Match 43
13th March 2018
Yeovil Town (h)

Exeter City were held to a 0-0 draw with Yeovil Town at St James Park in Sky Bet League Two.
by Ben Strange

Despite creating a host of chances, the Grecians weren't able to find a way past their west country opponents as Darren Way's side held on for a draw.

Match report sponsored by Speedy Freight

City made two changes to the side that began the 1-1 draw with Carlisle United last weekend with injured pair Lee Holmes and Jordan Moore-Taylor dropping out for Craig Woodman and Matt Jay.

The Grecians started on the front foot and had their first chance at goal after the first minute when Jayden Stockley nodded the ball into the path of Jay, whose shot was blocked away as City then won a succession of corners.

Stockley, Pierce Sweeney and Jake Taylor also had shots at goal blocked away in the opening period as Paul Tisdale’s side put their opponents under considerable pressure early on.

Yeovil had to wait until just before the 20-minute mark for their first effort at the City goal when Jared Bird broke through the Grecians’ midfield before striking just over.

Bird was back in the midst of the action just moments later when the ball broke to him in the City area before he shot powerfully at goal, but for an excellent block by Dean Moxey in central defence.

City continued to look bright in the first half, with Taylor having two more chances at goal, the first which edged just over before he received the ball just inside the Yeovil box and had a shot well blocked by the on-rushing Town defence.

Hiram Boateng then went closest for City just five minutes before half-time when good interplay between Stockley and Ryan Harley saw the ball fall to the midfielder on the six-yard line but, under pressure, the midfielder could only fire against the crossbar as Darren Way’s side hung on going into the break.

The first chance of the second-half fell to the Grecians after Boateng’s corner found Moxey unmarked just a few yards out from Stuart Nelson’s goal. But the City number 21 could only head the ball just wide of the Yeovil goal.

Jay and Harley were next to have attempts at goal around the hour mark, both with efforts from the edge of the Yeovil box, but both edging just wide of Nelson’s goal as Tisdale’s side searched for the advantage.

Pym was then called into action on 74 minutes when a rare Yeovil attack saw substitute Rhys Browne run at the City backline before sending in a low cross, which the City goalkeeper did well to pounce on.

Lewis Wing then had another chance for the away side on 80 minutes when the visitors got in down the right-hand side, but Pym saved excellently from Wing’s low and powerful effort.

City were then gifted the chance to win the match in the final minute of the 90 when Taylor did well to keep the ball alive after a substitute, Liam McALinden, run. The ball found its way to Stockley, who just had Nelson to beat, but could only drag his shot wide of goal as the Grecians were made to settle for one point.

Exeter City: Pym, Sweeney, Woodman, Tillson, Harley (McAlinden, 82), Stockley, Jay (Edwards, 75), Moxey, Taylor, Brown, Boateng

Subs not used: Jones, James, Archibald-Henville, Simpson, Seaborne

Booked: Harley

Yeovil Town: Nelson, Bird, Wing, Khan (Browne, 57), Dickson, Zoko (Surridge, 82), Green, Sowunmi, Fisher (Barnes, 70), James, Donnellan

Subs not used: Maddison, Mugabe, Seager, Santos

Booked: Green, Donnellan

Attendance: 3,913 (Inc, 323, away)

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