while Elliot Watt and Threlkeld brought good saves out of Cameron Dawson as the hosts failed to register on effort.

Exeter finally troubled Richard O'Donnell in the visiting goal two minutes after the restart as he thwarted Josh Coley after great build-up play by Owura Edwards and they were level when Dieng coolly finished after Josh Key had played the ball from the right.

Matt Jay - one of five substitutions made by Exeter in the second half - saw a low shot from long range well saved with 16 minutes to go.

Ray's winner ended the longest FA Cup tie since multiple replays were abolished in the 1991-92 season, while Sam Nombe missed the chance to make it 3-1 when he put a stoppage-time chance over the crossbar.

Exeter City manager Matt Taylor told BBC Sport:

"We were a yard off where we needed to be and if you're a yard off in certain areas of the pitch against good quality players, they're going to hurt you. They certainly showed their quality in relation to that in the first half.

"Second half, we had more purpose, more intent, the better team, we got stronger as the game went on.

"We were able to utilise our bench in the correct manner this time around and we've come away with the win, which I'm delighted about."

Bradford City manager Derek Adams told BBC Sport:

"We dominated that first half and we had so many good opportunities in the game and we haven't taken the opportunities.

"What's happened is it allowed Exeter to get back into the game in the second half, two set plays we don't defend them well enough and they get the win.

"I do think the game should have been played at a neutral venue because we've had to travel back.

"We had done nothing wrong, the officials had made the mistake, they allowed a sixth substitute to be put onto the pitch.

"Coming back here and having to play the game again is probably not the fairest outcome because as a football club, Bradford City didn't do anything wrong. Exeter made that sixth substitution and the referee allowed it."