Curzon Ashton 3 Exeter City 2.

FA Cup 1st Round 

Saturday 8 November 2008.

Referee : Simon Beck

Attendance: 1,259 with 350 City fans.

Cup Shock for The Grecians 
Report by Jim Shepherd.

The FA Cup can be a funny beast! One year we are all heading to Old Trafford in the 3rd round and another we are losing to Gravesend and Northfleet in order to avoid the 1st round This is probably why it is the best cup competition in the world for it can elate and frustrate with equal measures. City travelled to the north to take on Curzon Ashton in the town of Ashton-Under-Lyne near Manchester for this years 1st round tie, the first time Curzon had made that partucual stage of the CupAgainst a team that is not even the highest ranked team in Ashton (Ashton United in case you were wondering) expectation of the 2nd round draw was already brewing before a ball was kicked. A classic mistake. The setting was perfect, in a spectacular lower league ground, Curzon play at The Tameside Stadium which would eclipse many in the Blue Square Premier, a level three tiers above the Unibond North in which Curzon ply their trade. The pitch was of good standard and the signs were good for City's passing game. City lined up with the same side as the previous outingJones in goala back 4 of Tully Taylor Seaborne and Moxey. Edwards, Cozic and Gill were in the middle of the park Stansfield up front through the middle with Stewart on the left and Logan on the right Seven substitutes could be used and Marriot, Panther, McAlliser, Murray, Basham, Watson and the returning Harley were named. The opening exchanges were reasonably even, a couple of long range efforts from Curzon threatening the goalbut not too seriously, then came a spell for City. Around the quarter of an hour mark Bertie Cozic had a shot that the keeper parriedAdam Stansfield hit a shot against the post from close range and Matt Taylor blasted over from close range. It seemed like it was only a matter of time. Then Curzon broke away and Worsley found himself free on the edge of the areahis shot hit a sliding Dean Maxey and looped over the unlucky Paul Jones into the net to give an unlikely lead to the underdogs. Curzon appeared to be the hungrier side, being sharper and harder in the challenge, but not unfairlyThey also had a decent passing game and many of their moves came through the excellent Ogoothis combined with City's determination to squander possession meant Curzon were good value for their half time lead. The second half started with Ryan Harley coming on for Richard Logan with Cozic being moved to wide right and Marcus Stewart finding himself in a more central role. Within 10 minutes of the restart Curzon doubled their leadA long ball down the left was knocked in field for Ogoo who turned and from 25 yards volleyed the ball past Jones to probably score the goal of his career so far. So at 2-0 down Steve Basham came on for Cozic and Ben Watson came on for Stansfield City's luck did not change as Basham rattled the bar from the edge of the area and Dean Maxey hit the post from just insideGood movement from Stewart created space for Matt Gill but with a difficult chance he could only fire at the goalkeeper, City pressed and pressed for an opening with Moxey and Taylor pressing further and further forwardIn doing so being caught on the break was always a possibility and so it happened with 10 minutes to goNorton got away down the left and headed into the area, with real calmness he slotted home a one on one with Jones into the top comer. The crowd went wild. City were bombarding the Curzon goal, a beautiful header from Stewart set Basham through the middle who dinked home to pull a goal back and Moxey then chested a clearance and from outside the area rifled one into the far top comerBut it was too little too late. Gill managed to get a straight red card in the dying minutes which put him out of the next 3 games.

It will be a tough month ahead for City and they will need to show a killer, uncompromising attitude to continue the excellent start to the season.

BBC match report –

UniBond First Division North side Curzon Ashton survive a late Exeter fightback to dump their League Two opponents out of the FA Cup. The home side took the lead when Chris Worsley saw his shot deflected past goalkeeper Paul Jones. James Ogoo got a second with a dipping volley, before Michael Norton rounded off a breakaway move with a third goal. Exeter's Steve Basham and Dean Moxey grabbed late strikes either side of team-mate Matt Gill's dismissal.

Curzon Ashton: Carnell, Russell, Whelan, Birch, Jones, Curley, Ogoo (Byrne 88), Worsley, Elliot (O'Connor 76), Norton, Edghill. 

Subs Not Used: Barker, Booty, Watson, Hardman.

Booked: Edghill.

Goals: Worsley 26, Ogoo 56, Norton 79.

Exeter: Jones, Tully, Seaborne, Taylor, Moxey, Logan (Harley 46), Gill, Cozic (Basham 59), Edwards, Stewart, Stansfield (Watson 71).
Subs Not Used: Marriott, Panther, McAllister, Murray.

Sent Off: Gill (89).

Booked: Taylor, Seaborne.

Goals: Basham 84, Moxey 90.

Totesport.com Combination

Exeter City 4 Swansea City 1
Report by Simon Hayward.

On a chilly night, 127 spectators were able to enjoy some warming football from City, continuing the string of excellent entertainment served up at Reserve games, which deserves a far larger audienceThe Tisdale style of play extends now through all levels of the club so any City game is going to be a potentially attractive proposition. After a balanced first 20 minutes, City slipped into gear leading to the opener when, on 31 minutes, Liam Sercombe struck the ball in off a post after it had been cleared to the edge of the box. City continued to dominate and extended the lead just before half time with the goal of the game. Sercombe's corner was headed out to Ronnie Bull who hit a dipping volley into the top comer of the net from 25 yards. The young Swansea side showed good touches but City's upper hand continued in the second half with Fred Murray heading in a Chris Shephard comer before Swansea hit back through a good shot from Kristian O'Leary. The Grecians fine passing and movement created several chances and Ben Watson capped a lively performance, finishing a good move down the right from Manny Panther and Craig McAllister. Many players put in energetic and positive performances that will give Paul Tisdale plenty to consider when he looks at selecting the first team over the coming weeks and, on these Reserve showings, he should have every confidence in their ability to slot in and do the job.

City team:
Marriott, Bennett, Obersteller, Sercombe, Murray, Bull, Panther, Saunders, Watson, McAllister, Shephard.

Subs: Basham (for Saunders 65 mins). Ben Osman, Tasker, Toby Osman, Jordan