Birthday winner for Exeter City loanee

On-loan defender Tristan Crama celebrated his 23rd birthday with the only goal in a dogged 1-0 victory for Exeter City over Charlton Athletic at St James Park.

Crama joined the Grecians from Brentford and demonstrated all his defensive prowess with an accomplished display that was given the ultimate gloss on the hour when he scored a tremendous header to keep City within two points of the play-off positions.

There was little between the sides in a tight first period, Joe Whitworth making a couple of routine saves for Exeter, who went close through Ilmari Niskanen early in the second half.

The big moment arrived from an Ed Francis cross, Crama superbly steering his header beyond the Charlton custodian. A loose backpass from Ben Purrington almost gifted Charlton an equaliser but Matty Godden fluffed his lines and City had their points.   

City manager Gary Caldwell told the club website: "I'm delighted with the players for the way they have prepared this week and the game plan we created. They are a tough team to play against who play very direct and we coped with their physicality.

"We could have been a little bit better in the final third and we should have been leading at half-time, but it wasn't to be.

"I always said it was going to be a 1-0 game and fine margins, and we have come up with a brilliant set-piece which is something we have been working on.

"The boys executed exactly what we asked of them and I'm absolutely delighted."