Tranmere Rovers 2 Exeter City
Saturday 24 March 2012.
Ref: Steve Rushton

Att: 4786 with 166 Exeter fans.

BBC Match report –

Tranmere made it 14 points from the 18 available under new boss Ronnie Moore with a comfortable victory over Exeter.

Ryan Brunt wasted a golden opportunity for the hosts, but they did go ahead after half-time when Joss Labadie's angled 20-yard drive flew into the net.

Jake Cassidy secured the points late on with an incisive breakaway goal.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Tranmere manager Ronnie Moore told BBC Radio Merseyside:

"It's about winning and we dug deep and we defended well.

"We were far too deep sometimes, but we've got to learn how to keep the ball better when we're under the cosh.

"They're all things the lads can work on, but basically as a group they've been fantastic.

"We've got another game coming next week, a bit of a six-pointer really, and if we can win that it does give us a bit of a breather."

Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale told BBC Radio Devon:

"We gave it a good go, there were four or five excellent performances on the pitch.

"There was a lot of effort there, the players are certainly not giving anything less than one hundred percent."

"David Noble was the best player on the pitch by an absolute distance, I just wish I could give him a better team to play with."

"We've not had any continuity in our selection over the last couple of months and it shows."

Football League Youth Alliance 

Bournemouth U-18’s 2-2 Exeter City 

Exeter City Under 18s came from behind twice to take a point back from Bournemouth on Saturday, reports Matt Hines.

Despite a bright start for the Grecians, in which Jamie Reid and Steve Carvell forced good saves from the keeper, Exeter went down to a break away goal after 15 minutes.

It was not long however before City were level, Reid played a smart one-two with Jake Gosling, which put the striker through on goal before a powerful finish which sent the sides in at 1-1.

The second half ran in a similar manner to the first, Exeter again creating good chances, with Carvell, Gosling, Reid and Ollie Knowles all forcing saves from the keeper.

Once again however Bournemouth managed to get break away and after getting in behind the City defence, scored past Jake Viney. As in the first half, Exeter came back and drew level, Gosling once again with the assist, as he set up Carvell who fired a powerful shot in from the edge of the area. All in all a fair point for City, who remained professional after twice falling behind.