Lawson D'Ath scored on his debut as Cheltenham overcame Exeter to maintain their place in the League Two automatic promotion places.

Exeter almost took the lead when Jamie Cureton's effort was cleared off the line by Billy Jones.

But 19-year-old D'Ath, on loan from Reading, finished a tidy move after the break to put Cheltenham in front.

And Keith Lowe applied two simple finishes to kill off the Grecians, who have won one in their last eight.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale told BBC Radio Devon:

"I'm just very disappointed because I can see the level of play we have in the team but we haven't managed to perform at the crucial moments.

"I've got a lot of thinking to do after today's game because it's happened one time too many.

"I don't see how it's possible we can continue not scoring when we play as we did today.

"I don't want to kid ourselves that just attacking is sufficient, we have to be good both sides of the pitch."

Cheltenham Town assistant manager Neil Howarth told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:

"I think it could be our best performance of the season. We've been getting some good results without playing as well as we can, but I think this is the best score line in the league so far this year.

"We've only been able to name six subs today and we've not got the biggest numbers but we're certainly happy with the quality.

"We're certainly reaping the benefit from the quality of the balls that Billy Jones puts in the box at the moment.

"We've not done anything yet, we've not achieved anything yet, but we're working hard to try and keep up where we are at the moment. It's a different club to the one we took over a few seasons ago."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Cheltenham

  • 01 Brown
  • 02 Lowe
  • 03 Jones
  • 06 Elliott
  • 15 Bennett
  • 07 Pack Booked
  • 08 Deering Booked (Hanks - 84' )
  • 11 McGlashan Booked (Andrew - 90' )
  • 20 D'Ath
  • 09 Duffy (Goulding - 63' )
  • 23 Mohamed

Substitutes

  • 12 Roberts
  • 17 Andrew
  • 21 Graham
  • 34 Hanks
  • 10 Goulding
  • 14 Harrad

Exeter

  • 01 Krysiak
  • 02 Tully (Gow - 65' )
  • 03 Woodman
  • 04 Bennett
  • 06 Coles
  • 16 Amankwaah Booked
  • 07 Sercombe
  • 08 Oakley (Dawson - 90' )
  • 11 Davies (O'Flynn - 28' )
  • 22 Keohane
  • 12 Cureton

Substitutes

  • 24 Evans
  • 05 Baldwin
  • 37 Moore-Taylor
  • 14 Doherty
  • 23 Dawson
  • 10 Gow
  • 19 O'Flynn
Ref: Kettle
Att: 3,545

Match Stats

Shots

13 12

On target

9 4

Corners

5 8

Fouls

6 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:09 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +3:53

Lawson D'Ath challenges John O'Flynn unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kevin Amankwaah takes the free kick.

90:00 +1:57

Danny Coles is penalised for a handball. Free kick taken by Billy Jones, Jeff Goulding takes a shot. Save made by Artur Krysiak.

90:00 +1:39

Unfair challenge on Lawson D'Ath by Alan Gow results in a free kick. Scott Brown restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +1:11 Substitution

Substitution Jermaine McGlashan goes off and Danny Andrew comes on.

89:41 Substitution

Substitution Aaron Dawson joins the action as a substitute, replacing Matt Oakley.

87:51

Jermaine McGlashan takes a shot. Brilliant save by Artur Krysiak.

86:24

The assist for the goal came from Steve Elliott.

86:24 Goal scored

Goal - Keith Lowe - Cheltenham 3 - 0 Exeter Keith Lowe fires in a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Cheltenham 3-0 Exeter.

85:46

Outswinging corner taken by Billy Jones from the right by-line,

83:05 Substitution

Substitution Sam Deering goes off and Joe Hanks comes on.

81:56

Unfair challenge on Alan Gow by Lawson D'Ath results in a free kick. Alan Gow takes the indirect free kick.

79:25

Corner from right by-line taken by Alan Gow.

76:25

Alan Gow delivers the ball, Effort on goal by Jimmy Keohane from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

75:28

The assistant referee signals for offside against Jeff Goulding. Free kick taken by Artur Krysiak.

74:02

Jimmy Keohane is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Billy Jones restarts play with the free kick.

73:13

The ball is swung over by Jimmy Keohane.

72:27

Liam Sercombe has a shot and went wide right of the post.

72:08

Corner taken by Craig Woodman, clearance made by Marlon Pack.

71:23

Jimmy Keohane takes a shot. Scott Brown makes a save.

70:28

Effort from the edge of the box by Alan Gow goes wide of the left-hand upright.

68:18

Alan Gow produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target.

66:39

Liam Sercombe takes a inswinging corner to the near post.

64:48

Sam Deering has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the goal.

64:11 Substitution

Substitution Alan Gow is brought on as a substitute for Steve Tully.

62:26 Substitution

Substitution Darryl Duffy leaves the field to be replaced by Jeff Goulding.

61:24

Assist by Steve Elliott.

61:24 Goal scored

Goal - Keith Lowe - Cheltenham 2 - 0 Exeter Keith Lowe fires in a goal from close in to the top left corner of the goal. Cheltenham 2-0 Exeter.

60:46

Inswinging corner taken by Billy Jones from the right by-line,

60:21

Darryl Duffy is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Artur Krysiak.

56:50

Danny Coles fouled by Darryl Duffy, the ref awards a free kick. Danny Coles takes the indirect free kick.

56:20

Jamie Cureton takes a shot. Scott Brown makes a save.

54:35

Darryl Duffy provided the assist for the goal.

54:35 Goal scored

Goal - Lawson D'Ath - Cheltenham 1 - 0 Exeter A goal is scored by Lawson D'Ath from just inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Cheltenham 1-0 Exeter.

53:37

Kaid Mohamed takes a shot. Matt Oakley gets a block in.

51:33

Free kick awarded for a foul by Craig Woodman on Jermaine McGlashan. Centre by Billy Jones, Keith Lowe has an effort at goal from 6 yards. Blocked by Kevin Amankwaah.

49:40

Matt Oakley has an effort at goal from close range which goes wide right of the goal.

49:30

The ball is swung over by Steve Tully, clearance made by Sam Deering.

45:46

Jamie Cureton is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Scott Brown.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:00 +2:18

The ball is crossed by Jermaine McGlashan, Effort on goal by Kaid Mohamed from just inside the area clears the bar.

45:00 +0:21

The ball is swung over by Keith Lowe.

43:18

Danny Coles takes the free kick.

43:18 Booking

Booking Sam Deering goes into the book.

43:02

Foul by Sam Deering on Liam Sercombe, free kick awarded.

41:44

Corner taken by Billy Jones from the left by-line, clearance by Matt Oakley.

41:37

Jermaine McGlashan crosses the ball.

39:41

Jermaine McGlashan has a shot and went wide of the right-hand post.

38:22

Steve Tully has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses left.

38:07

Liam Sercombe takes a shot. Scott Brown makes a save.

37:27

Corner taken right-footed by Liam Sercombe from the left by-line, save made by Scott Brown.

36:24

Foul by Kevin Amankwaah on Kaid Mohamed, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Marlon Pack.

34:28

Free kick taken by Craig Woodman.

34:28 Booking

Booking Jermaine McGlashan goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

34:16

Craig Woodman fouled by Jermaine McGlashan, the ref awards a free kick.

31:47

Sam Deering fouled by Matt Oakley, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Keith Lowe.

30:16

Inswinging corner taken by Craig Woodman from the left by-line played to the near post.

27:56 Substitution

Substitution Arron Davies goes off and John O'Flynn comes on.

25:57

Liam Sercombe gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Steve Elliott. Billy Jones restarts play with the free kick.

24:45

Handball decision goes against Jermaine McGlashan. Liam Sercombe takes the free kick.

20:49

The referee blows for offside. Scott Brown restarts play with the free kick.

20:27

A cross is delivered by Steve Tully.

18:34

Arron Davies has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

16:50

The ball is swung over by Billy Jones, clearance by Danny Coles.

14:57

Indirect free kick taken by Craig Woodman.

14:57 Booking

Booking Marlon Pack goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

14:48

Unfair challenge on Arron Davies by Marlon Pack results in a free kick.

14:26

The ball is sent over by Keith Lowe, Scot Bennett manages to make a clearance.

13:36

Corner taken by Billy Jones, Kevin Amankwaah manages to make a clearance.

12:42

Indirect free kick taken by Billy Jones.

12:42 Booking

Booking Caution for Kevin Amankwaah.

12:29

Unfair challenge on Sam Deering by Kevin Amankwaah results in a free kick.

11:40

The ball is sent over by Jamie Cureton, Jimmy Keohane produces a headed effort from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

10:52

Arron Davies gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Sam Deering. Free kick taken by Scott Brown.

10:22

Craig Woodman takes the inswinging corner, Marlon Pack makes a clearance.

10:01

Inswinging corner taken by Liam Sercombe from the left by-line.

9:33

Liam Sercombe takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post.

9:18

Jimmy Keohane takes a shot. Save by Scott Brown.

8:12

The official flags Darryl Duffy offside. Danny Coles takes the free kick.

7:55

Kaid Mohamed takes a shot. Craig Woodman gets a block in.

7:14

Unfair challenge on Darryl Duffy by Scot Bennett results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Billy Jones.

2:08

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Billy Jones, Alan Bennett takes a shot. Save made by Artur Krysiak.

0:52

Kaid Mohamed has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

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