The Town’s start to 2026 ended in disappointment as they were narrowly beaten at Exeter.

After back-to-back home victories over Wycombe and Leyton Orient the Hatters were brought back to earth after Pierce Sweeney’s curling shot five minutes after half-time earned the hosts all three points.

It might have been worse for the Town in Devon as the Grecians spurned several chances with James Shea, in for his first league start of the season for the injured Josh Keeley, making a number of important saves.

Exeter, who started the day just one place above the relegation zone, came mighty close to taking the lead on 14 minutes when Jayden Wareham’s low shot came back off the post.

The same player then saw a header cleared off the line on 22 minutes as the Town, showing five changes to the side that beat Orient on Monday, struggled to create a meaningful chance despite dominating possession.

Captain Jordan Clark had the Hatters’ best chance when, out of nothing, the midfielder turned exquisitely in the box before firing over.

But it was Exeter proving to be more of a threat going forward. Shea produced a fine save to turn away a goal-bound effort from Sonny Cox three minutes before half-time.

However, the Town fell behind five minutes after the restart when Sweeney struck a sweet shot into the far corner of the net, running on to a loose ball in the box after Teden Mengi had blocked an effort from Cox.

Having failed to win in any league game in which they have conceded first this season, the Town needed to find an answer in the final 40 minutes.

The Hatters needed another brilliant stop from Shea to prevent the hosts doubling their lead on the hour when Ethan Brierley’s shot was acrobatically turned over the bar by the Town stopper.

Jack Wilshere looked to the bench for inspiration in the closing stages. With nine minutes to go, Exeter snuffed out a chance for substitute Nahki Wells, and the Town came even closer to levelling when Clark rolled a low shot across goal agonisingly the wrong side of the post with five minutes left.

As time ticked down the Hatters appealed in vain for a late penalty in the final moments of three added minutes, but any faint hopes of earning a late, late point were waved away by the referee.

Despite the defeat the Town remain three points off the top six and don’t have long to put things right when they head to Doncaster on Sunday.

We’ll see you then.

Town: Shea, Walters (sub Nelson 76), Johnson, Mengi, Lonwijk, Walsh, Saville (sub Fanne 76), Clark, Bramall, Morris (sub Brown 62), Yates (sub Wells 62).

Subs not used: Thomas, Andersen, Fox.