Exeter City win on the road to Halifax in the Emirates FA Cup

A strong first-half showing was enough for Exeter City to book their place in the second round of the Emirates FA Cup at National League Halifax Town.

Danny Andrew provided the perfect start for the Grecians and the first period was bookended by another for Jayden Wareham, allowing City to keep their hosts at arm’s length after the break.

If City fans were worried about an upset, Andrew took away much of those concerns with a cracking finish inside two minutes, rifling the ball into the top corner from a Reece Cole corner.

One almost became two from the next attack, Cole firing narrowly over, as Halifax struggled to contain their visitors. Ilmari Niskanen was next to cause problems, rampaging down the right to deliver a cross for Wareham, who saw his goalbound shot deflected wide.

The Shaymen gradually recovered their composure and matched the Grecians through the middle period of the first half, but Cole disrupted the home rhythm with a free-kick whistled inches wide.

Halifax then forced a top save from Joe Whitworth and that reprieve set the platform for City to take control again. Ethan Brierley, on loan with the Grecians from Brentford, was thwarted by a top save but the same man then laid the second on a plate for Wareham.

City were given a lucky escape immediately after the restart, Halifax striking the post before Whitworth produced a marvellous save to tip over the bar on the hour.

Gradually, however, the Shaymen ran out of ideas and City were able to stay composed in completing an efficient job in Yorkshire.