Jayden Wareham 89th minute goal made it 2-2 as City got a deserved draw
17:01, 04 Jan 2026Updated 17:03, 04 Jan 2026
Goal celebrations for Jayden Wareham of Exeter City during the EFL League One match between Huddersfield Town and Exeter City at The Accu Stadium on 4 January 2026 in Huddersfield, England (Photo by Steve Taylor/PPAUK)(Image: Steve Taylor/PPAUK)
Exeter City snatched a late equalizer away to Huddersfield Town to earn a deserved point away from home. It had looked to be another one goal defeat on the road in League One for City, until Jayden Wareham’s 89th minute strike made it 2-2.
Marcus Harness put the Terriers ahead with 18 minutes gone. He was given too much time and space 25 yards out, and fired a finish into the far corner.
But within 90 seconds, Exeter were level, and it was an equally brilliant finish. Reece Cole let fly from a similar distance outside the box, and he smashed home his fourth goal of the season to make it 1-1.
Just before half-time though Huddersfield restored their lead. A Liam Oakes error was capitalized on by the hosts and Bojan Radulović was able to slot home to send them in ahead.
The Grecians were much the better side in the second half, but failed to create that one big chance they needed to level for a second time, until the 89th minute, when Ilmari Niskanen’s cross was flicked home by Wareham to send the away fans wild.
The point saw City climb up the table to 14th, but still just three points above the bottom four in a very tight table. Even with only a point, Huddersfield climbed to fourth in the table.
Goal celebrations for Reece Cole of Exeter City during the EFL League One match between Huddersfield Town and Exeter City at The Accu Stadium on 4 January 2026 in Huddersfield, England (Photo by Steve Taylor/PPAUK)(Image: Steve Taylor/PPAUK)
Gary Caldwell made five changes to the side who beat Luton Town on New Year’s Day for what was a fourth game in ten days as he looked to freshen the squad up. One of which was enforced as Sil Swinkels had been recalled by Aston Villa before being sent back on loan to Chesterfield in League Two.
The others saw Pierce Sweeney, Jake Doyle-Hayes, Jack Aitchison and Sonny Cox drop down to the bench. In came Luca Woodhouse, Oakes, Cole, Akeel Higgins and Ed Turns, the latter straight back into the side after recovering from a thigh problem, and wearing the captain’s armband.
It was City who had the first chance with five minutes gone, as the ball broke nicely to Cole 30 yards out, but his effort was straight at Lee Nicholls. Leo Castledine for Huddersfield then had to make a vital tackle to stop Cole getting on the end of a cutback from Ilmari Niskanen. At the other end, Harness and Alfie May both had efforts blocked in their first attack.
But in the 18th minute, the Terriers out of nothing took the lead. Castledine drove forward, he found Harness around 25 yards from the goal, and he let fly. The shot arrowed into the corner of the net with Joe Whitworth unable to get anywhere near it, as the league’s highest scorers continued their streak of scoring in every league game this season.
Goal celebrations for Reece Cole of Exeter City during the EFL League One match between Huddersfield Town and Exeter City at The Accu Stadium on 4 January 2026 in Huddersfield, England (Photo by Steve Taylor/PPAUK)(Image: Steve Taylor/PPAUK)
The lead lasted 90 seconds though. City moved the ball forwards nicely, Higgins found Ethan Brierley, who found Cole who had a bit of space just outside the box. The 27- year-old smashed the finish with such power the goalkeeper could get nowhere near it, and it was 1-1.
Exeter were frustrating the hosts who didn’t seem to like decisions the referee was giving, with Castledine seeing an appeal for a penalty waved away before Radulović saw a shot tipped wide by Whitworth.
Just before half-time though, Huddersfield restored their lead. Oakes gave the ball away and that allowed Lee Grant’s men to break. Cameron Ashia charged forward, he squared it to Radulović, and the Serbian slotted in to make it 2-1.
There was time though for the Grecians to nearly level it up. Niskanen got down the right and cut the ball across goal, Jayden Wareham arrived perfectly and looked certain to score, but Nicholls did brilliantly to keep the finish out.
Caldwell made one change at the break, with Sweeney replacing Turns. City had the first chance of the second half when Brierley found Cole from a corner, but this time the midfielder scuffed his effort. Another corner picked him out at the far post, but his volley was blocked, as Exeter were on top in the second half.
On the hour City made two more subs. Carlos Mendes Gomes and Doyle-Hayes came on for Higgins and Brierley. Grant’s men had barely threatened but nearly made it three when the Irishman gave the ball straight to May, only for his lofted effort to drift narrowly wide. For City, Mendes Gomes just couldn’t get a clean connection on a cross that looped towards him.
Aitchison replaced Oakes in the next change as City were pushing for an equalizer they had deserved. Cole couldn’t get a clean connection on a finish after a nice move which made it easy for Nicholls to keep out. Cox came on for Cole for the final change.
Wareham came close again when he capitalized on a poor back header, but his effort was pushed over the bar by Nicholls. It looked as if it was going to be another narrow defeat on the road, but in the 89th minute, City got the goal. Niskanen found space and the Finn flashed in a cross, Cox with a run distracted the defence, and Wareham was able to flick home his 11th goal of the season to make it 2-2.
Goal celebrations for Jayden Wareham of Exeter City during the EFL League One match between Huddersfield Town and Exeter City at The Accu Stadium on 4 January 2026 in Huddersfield, England (Photo by Steve Taylor/PPAUK)(Image: Steve Taylor/PPAUK)
Seven minutes of stoppage-time were added-on, and there was time for a winner for both sides if they could find one. But neither could as it finished 2-2 and the points were shared, and it is now just one loss in six for Exeter.
Exeter City are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Manchester City in the FA Cup third round. The Grecians are then back in League One the following week when they host Stevenage.
Exeter City: Joe Whitworth, Ed Turns (Pierce Sweeney, 45), Jack Fitzwater, Luca Woodhouse, Ilmari Niskanen, Ethan Brierley (Jake Doyle-Hayes, 60), Jack McMillan, Liam Oakes (Jack Aitchison, 71), Reece Cole (Sonny Cox, 80), Akeel Higgins (Carlos Mendes Gomes, 60), Jayden Wareham
Subs: Jack Bycroft, Ed Francis,
Booking: Wareham