THE MOXEY REPORT

Monday 20th August 2007:
Blue Square Premier League

Exeter City 1 York City 1


So despite dropping two points in a pulsating 1-1 draw at the Park, on a balmy evening perfect for football in front of a whopping 4242 eager fans, the point gained was still enough to send City back to the top of the Blue Square Premier League as they made their live Setanta bow.

Making only one change to the side that beat Crawley less than a week ago that of Richardson for concussion victim Sercombe City stuck to their so far tried and tested 3-4-3 - formation for the visit of York City.

As it was, it was Exeter who started brightest with Rico firing a cross-field ball to Moxey on the left flank as early as the second minute. Unfortunately his 20 yard snap shot flashed wastefully wide. A minute later it was Rico's turn himself to have a pop, this time after some excellent work by Logan, Mackie and Stansfield whereby Logan miss hit his shot at the keeper who parried straight to Stansfield. He in turn laid it off to Rico who smashed a 10 yard drive goalwards only to see it deflected away narrowly missing the angle of bar and post.

After eight minutes Stansfield chanced his arm chasing a Logan flick on from a hoisted clearance, unfortunately the keeper had his wits about him and beat Stansfield in a race to the ball on the edge of the box.

Less than five minutes later Deano sent Stansfield scampering after a ball down the left where he then out muscled a defender on the edge of the box before inviting Mackie to shoot. However, a York defender was alert to the danger and scooped the ball away just as Mackie shaped to shoot. It wasn't all City though, and midway through the first half. York had their first real chance of the game. A swift break down the right saw the ball guided into the middle low whereby a first time strike towards the top corner from the corner of the six yard box was miraculously clawed away by an outstretched Marriott arm that seemed to suddenly appear from nowhere.

Normal service was soon resumed on the half hour when between them Mackie and Deano both embarked on a surging run to the heart of the York defence before getting themselves crowded out on the edge of the box. But they were soon rewarded for their attacking efforts with the award of a somewhat controversial penalty.

Logan's flick on was guided into Stansfield's path by Mackie, and as he surged into the box a defender appeared to completely airshot the ball and take Stansfield instead. Furious protests from both the York players and supporters BLUE SQU behind Marriott's goal that their man got a piece of the ball fell on deaf ears as the ref immediately pointed to the spot. Logan stepped up and cemented his spot at the top of the City scoring charts by drilling the ball inch perfect low to the keeper's right into the far corner to give City a deserved one goal lead.

Brimming with confidence, the final action of note in a frenetic first half came as Logan audaciously tried a spectacular 40 yard lob, but alas his confidence on this occasion was misplaced as the ball sailed a yard over the bar. But in no time the second half was underway, and City were out of the blocks even quicker than they were in the first. A mere 60 seconds had registered before a ball was dinked through for Logan to chase, but despite snicking the ball past the keeper, he managed to beat the far post as well and the chance was gone.

With five minutes up fans were treated to some terrific interplay down the left involving Deano, Logan and Mackie and

Match Details 

Exeter: Marriott, Tully, Matt Taylor, Edwards, Friend, Moxey, Artus, Richardson, Logan (Elam 79), Mackie (Basham 78), Stansfield.
Subs Not Used: Jones, Cozic, Bye.

Goals: Logan 36 pen.

York: Evans, Craddock (Purkiss 66), Parslow, McGurk, Hutchinson (Brayson 69), Robinson, Panther, Greenwood, Woolford, Brodie (Beardsley 79), Sodje.
Subs Not Used: Pentney, Jones.

Booked: Parslow.

Goals: Sodje 87.

Attendance 4,242

Referee O Langford (Darlaston).