Exeter City 2 Walsall 1.

Saturday 22 January 2011.

Ref: Robert Madley

Att: 4853 with 161 away fans.

BBC match report –

Exeter secured their first win of 2011 as they beat struggling Walsall.

The home side took the lead inside five minutes when Richard Duffy converted Stephen Tully's cross at the back post.

Substitute Daniel Nardiello doubled the lead when he tucked the ball into the corner after a quickly taken free-kick by David Noble.

Nardiello missed a penalty after Aaron Lescott fouled John O'Flynn in the area, before Julian Gray scrambled in a late consolation for the visitors.

Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale told BBC Radio Devon:

"When you think you've got it won, you really have to kill the game so I was relieved to walk off with a win.

"We still get the three points, we made heavy work of it at times as I suppose they've got nothing to lose and they played to the end.

"I'm philosophical about it, we played Walsall earlier in the year and played fantastically well and lost, and then today we played below par and won."


City In Reserve totesport.com Combination

Exeter City Reserves ran out comfortable 4-1 winners on Tuesday in the totesport.com combination clash with Bournemouth at The Park.

It took just a matter of seconds for the Grecians to take the lead when Richard Logan flew down the left hand flank and his deep back post cross was headed home by John O'Flynn. Just seven minutes later it was two when Elliott Frear's left footed cross was met by a lovely header from Troy Archibald-Henville that looped into the top corner.

Troy, wearing the number 10 for his 45 minutes on the pitch, is yet to open his account for the first team but you suspect if he connects with deliveries like he did on this occasion his first goal surely won't be far away.

Logan was arguably the only first teamer from recent weeks lining up for Andy Tilson's side and he showed just why he's been in the starting XI for the majority of the campaign so far with a classy third for the Grecians on 12 minutes.

Jake Thomson sent a lovely long ball from deep in his own half and Logan raced onto it, getting to the ball before keeper Dan Thomas he lofted a chip into the back of the net.
The only downside for City this evening was the Bournemouth goal. Troy under-hit his back- pass, the Bournemouth forward beat Artur Krysiak to the ball, cleverly shimmied past him and rolled the ball home.

The three goal lead was restored again on 37 minutes with the final goal of the match, Jake Thomson tried his luck with an optimistic 35 yard looping free kick on the right hand flank which Thomas could only touch over his head and into the far corner of his own net.

Logan and Troy were withdrawn at the interval for Dan Western and Jack Furzer and with the first move of the half it could have been 5-1 when O'Flynn cut inside off the left flank and curled an effort just wide from the angle.

The Irishman had another chance shortly after when Thomson showed searing pace down the right hand side before sending a low cross towards him but his close range shot was kept out.

City Lined Up: Krysiak, Thomson, Bennett, Archibald-Henville, (Furzer) Frear, Cozic, Edwards, Dawson, Stewart, O'Flynn, (Nichols) Logan. (Western)

The Reserves are in action again on Tuesday 8th February against Torquay at Plainmoor.