Huddersfield Town 1-2 Exeter City: League One leaders stunned in FA Cup first round
Huddersfield Town's FA Cup hopes ended at the first hurdle as League Two visitors Exeter City came from behind to win 2-1 at the Accu Stadium. It was a result nobody inside the ground would have predicted given the gap between the two divisions, and it means the Terriers' run in this season's competition is already over, despite their fine form in League One where they sit top of the table.
The Grecians made the perfect start, going ahead inside 12 minutes when Jack Taylor fired home from the right side of the box, finishing off a move started by Luca Woodhouse. Town huffed and puffed but couldn't find a leveller before the break, and went in at half-time behind to a side two divisions below them.
The home crowd got their reward just after the hour mark when Ibane Bowat rose highest from a corner to head in Cameron Humphreys' delivery and make it 1-1, sparking belief that Town would go on to see off their lower-league opponents. That optimism was short-lived, though, as Exeter restored their lead with 10 minutes to go when Charlie Cummins struck from the centre of the box, finished off a pass from Reece Cole, to make it 2-1 and ultimately settle the tie.
There were no cards for either side in what was a largely fair-spirited cup tie, with the game instead shaped by the two moments of quality from the away side either side of Bowat's header. Town boss made several changes throughout, with half-time substitutes Bali Mumba and Ethan Brierley introduced before further switches saw Cameron Ashia, Lasse Sorenson and Joseph Taylor all brought on in search of a way back into the game.
The statistics make for frustrating reading from a Huddersfield perspective. Town had the better of the shot count with 17 attempts to Exeter's seven and won 11 corners to the visitors' four, but couldn't find a way past the Grecians' goalkeeper, with none of their efforts registering on target according to the official figures. Exeter, by contrast, made their possession and chances count, with six saves at the other end as they held firm.
It's the kind of result that will sting given Huddersfield Town's position at the top of League One, where they go into this weekend on the back of a run that reads WWWWD in all competitions. The FA Cup exit won't derail that league form, but it's a reminder that cup competitions can throw up surprises, and this time it was the Terriers on the receiving end of an upset at their own ground.
Written with the help of AI, using the match facts and the headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.
