Liam Sercombe kept Exeter City's slim hopes of League One survival alive after he struck twice in their 3-0 win over Leyton Orient at St James Park.

Jake Taylor got Exeter off to a great start as he bundled home a ball from Alan Gow in the fourth minute.

Sercombe sealed the win with two goals in three minutes around the hour mark.

His first was a right-footed half-volley after a corner was not cleared, and the second saw him shoot on the turn from deep in the box.

The win was Exeter's first since they beat Bury 3-2 on 18 February at St James Park.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale told BBC Radio Devon:

"We dominated start to finish and played like a team three places from the top of the league, not the bottom of the league

"I'm not going to get carried away with one good performance, it's been in us all year and we haven't found it enough.

"I'll always encourage the team to play, we'll see what happens over the next few games and see if we can continue to do it.

"All I get is comments of encouragement from the supporters and the players should realise how lucky they are to play for this team."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Exeter City

  • 01 Krysiak
  • 02 Tully
  • 03 Jones
  • 05 Archibald-Henville Booked
  • 27 Baldwin
  • 04 Dunne
  • 07 Sercombe
  • 08 Noble
  • 35 Taylor (Bauza - 66' )
  • 10 Nardiello (Nicholls - 80' )
  • 36 Gow (McNish - 80' )

Substitutes

  • 40 Pidgeley
  • 24 Frear
  • 31 McNish
  • 21 Bauza
  • 29 Nicholls

Leyton Orient

  • 01 Jones
  • 02 Ben Youssef
  • 03 Dickson
  • 04 Chorley
  • 26 Leacock Booked
  • 07 Cox
  • 08 Reed
  • 16 Spring
  • 17 Laird (Porter - 64' )
  • 09 Lisbie (Andrew - 74' )
  • 39 Mooney (Smith - 85' )

Substitutes

  • 28 Rachubka
  • 15 Porter
  • 21 Taiwo
  • 25 Smith
  • 11 Andrew
Ref: Sheldrake
Att: 4,142

Match Stats

Shots

12 12

On target

9 8

Corners

7 5

Fouls

7 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:49 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +1:02

James Dunne gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Dean Cox. Jamie Jones takes the free kick.

90:00 +0:20

Liam Sercombe takes a shot. Save by Jamie Jones.

89:19

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Matthew Spring by Guillem Bauza. Direct free kick taken by Jamie Jones.

88:05

David Noble takes a short corner.

86:14

The assistant referee signals for offside against Guillem Bauza. Ben Chorley takes the free kick.

85:15

Effort on goal by James Dunne from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

83:57 Substitution

Substitution Jamie Smith on for David Mooney.

83:57

Inswinging corner taken by Dean Cox from the left by-line, Header from deep inside the penalty area by Calvin Andrew goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

82:36

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Mooney by Pat Baldwin. Strike comes in from Matthew Spring from the free kick.

82:22

Callum McNish takes a shot. Save made by Jamie Jones.

80:43

Corner taken right-footed by David Noble to the near post, clearance made by Dean Leacock.

79:05 Substitution

Substitution Alan Gow leaves the field to be replaced by Callum McNish.

79:05 Substitution

Substitution Tom Nichols is brought on as a substitute for Daniel Nardiello.

78:05

Alan Gow has a drilled shot. Ben Chorley gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Alan Gow, clearance made by Dean Leacock.

76:47

Calvin Andrew produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the right-hand post.

73:48 Substitution

Substitution Calvin Andrew is brought on as a substitute for Kevin Lisbie.

72:01

Kevin Lisbie is flagged offside by the assistant referee. David Noble restarts play with the free kick.

71:20

Alan Gow fouled by George Porter, the ref awards a free kick. Billy Jones restarts play with the free kick.

69:22

The referee blows for offside. Artur Krysiak takes the free kick.

66:54

Dean Cox takes a outswinging corner to the near post, Troy Archibald-Henville makes a clearance.

64:54

David Noble restarts play with the free kick.

64:54 Substitution

Substitution Guillem Bauza joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jake Taylor.

64:54

Unfair challenge on Alan Gow by Matthew Spring results in a free kick.

63:38 Substitution

Substitution Marc Laird leaves the field to be replaced by George Porter.

62:37

Assist by Alan Gow.

62:37 Goal scored

Goal - Liam Sercombe - Exeter 3 - 0 Leyton O Liam Sercombe grabs a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the top right corner of the goal. Exeter 3-0 Leyton Orient.

61:30

Free kick taken by Jamie Jones.

61:30 Booking

Booking Dean Leacock is shown a yellow card.

61:05

Foul by David Noble on Adam Reed, free kick awarded.

59:08 Goal scored

Goal - Liam Sercombe - Exeter 2 - 0 Leyton O Liam Sercombe finds the net with a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Exeter 2-0 Leyton Orient.

58:31

Shot by Alan Gow. Jamie Jones makes a save. Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by David Noble.

56:56

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kevin Lisbie by Troy Archibald-Henville. Matthew Spring crosses the ball in from the free kick.

55:08

Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Ryan Dickson, blocked by Troy Archibald-Henville. Shot from deep inside the area by Syam Ben Youssef clears the bar.

55:08 Booking

Booking Troy Archibald-Henville is cautioned.

55:01

Foul by Troy Archibald-Henville on Adam Reed, free kick awarded.

54:01

David Noble concedes a free kick for a foul on Marc Laird. Direct free kick taken by Dean Leacock.

53:10

The referee blows for offside against Dean Cox. Artur Krysiak takes the indirect free kick.

50:59

Alan Gow takes a shot. Comfortable save by Jamie Jones.

47:54

Kevin Lisbie concedes a free kick for a foul on Troy Archibald-Henville. Troy Archibald-Henville takes the direct free kick.

46:10

Marc Laird challenges Alan Gow unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by David Noble.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

42:08

The referee penalises David Mooney for handball. Artur Krysiak restarts play with the free kick.

42:04 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

41:39

Foul by Marc Laird on Alan Gow, free kick awarded. David Noble restarts play with the free kick.

40:45

Alan Gow decides to take a short corner, Billy Jones takes a shot. Marc Laird gets a block in.

40:23

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Liam Sercombe by Marc Laird. Free kick taken by James Dunne.

38:36

Unfair challenge on Jake Taylor by Dean Leacock results in a free kick. Shot comes in from David Noble from the free kick.

37:33

Dean Cox takes a shot. Steve Tully gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Dean Cox from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Pat Baldwin.

36:01

Alan Gow is caught offside. Jamie Jones takes the indirect free kick.

34:07

The official flags Kevin Lisbie offside. Pat Baldwin restarts play with the free kick.

33:32

David Mooney has a headed effort at goal from just inside the penalty area that misses to the left of the target.

32:54

Shot from 30 yards from Syam Ben Youssef. Save made by Artur Krysiak.

32:20

Effort from deep inside the area by Jake Taylor hits the post.

30:43

Marc Laird takes a shot. Pat Baldwin gets a block in. Corner taken right-footed by Dean Cox, Syam Ben Youssef takes a shot. Clearance by Troy Archibald-Henville.

28:45

Unfair challenge on Troy Archibald-Henville by Kevin Lisbie results in a free kick. Free kick taken by David Noble.

26:30

David Mooney takes a shot. Pat Baldwin gets a block in. Corner taken by Dean Cox.

24:07

The official flags Kevin Lisbie offside. Indirect free kick taken by Artur Krysiak.

23:04

Jake Taylor is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Ben Chorley takes the free kick.

22:36

Kevin Lisbie takes a shot. Blocked by Troy Archibald-Henville.

18:07

James Dunne fouled by Marc Laird, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed by David Noble.

11:00

The assistant referee flags for offside against Kevin Lisbie. Troy Archibald-Henville takes the free kick.

4:17

Corner taken by David Noble from the left by-line.

3:24

Assist by Alan Gow.

3:24 Goal scored

Goal - Jake Taylor - Exeter 1 - 0 Leyton O Jake Taylor finds the net with a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Exeter 1-0 Leyton Orient.

1:58

Alan Gow takes a corner.

1:17

Unfair challenge on David Noble by Marc Laird results in a free kick. David Noble restarts play with the free kick.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

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