8th December 2007

Halifax 0-3 Exeter City 

Won 3-0 (Finally!)

Attendance: 1160

Report by Kirstie Bowden. 

I love Halifax. Halifax away is the first fixture I look for when the fixtures come out. Everyone else thinks I'm mad but there's something special about the place. The unfinished stand, the hardware store car park, the Three Pigeons, Elvis, and of course, the epic journey. Our four previous visits in the Conference, all of which I attended, saw us attain a 100% defeat record!

Our maiden Conference voyage in December 2003 saw us lose 2-0. The most memorable moment of this game was the topless conga. As if anyone in attendance could forget! The next trip on 2nd October 2004 was a sad one, marking Eamos last away game before he moved on to Reading. He shook hands with the away fans at the end, compounding the misery of the 2-1 defeat. The only bright point came from our goal, a Chris Todd overhead kick! We lost the next visit in March 2006 2-0. A supporter decided to give Glen Cronin abuse at the end of the game. Seeing as the supporter in question works in the legal profession I feel its best not to aggravate him so he will be known only as "tea boy!" However, Glen didn't take to kindly to the abuse and charged towards him giving as good as he got. The look on "tea-boys" face was priceless! Our visit in March 2007 saw us lose 2-1, with the goal a cracking free kick from Billy Jones. It was also the site of one of Mark Taylor's legendary thefts, this time the 'No Smoking' sign from the Three Pigeons which he presented to a rather displeased Marge on the way home!

And so to this seasons visit. Incidentally I'm writing this on the bus as we travel back to Devon. To be honest with you I'm surprised I still have the ability to write seeing as I'm in shock. Shock caused by a City victory at the Shay! I've always hoped that one day we would win there, and during the 4 previous long trips home we consoled ourselves by saying that our next visit would be victorious. This seasons visit proved problematic on arrival, as we were greeted with scenes reminiscent of St Albans. Thankfully the referee saw sense and the game went ahead, and all Grecians breathed a sigh of relief.

The game marked the first away trip for 'Grecian' (original I know!) our new mascot who sat on the railing with his little City scarf and flashing Christmas hat the entire match! Entering the ground I really wanted a steward to ask me what was in my bag. I doubt anyone has ever replied 'a lion' before! Regardless of my obvious bias, Jamie Mackie without doubt was the best man on the pitch. He won a penalty which Logie duly scored in the 3rd minute. He then set up Elam early in the second half before deservedly getting himself on the score sheet in the 74th minute. He celebrated in predictable style but was somewhat outdone by the travelling City supporters. Everyone was going mental, 'Grecian' went flying through the air, my Dad lost his hat and the stewards looked worried!

City played out the rest of the match and for once the fact that we were all freezing and soaked didn't matter. All those supporters who didn't travel because they assumed we would lose missed a classic. Exeter's performance was the best I'd ever seen in an away league fixture and it meant so much to all of us who had repeatedly suffered in the past!

Needless to say, I really love Halifax now!

BBC Match Report

Exeter put Halifax to the sword as early goals in either half and a late Jamie Mackie strike sealed an easy win for the promotion hopefuls.

The visitors were awarded a penalty after just 90 seconds when keeper Adam Legzdins hauled down Mackie and Richard Logan converted the spot-kick.

Exeter began the second half as they started the first with Lee Elam tapping home Mackie's cross to make it 2-0. Mackie completed the scoring with a strike from the middle of the area.

Halifax: Legzdins, Toulson, Belle, Young (Wright 84), Doughty, Killeen (Taylor 73), Heslop, Griffith, Torpey (Gray 57), Stamp, Shaw. 

Subs Not Used: Scott, Bushell.

Booked: Belle.

Exeter: Jones, Tully, Matt Taylor, Seaborne, Edwards (Elam 46), Carlisle, Andrew Taylor, Gill, Moxey (Richardson 88), Mackie, Logan (Stansfield 63).
Subs Not Used: Marriott, Basham.

Booked: Moxey.

Goals: Logan 3 pen, Elam 48, Mackie 74.

Att: 1,160

Ref: Paul Tierney (Wigan).