Debutant Ronan Murray scored once and played a role in two David Norris goals as the Blues beat Exeter City 3-2 after extra-time in the first round of the Carling Cup at St James’ Park. Town looked set to win 2-1 in normal time until Ryan Harley lashed in a superb equaliser, his second goal of the game, but Norris netted the winner in the first half of the additional 30 minutes.

Boss Roy Keane, who was celebrating his 39th birthday, fielded a much-changed side from Saturday with Brian Murphy in goal, Shane O’Connor at left-back, Jack Ainsley on the right and Tom Eastman and Troy Brown in the centre. Luke Hyam continued in the midfield holding role with Grant Leadbitter and David Norris ahead of him. Jon Stead started in the central attacking role with Colin Healy on the left and Reggie Lambe on the right.

As expected, academy second year Josh Carson, a Northern Ireland U17 international midfielder, was amongst the subs, as was winger Jamie Griffiths, appearing in a senior squad for the first time. Former Blues strikers Marcus Stewart and Richard Logan were amongst the Exeter subs.

The home side struck the first shot of the game in the fifth minute, Scott Golbourne volleying well over the bar from a Ryan Harley corner.

From the goalkick Town should have gone in front. Brian Murphy’s kick evaded everyone and put Jon Stead in on goal but the former England U21 international scuffed his strike wide of Paul Jones’s post when he should have done much better.

Tully shot over for the Grecians with the home side passing the ball around slickly on a warm evening on a newly laid pitch which hasn’t knitted together in some parts and with little pace or bounce.

On 17 Reggie Lambe shot wide on the turn from just inside the area from a Stead lay-off as Town started to make some headway after a quiet start in which the League One team had had most of the ball.

Exeter had their best chance of the first half in the 25th minute when Stead lost Grecians skipper Matt Taylor at a corner but the centre-half headed over the bar from eight yards.

Three minutes later, Murphy misjudged Liam Sercombe’s cross from the left and was forced to block from John O’Flynn as the former Cork City and Barnet man was first to the rebound.

Daniel Nardiello shot over from the edge, then the Blues had another opportunity to go in front when Leadbitter sent in a freekick from the right and the ball fell to Colin Healy, who screwed his shot high and wide when he ought to have done better.

Ten minutes before the break, O’Flynn, who was watched by former Town boss Jim Magilton during his time as manager, put the ball in the net but from a very evidently offside position.

And that was the last serious action of an understated first half. Both sides had had a couple of chances, but largely the match had been played in midfield. The Blues had found it hard to look a coherent unit fielding such a makeshift line-up.

Early in the second half, a Brian Murphy long kick sent Reggie Lambe away but Exeter keeper Paul Jones was out quickly to dispossess the Bermudian international.

Moments later, O’Connor played a freekick to Leadbitter just outside the area and the former Sunderland man hit a shot which Matt Taylor blocked. On 52 Roy Keane swapped Lambe and Ainsley for Ronan Murray, making his first team debut, and Jaime Peters.

On 53 the home side went in front in controversial circumstances. Daniel Nardiello clearly handled the ball as he took it past Troy Brown on the left and sent in a cross, which Ryan Harley struck low and hard to Murphy’s right and into the net. The Town players complained to referee Rob Shoebridge, but to no avail.

A minute later, Town worked a clever corner on the left, O’Connor bringing the ball in from the right and Murray hitting a shot which was blocked for a corner. Leadbitter sent the ball back in and Norris struck an effort from the edge of the area, which was also deflected out for a corner.

Republic of Ireland U19 international Murray had made a bright start to his first team career and just before the hour mark struck a shot from the left corner of the area into the sidenetting. On 62 Tommy Smith replaced Troy Brown in the Town defence, the former Fulham academy man having been limping a few moments earlier.

The Blues got back on terms two minutes later when O’Connor crossed from the right and Murray flicked a looping header over the keeper and under the bar for a debut goal.

Town, who were by now playing 4-4-2 with Murray partnering Stead, had deserved to get back on terms, not just because of the dubious nature of the Grecians’ goal but having had more and more of the game since the home side’s goal.

The Blues continued to have the better of it and on 69 Stead ended a fine move by curling a shot wide of Jones’s goal from 20 yards. A minute later, referee Shoebridge booked Exeter’s Duffy for a foul on Murray. From the freekick, Stead’s shot was blocked.

Town made their increasing superiority show in the 73rd minute when Stead played the ball inside to Murray, who waited until Norris had made ground on his right before passing into the midfielder’s path. The former Plymouth man made no mistake with his shot, striking a low effort to Jones’s left and into the net.

On 78 former Town strikers Marcus Stewart and Richard Logan entered the fray, the former receiving a rapturous reception from his old supporters, with a Section 6 banner also paying tribute to the veteran frontman draped at the back of the away end.

The home side hit back with 10 minutes remaining, a poor clearance falling to Ryan Harley just outside the area and the midfielder unleashing a superb strike which beat Murphy, clipped the underside of the bar and crossed the line.

Leadbitter hit a shot which deflected into the sidenetting in the 83rd minute but referee Shoebridge gave a goalkick. Moments later, Smith did superbly to dispossess Stewart with the ex-Blues striker having been given a sight at goal.

With five minutes remaining, Stead lashed wildly over, then at the other end Nardiello shot just wide from 20 yards.

With a minute and a half left Ronan Murray broke into the area and was pulled back by Billy Jones. Referee Shoebridge waved away all protests but his linesman persuaded him to award a freekick on the edge of the area. Somehow the defender avoided seeing a card of either colour when a red looking the correct decision with the striker through and having an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Soon after, the final whistle went to signal extra time. Town had been much the better side after Exeter had gone in front and looked set to win the match until Harley’s wonder strike. The Blues will also feel harshly treated by referee Rob Shoebridge after the handball on the first Exeter goal and the failure to red card Jones late on.

Leadbitter struck extra-time’s first shot, a freekick from 30 yards which was straight at Exeter keeper Jones. For the home side, Stewart scuffed a shot from a cross from the right against Smith when he should

Norris got his name in referee Shoebridge’s book in the 97th minute for a foul on sub James Dunne. From the freekick, the ball was eventually played back in from the left and Scott Golbourne headed over when unmarked.

A minute later, the Blues went back in front. The impressive Murray fed Stead on the left, his first shot was saved by Jones, his second was cleared off the line by a defender, but David Norris was on hand to slam home the rebound from eight yards.

Murphy saved Logan’s strike from 25 yards, then Stead scraped a shot to Jones before Nardiello shot low to the Town keeper from the edge of the box, the final action of the first half of extra-time.

Liam Sercombe hit the second period of extra-time’s first shot but too close to Murphy, then Stead did well to hold off Billy Jones, cut in from the right and hit a shot which Jones saved.

Exeter huffed and puffed towards the end of extra-time but the Blues were good for their victory and go into the hat for Wednesday evening's draw for round two.

Veteran former Blue Marcus Stewart was applauded off by the Town support as he left the pitch, but it was debutant frontman Murray who had probably been the standout performer in what was a tough but ultimately successful workout for Roy Keane’s young side.

Town: Murphy, Ainsley (Peters 52), O’Connor, Brown (Smith 62), Eastman, Hyam, Leadbitter, Norris, Healy, Lambe (Murray 52), Stead. Unused: Lee-Barrett, Griffiths, Carson. Att: 4,520 (Town: 661).

Photo: Action Images

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