Scunthorpe 3-1 Exeter: Iron pull clear of relegation zone

Scunthorpe put some daylight between themselves and the League Two relegation zone courtesy of a 3-1 success against Exeter.

Goals from James Perch, Jamie Ward and Alex Gilliead earned the Iron only their third victory of the campaign, with Matt Jay netting what ended up being a consolation for the Grecians.

A scrappy contest sprung into life in the 24th minute when full-back Perch picked up possession midway in the visiting half and fired into the top corner from 30 yards.

Exeter were level within three minutes - Jay finding the bottom corner from an angle - only for former Northern Ireland international Ward to finish emphatically from a knock down at the back post eight minutes before the interval.

Both sides had chances after the break, with Exeter's Ryan Bowman squandering one of the best when he struck the outside of the post after getting in behind the Iron defence.

Substitute Gilliead made the game safe for the hosts just two minutes after his introduction in the 75th minute, racing in at the back post to head home Ryan Colclough's cross.