Penalty pain and pride for Exeter City

Exeter City came painfully close to completing an incredible Devon double in the FA Cup before losing on penalties to Premier League Nottingham Forest.

Just two days after Plymouth Argyle shocked the football world by defeating the mighty Liverpool, City had their own tilt at a top-flight titan, taking Forest all the way to penalties after a 2-2 draw.

The Grecians also played the final minutes of normal time and all of extra time with ten men, but weary legs and minds finally succumbed in the spot-kick shootout.

City rode the wave of home enthusiasm in the opening minutes, Vincent Harper whipping over a cross that was almost turned over the line for an awkward own goal.

No matter, Magennis made no mistake moments later, pouncing on a weak parry from goalkeeper Carlos Miguel to steer home an easy close-range finish. Dreams of emulating their great rivals down the road were given a further boost by an excellent goalline clearance from Harper.

Forest, however, were showing more punch than Liverpool, and they drew level on 15 minutes, when Ramon Sosa collected a clipped pass down the middle and his shot had just enough juice to beat the advancing Joe Whitworth.

The surprise package of the Premier League then began to exert their authority on the game, moving the ball with increasing purpose. Whitworth kept his side level with one superb low save but he had no answer to a terrific finish from Taiwo Awoniyi, who swivelled neatly on the edge of the box before sterring the ball into the bottom corner.

The Grecians needed a fast start to the second period and a fizzing corner did the job. Magennis forced a fine save from Carlos Miguel with his initial header but the big forward would not be denied, forcing the rebound over the line via a hefty deflection.

An injury to Carlos Miguel saw first-choice ‘keeper Matz Sels take over duties for Forest and the game remained firmly in the balance, prompting Forest to call up reinforcements in the shape of star midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.

Whitworth soon held on to a powerful drive from the new man before debutant Ed Turns was denied by a goalline clearance. Unfortunately, the evening came to an abrupt half for Turns moments later, as he was shown a red card for a clumsy challenge.

The game was halted for a long period following a head clash between Awoniyi and Whitworth and with ten minutes already allocated for stoppage time, the clock was due to stop on 114 minutes!

Awoniyi was sadly stretchered off with a worrying injury, prompting the arrival of leading scorer Chris Wood, but the ten men of City continued commiting men forward in a fascinating end to the game, with SJP in full voice.

Whitworth found another super save to repel an angled drive from Jota Silva before a fizzing low drive from City’s Pat Jones was dragged inches wide of the far post with Magennis also lurking. Silva then pinched the ball in the penalty area and slammed his drive against the post seconds before full time.

City inevitably tired in extra time, dropping deeper and deeper to hold out for penalties. Whitworth twice denied Wood and Nicholas Dominguez spurned a great chance to win it for Forest.

Penalties would be the ultimate decider and Sels saved from Reece Cole to give Forest the advantage. When Angus MacDonald struck the bar for Exeter, Wales international Neco Williams converted to send the visitors into round five.

City manager Gary Caldwell said: "The players were outstanding. The mentality, the teamwork, the looking after each other and protecting each other in difficult moments was incredible. It's something we have to take forward.”