Coventry seal return to League One after playoff win over Exeter

Soccer Football - League Two Play-Off Final - Exeter City vs Coventry City - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - May 28, 2018 Coventry City's Michael Doyle celebrates victory with trophy Action Images/Andrew Couldridge

(Reuters) - Coventry City secured its return to League One, English soccer's third-tier, with a 3-1 win over Exeter City in the playoff final at Wembley on Monday.

Coventry, one of the founding members of the Premier League in the 1992-93 season, broke the deadlock just after half time when defender Jordan Willis curled a shot into the far corner.

Midfielder Jordan Shipley doubled the lead for Mark Robins' side with a first-time finish before Jack Grimmer scored a third. Kyle Edwards netted Exeter a consolation goal.

Soccer Football - League Two Play-Off Final - Exeter City vs Coventry City - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - May 28, 2018 Coventry City's Kyel Reid celebrates winning the League Two Play-Off Final Action Images/Andrew Couldridge

Coventry, who lifted the 1987 FA Cup title, have been in a freefall since relegation from the Premier League after 34 years in the top-tier in 2001.

The victory hands them their first promotion from any division since 1967.

Soccer Football - League Two Play-Off Final - Exeter City vs Coventry City - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - May 28, 2018 Coventry City celebrate victory with trophy Action Images/Andrew Couldridge

(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)

Soccer Football - League Two Play-Off Final - Exeter City vs Coventry City - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - May 28, 2018 Coventry City celebrate with the trophy after winning the League Two Play-Off Final Action Images/Matthew Childs

Soccer Football - League Two Play-Off Final - Exeter City vs Coventry City - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - May 28, 2018 Coventry City's Marc McNulty and Maxime Biamou celebrate winning the League Two Play-Off Final Action Images/Matthew Childs

Soccer Football - League Two Play-Off Final - Exeter City vs Coventry City - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - May 28, 2018 Coventry City's Marc McNulty celebrates with fans after winning the League Two Play-Off Final Action Images/Matthew Childs

Soccer Football - League Two Play-Off Final - Exeter City vs Coventry City - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - May 28, 2018 Coventry City celebrate after winning the League Two Play-Off Final Action Images/Matthew Childs

Soccer Football - League Two Play-Off Final - Exeter City vs Coventry City - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - May 28, 2018 Coventry City's Maxime Biamou celebrates with fans after winning the League Two Play-Off Final Action Images/Matthew Childs