Jamie Cureton struck twice as Exeter bounced back from an opening day defeat with a well-earned win at Aldershot.

Cureton fired Exeter in front on 14 minutes with a powerful right-foot shot after being slid in by Alan Gow.

The Shots responded three minutes later when summer signing Craig Reid reacted quickest to bundle home after Anthony Tonkin's free-kick was not cleared.

But, with 17 minutes left, Cureton fired home the winner after Liam Sercombe's initial effort was parried.

Exeter could have won by more, Scot Bennett seeing his first-half header thump against the post, while Cureton should have done better when through on goal in stoppage time.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Aldershot Town manager Dean Holdsworth told BBC Surrey:

"It was a little bit frustrating to be honest and we were a little under par tonight, all be at 1-1 we did ever-so well to get back into the game.

"When we're below par we've got to go back to the basics and do them well, it was a little bit of a shock that we haven't done the basics well.

"We came up against a decent side tonight and I thought Jamie Cureton was a real threat, so we've got to keep together and get ready for Saturday."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Aldershot Town

  • 21 Young
  • 02 Herd
  • 03 Tonkin
  • 05 Brown
  • 23 Bradley Booked
  • 04 Morris
  • 07 Rodman (Anderson - 59' )
  • 08 Payne
  • 17 Mekki
  • 09 Rankine (Connolly - 83' )
  • 20 Reid (Madjo - 42' )

Substitutes

  • 29 Morris
  • 16 Berqvrst
  • 24 Anderson
  • 30 Cooksley
  • 33 Roberts
  • 19 Connolly
  • 27 Madjo

Exeter City

  • 01 Krysiak
  • 03 Woodman Booked
  • 05 Baldwin
  • 06 Coles
  • 16 Amankwaah
  • 04 Bennett
  • 07 Sercombe
  • 11 Davies
  • 14 Doherty (Oakley - 65' )
  • 10 Gow (Bauza - 86' )
  • 12 Cureton

Substitutes

  • 24 Evans
  • 02 Tully
  • 37 Moore-Taylor
  • 08 Oakley
  • 22 Keohane
  • 19 O'Flynn
  • 21 Bauza
Ref: Robinson
Att: 2,678

Match Stats

Shots

10 7

On target

3 4

Corners

2 7

Fouls

9 13

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:03 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +2:32

The offside flag is raised against Jamie Cureton. Jamie Young takes the indirect free kick.

89:23

Troy Brown concedes a free kick for a foul on Guillem Bauza. Free kick taken by Danny Coles.

85:59 Substitution

Substitution (Exeter) makes a substitution, with Guillem Bauza coming on for Alan Gow.

84:38

Troy Brown takes a shot. Save by Artur Krysiak.

84:03

Alan Gow concedes a free kick for a foul on Ben Herd. Anthony Tonkin takes the direct free kick.

82:51

Free kick taken by Artur Krysiak.

82:51 Substitution

Substitution Michael Rankine goes off and Reece Connolly comes on.

82:51

Guy Madjo is caught offside.

77:43

Corner taken right-footed by Liam Sercombe from the left by-line, Anthony Tonkin makes a clearance.

75:17

Jamie Cureton produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

72:30

Liam Sercombe provided the assist for the goal.

72:30 Goal scored

Goal - Jamie Cureton - Aldershot 1 - 2 Exeter Jamie Cureton grabs a goal from inside the area to the top right corner of the goal. Aldershot 1-2 Exeter.

71:55

Direct free kick taken by Anthony Tonkin.

71:55 Booking

Booking Craig Woodman is cautioned.

71:31

Craig Woodman concedes a free kick for a foul on Adam Mekki.

69:52

Free kick awarded for a foul by Alan Gow on Sonny Bradley. Jamie Young restarts play with the free kick.

68:52

Josh Payne takes a shot. Save by Artur Krysiak.

67:18

Alan Gow concedes a free kick for a foul on Ben Herd. Direct free kick taken by Ben Herd.

66:17

Josh Payne gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Craig Woodman. Alan Gow takes the free kick.

65:30

Myles Anderson challenges Kevin Amankwaah unfairly and gives away a free kick. Artur Krysiak takes the free kick.

64:31 Substitution

Substitution Matt Oakley joins the action as a substitute, replacing Tommy Doherty.

62:42

Close range headed effort by Michael Rankine clears the crossbar.

61:14

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adam Mekki by Craig Woodman. Anthony Tonkin crosses the ball in from the free kick, free kick awarded for a foul by Troy Brown on Pat Baldwin. Direct free kick taken by Artur Krysiak.

58:33

Corner taken by Liam Sercombe from the left by-line, Anthony Tonkin manages to make a clearance. Corner taken left-footed by Arron Davies from the right by-line, clearance made by Anthony Tonkin.

58:33 Substitution

Substitution Myles Anderson joins the action as a substitute, replacing Alex Rodman.

56:16

Jamie Cureton takes a shot. Jamie Young makes a comfortable save.

54:31

Alex Rodman produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the right-hand post.

53:59

Michael Rankine fouled by Danny Coles, the ref awards a free kick. Ben Herd takes the free kick.

50:13

Corner from the left by-line taken by Liam Sercombe, Anthony Tonkin manages to make a clearance.

47:52

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Josh Payne by Tommy Doherty. Ben Herd restarts play with the free kick.

46:46

Free kick awarded for a foul by Alan Gow on Ben Herd. Ben Herd restarts play with the free kick.

45:29

Michael Rankine produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:00 +3:00 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

45:00 +2:08

Foul by Guy Madjo on Artur Krysiak, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Artur Krysiak.

44:36

Effort on goal by Guy Madjo from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

43:05

Unfair challenge on Alan Gow by Anthony Tonkin results in a free kick. Free kick crossed by Alan Gow, clearance by Michael Rankine.

41:34 Substitution

Substitution Craig Reid goes off and Guy Madjo comes on.

39:41

Liam Sercombe takes the direct free kick.

39:41 Booking

Booking Sonny Bradley receives a yellow card.

39:13

Sonny Bradley challenges Jamie Cureton unfairly and gives away a free kick.

37:24

Corner taken left-footed by Anthony Tonkin, Michael Rankine has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

34:55

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

34:08

The offside flag is raised against Alan Gow. Jamie Young takes the indirect free kick.

30:52

Corner taken by Alan Gow from the right by-line, Header from close range by Scot Bennett bounces off the post. Tommy Doherty gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Josh Payne. Jamie Young restarts play with the free kick.

29:51

Tommy Doherty takes a shot. Jamie Young makes a comfortable save.

28:09

Free kick awarded for a foul by Pat Baldwin on Michael Rankine. Josh Payne restarts play with the free kick.

24:15

Free kick awarded for a foul by Scot Bennett on Adam Mekki. The ball is swung over by Anthony Tonkin, Troy Brown has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

22:09

Arron Davies takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Anthony Tonkin manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Arron Davies, Sonny Bradley manages to make a clearance.

20:59

Free kick awarded for a foul by Josh Payne on Alan Gow. Craig Woodman takes the free kick.

16:23

Assist by Michael Rankine.

16:23 Goal scored

Goal - Craig Reid - Aldershot 1 - 1 Exeter Craig Reid gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Aldershot 1-1 Exeter.

15:56

Aaron Morris fouled by Scot Bennett, the ref awards a free kick. Ben Herd takes the free kick.

14:49

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Josh Payne, Header from close range by Michael Rankine bounces off the post.

13:38

Assist by Alan Gow.

13:38 Goal scored

Goal - Jamie Cureton - Aldershot 0 - 1 Exeter Jamie Cureton fires in a goal from the edge of the area to the top left corner of the goal. Aldershot 0-1 Exeter.

12:10

Foul by Sonny Bradley on Alan Gow, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Tommy Doherty.

11:22

Liam Sercombe concedes a free kick for a foul on Alex Rodman. Anthony Tonkin takes the direct free kick.

3:14

Liam Sercombe produces a right-footed effort from long distance that goes harmlessly over the bar.

0:26

Jamie Cureton is caught offside. Jamie Young takes the indirect free kick.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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