Jack Aitchison double gives Exeter hope of FA Cup cash boost

Jack Aitchison’s brace helped ease a financial crisis at Exeter as they stormed into the third round of the FA Cup with a superb 4-0 win over League One rivals Wycombe.

The club have been struggling financially all season, making victory against the Chairboys imperative given the rewards on offer in the cup, and the Exeter players stepped up to deliver an outstanding performance against a Wycombe side who played well but were out of sorts in front of goal.

There were half-chances on either side before Aitchison broke the deadlock on 40 minutes with a sensational diving header from the edge of the penalty box from Ilmari Niskanen’s perfect cross.

Wycombe stepped things up after the break with Connor Taylor twice heading narrowly wide from corners, but Exeter caught them on the counter on the hour when Akeel Higgins led the break and Aitchison beat the offside trap, rounded Norris and slotted into an empty net.

Exeter sealed victory 10 minutes from time as another good move ended with the lively Higgins cutting in from the right and curling a fine shot into the far bottom corner, before Jayden Wareham tapped in from close range in stoppage time after more superb work by the impressive Niskanen.

The Grecians will now be hoping for that plum draw on Monday evening to boost the club’s coffers.