Alan Gow came off the bench and netted a brace as Exeter City came from behind to beat York City 2-1 at St James' Park.
After a scrappy start, York went in front with a goal on the counter-attack on 17 minutes. Ashley Chambers broke clear down the right and after Artur Krysiak had saved from Lewis Montrose, Ryan Jarvis tapped in the rebound.
Exeter then lost John O'Flynn to injury on 21 minutes, but within 30 seconds of replacing him, Gow had Exeter level as he beat the offside trap and finished superbly with his left foot.
York looked threatening on the break and should have gone in front when Michael Coulson found himself in plenty of space, but he shot tamely wide of the near post.
Gow put Exeter in front on 73 minutes when he received the ball 25 yards out and lashed a stunning shot into the corner of the net that gave Michael Ingham no chance.
York almost levelled but Michael Coulson poked straight at Krysiak from six yards, but that was as close as they came as Exeter held on to win.
Exeter City (4-4-2): Krysiak; Moore-Taylor (Bennett h-t), Baldwin, Coles, Woodman; Wheeler (Sercombe 63), Oakley, Grimes, Davies; Parkin, O'Flynn (Gow 21). Substitutes (not used): Pym (gk), Doherty, Reid, Gosling.
Goals: Gow 22
York City (4-4-2): Ingham; Oyebanjo, Taft, Smith, Davies; Coulson (Fyfied 89), Clay, Platt, Chambers (Brobbel 75); Montrose (Chamberlain 82), Jarvis. Substitutes (not used): Ketting (gk), Parslow, Allan, Dickinson.
Booking: Montrose
Goal: Jarvis 17
Referee: P Tierney (Lancashire).
Attendance: 3,449.
