Exeter report

[gledholt terrier]

Yawning to 3 points



Town’s routine victory over a neat and tidy but largely unthreatening Exeter City extended the hosts unbeaten run and the alarming dip in form appears well and truly consigned to the past.

Somewhat dull as a spectacle, the Terriers rarely looked in any trouble and coasted to a 3rd win in 4, with just 1 goal conceded in an impressive point gathering run which has hopefully restored confidence and created some momentum as winter approaches.

A first quarter of an hour bereft of incident at either end of the pitch livened up when the hard working Marshall and Ward combined to create danger in the visitors’ box, with the West Ham loanee eventually seeing his shot deflected over for a corner.

Wiles took the corner and delivered the ball on to the six yard line for Pearson to outjump everyone to power a header past Whitworth who, frankly, didn’t cover himself in glory with his attempt at a save, though it was at close range.

The sterility of the game didn’t particularly improve with the goal, not helped by the away side having little ambition to get forward despite being in arrears.

A delightful passing move which freed Ward to finish nicely only to be pulled up by an incorrect, if understandable, offside call was a rare shaft of light in a generally tedious affair. Perhaps the only person animated by proceedings was Exeter’s manager, who barely stopped arguing, pointing and cajoling, to no discernible effect.

Town controlled the half without needing to hit any heights as the Grecians’ passivity created a bloodless contest. Throughout the entirety of the game, only one challenge, on Lonwijk, brought a crowd reaction and was nowhere near enough to warrant a yellow card from the quite impressive referee.

Within seconds of the restart, the Devon side missed a glorious chance to level, but an excellent cross was disappointingly glanced by Magennis and Chapman saved easily.

Perhaps an equaliser would have jolted the game in to life, but it slipped back into predictability with Town easily coping with a slightly more adventurous opponent who shaded the opening ten minutes of the second half until the hosts killed the game stone dead with a second.

Ben Wiles, who rightly edged man of the match for the Terriers, was picked out in a lot of space 25 yards out by Kane and the midfielder took a step or two forward before hitting a sweet shot past City’s keeper who, again, could possibly have done better given the distance the ball travelled, all be it at pace. The bounce just before it reached him was, perhaps, the key factor.

Exeter’s urgency increased to the level of slightly miffed as they stared defeat in the face and they had one more, glorious, chance to make a game of it when Magennis lifted the ball over the bar from a good position. There was a case for a foul on Wiles in the build up, but it would have been a soft decision even if given a lot more than not.

Substitute Healey found the net late on after good work from Kasumu, but was adjudged narrowly offside, and the bland encounter finished shortly afterwards.

Successful seasons involve straightforward, vanilla wins and this was undoubtedly a rather forgettable game which, nevertheless, keeps Town in the top 6 despite the alarming slump in form in September and they now look like the contenders they damn well should be.

[saintlyterrier]

Thank you.
Yours literary efforts are greatly appreciated, and seems balanced in nature.