Anthony Scully's penalty and a late Reece Cole goal was enough in a 2-0 win

Exeter City ended Crewe Alexandra's unbeaten start to the League Two season as a single goal was enough for the Grecians to climb into the top half of the table.

Anthony Scully smashed City ahead midway through the first half after George Birch was brought down in the box, and the Irishman drilled the penalty home. It was the first time a City league game had seen a goal in the first game since August, and they had the chances to be further ahead at the break.

And it looked as if the may have been left to rue missing those attempts as the Railwaymen grew into the game in the second half but failed to really threaten and create much in the way of clear cut chances, the best falling to Adrien Thibaut in stoppage-time but his header was brilliantly kept out, as City managed to hang on - before Reece Cole in stoppage-time sealed the win on the break.

The 2-0 win for City took them up to 10th in the League Two table, now just a point off the play-offs. It is now eight unbeaten at St James Park, and was a seventh clean sheet of the season for the Grecians. Despite their defeat, Crewe stay third in the table.

Matt Taylor made just the single change to the side who drew 0-0 at Colchester United on Saturday. That came upfront where Sonny Cox came in from Josh Gordon, with the striker dropping down the bench. Reece Cole was again among the substitutes as he looks to recover to full fitness, while Harry Kite was also back among the subs.

Crewe won the toss and turned City around so the Grecians would have to attack the Big Bank in the first half. And with only three minutes on the clock they nearly had something to cheer when space opened up for Charlie Cummins 25 yards out, but Tom Booth parried the strike away. From the resulting set piece the ball was worked to Lakyle Samuel, but Booth stuck out a leg to deny him on the angle. Luca Woodhouse from distance then forced the goalkeeper into a smart save.

For Crewe, Joe White saw a shot take a wicked deflection and hit the side netting. From the corner, Matus Holicek on the edge of the box had time to take aim but dragged his finish wide. But in the 20th minute, the Grecians won a penalty after brilliant work by Birch to drive past two men, before White brought him down in the box and referee Harry Wager had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Up stepped Scully, and he smashed it down the middle to put Exeter ahead, and ended a run of eight successive league games which had been 0-0 at the break.

City were on top, and Cummins nearly made it two, seeing a dipping shot fizz just wide, while a Birch cross just couldn't be taken down by Scully on the turn. The academy product then produced another mazy run before cutting inside, but his strike found the side netting.

Scully then on the break fired inches wide as the second game looked like it was coming, before another chance went begging when Woodhouse put a cross in along the face of goal but no-one could get the vital touch. Exeter though went in 1-0 up and good value for it.

Both sides made a change at half-time, with Cole replacing Jake Doyle Hayes for City. The first chance of the half fell to Taylor's side, but Taylor Perry blazed over from 25 yards out. It was his last meaningful action before Kite replaced him just before the hour. Lee Bell's men though were starting to threaten a bit more, with Lewis Billington putting a header from a corner wide.

Scully on the volley blasted a shot wide - albeit from an offside position - but it seemed to hit a Crewe fan behind the goal in the face and left them needing some medical treatment. Gordon then replaced the goalscorer with Taylor's third change midway through the second half.

For all that Crewe had improved, they were creating little and Jack Bycroft didn't have a save to make until the 77th minute when he had two to make it quick succession, firstly from Jordan Gibson when a cross found the striker at the far post and then from Holicek from the edge of the area which he held onto at the second attempt.

Ethan Sutherland and Vincent Harper replaced Birch and Cox with Taylor's final changes as they looked to freshen things up and also hold onto the lead that they had, and the Wolves loanee on the break set up Cole with a brilliant run, but the midfielder dragged his shot from 12 yards wide.

Charlie McNeil for Crewe had a shot well saved by Bycroft who was also coping well under the pressure of an aerial onslaught of crosses the visitors were putting into the box. Four minutes of stoppage-time were added-on, and in the second of them, Crewe had the chance when a cross found Aiden Thibaut, but his close range header was brilliantly kept out by Bycroft.

And that save was crucial as up the other end the Grecians went, Cole was stronger than a defender and was clean through on goal and smashed his finish past Booth to make it 2-0.

The Grecians are now unbeaten in five. Exeter City are back in action on Saturday when they host Fleetwood Town.

Exeter City: Jack Bycroft, Lakyle Samuel, Jack Taylor, Jack Fitzwater, Luca Woodhouse, Charlie Cummins, Jake Doyle Hayes (Reece Cole, 45), Taylor Perry (Harry Kite 57), Anthony Scully (Josh Gordon, 66), George Birch (Vincent Harper, 79), Sonny Cox (Ethan Sutherland, 79).

Subs: Frankie Phillips, Ed James

Booking: Fitzwater