Kenya’s Vincent Harper earns high praise after starring for Exeter in League One win

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STARS ABROAD Kenya’s Vincent Harper earns high praise after starring for Exeter in League One win

Joel Omotto 15:04 - 07.02.2024

Kenyan winger Vincent Harper has been lauded for his top performance after helping Exeter City come from behind to beat English League One rivals Peterborough

Kenyan winger Vincent Harper has earned praise from his manager Gary Caldwell after his starring role in Exeter City’s 2-1 victory over Peterborough in an English League One clash on Tuesday.

Harper was at centre of key moves and decisions for Exeter who came from behind to claim all three points for the first time this season.

The winger made his presence felt early when he won Exeter’s first corner of the game, stealing the ball from Michael Olakigbe and having his cross blocked by the opposing defender. The resulting corner was a threatening one, played into the back-post towards the towering Zak Jules who was just unable to direct the ball home.

However, shortly after, Peterborough took the lead from the penalty spot when Will Aimson’s trailing leg caught Mason-Clark and Harrison Burrows made no mistake from 12 yards.

Both teams went in at halftime with the visitors leading 1-0 but after the break, the home side returned rejuvenated.

The Harper show started when Olakigbe, who had been threatening on the right of the pitch, was sent off for a second yellow after he brought down the Kenyan to stop Exeter’s counterattack.

Olakigbe’s dismissal allowed Harper more freedom on the flank as he had previously been withheld by the threat of the winger on the counter.

The 23-year-old thought he has scored a goal of the season contender when he struck sweetly across the goal from the edge of the box, but as fans waited to celebrate, Peterborough goalkeeper Nicholas Bilokapic pulled off an incredible save, clawing the ball out of the air to deny him.

Exeter would go level 15 minutes from time when Reece Cole’s freekick found its way into the back of the net through Bilokapic and they were celebrating a winner five minutes later when Jadel Katongo turned the ball into his on net.

"In the first half we were ok out of possession, restricted them to very little, and in the second half we stepped forward a yard and it got us momentum up the pitch,” Caldwell said after the game.

“Vinnie Harper was outstanding when he won the ball and his positivity led to the sending off which ultimately changed the game.”

Victory saw Exeter return to winning ways while lifting them to 14th on the table with 36 points from 31 games.

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