Exeter halt Owls promotion bid

Billy Jones and David Noble hit sensational free-kicks to earn Exeter a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday at St James' Park.

The win was Exeter's first success at home since the end of November. Wednesday had the best chance of an even first half when Miguel Angel Llera headed a corner goalwards. The ball seemed destined for the top corner, but Exeter goalkeeper Artur Krysiak threw out his right hand to make a superb save, while Exeter's Daniel Nardiello had a goal ruled out for offside. Wednesday opened the scoring in the 65th minute when a long throw-in was cleared as far as Jermaine Johnson and he lashed the ball into the bottom corner from 25 yards. But Exeter hit straight back as Jones curled a superb free-kick round the Wednesday wall and into the bottom corner after a foul on Daniel Nardiello. With six minutes remaining, the Grecians went in front through David Noble's stunning free-kick. The ball seemed to be heading way over the crossbar, but it dipped and hit the upright before nestling in the back of the net.