Exeter City 0 Shrewsbury Town 1.

Saturday 16 August 2008.

Ref: Stephen Bratt

Att: 4916 with 327 away fans


League football returned to St James Park on Saturday 16th August Fans were in the away end, a smattering of police were in attendance and queues were at the turnstiles. Yes City were back and a superb 4,916 turned up to see it in dismal conditions.

City started the match kicking towards the Blackthorn Big Bank in rainy and windy conditions. However, despite the conditions Exeter kept possession excellently and presented some slick passing moves.

Within the first 5 minutes George Friend had got beyond the full back on a couple of occasions and put in telling crosses Both were well defended and led to corners for City. From the corners fell half chances to Logan and Marcus Stewart, both of whom failed to hit the target.

City continued to dominate the first half and for all the neat and clever passing there were no clear cut opportunities. In the 20th minute City won a free kick about 25 yards from goalUp stepped Ryan Harley to fire a shot destined for the top left hand corner and send the Bank into raptures, howeverthe impressive Daniels in goal for the Shrews pushed it onto the bar and off for a comer. The resultant corner was headed onto the bar again by Danny Seaborne. From another comer City hit the bar for a third time. A ball to the far post was expertly trapped by Harley, his first shot was saved by the defender closing him down and from about 10 yards at a slight angle Harley beat the keeper all ends up, only to see the shot crash back off the bar. It was not all one way traffic in the first half, a poor touch from Seaborne let in Shrewsbury, but Paul Jones was out quick and saved with his feet. Coming out for the second half it was clear that the Shrews had been given a talking to and they upped their game. The game was more finely balanced, but City continued to pass and move without creating many chances. Long range efforts from Matt Gill and Friend did not threaten the goal too much, Adam Stansfield found himself in on goalalbeit at an angle, but dragged his shot well wide. Then in the 70th minute there was the moment that all City fans were fearing. Paul Murray picked up the ball about 30 yards from goal, and advancing forward he was not closed down quick enough. When a couple of yards outside the area he launched a cracking drive inside the far post past Jones. City then pushed forward looking for the equaliser, with Manny Panther, Craig McAllister and Steve Basham coming on for Rob Edwards, Stansfield and Logan. Friend launched a fizzing cross across the 6 yard box but no one had gambled on it. Harley had another chance from a free kickFrom a very similar position as the one in the first half he beat the wall, only this time the keeper pushed the ball wide for a comer. From a comer City were denied by the woodwork again with Seaborne hitting the outside of the post with a header. In the dying moments Shrewsbury played some lovely counter attacking football as City pushed further and further forward and they could have wrapped the game up but for some terrible shooting and some good defending.

The game ended at 0-1, but the Grecians were certainly not outclassed. Shrewsbury have spent big this summer and are one of the favourites to be promoted, and on this performance there was little between the teams. It is very early days, and in the two opening games the team have created chances, but not got efforts on target. The League has been shown to be more clinical than the Conference and that that is the biggest lesson so far. The problem for this game was a lack of shots on target. City had 16 shots and only 4 required any effort from the keeper. The dominance is underlined by the 61% possession and the 11 corners, but we did not threaten enough. Goals win games, and this match was a lesson in this. The signs are very promising though, with Shrews and Darlington being the favourites and City have more than matched them, but not got the points that we have perhaps deserved.

Exeter: Jones, Tully, Seaborne, Matthew Taylor, Friend, Harley, Edwards (Panther 75), Gill, Stansfield (Basham 74), Logan (McAllister 75), Stewart. 

Subs Not Used: Marriott, Sercombe.

Shrewsbury: Daniels, Herd, Jackson, Langmead, Tierney, Murray (Hibbert 80), Davies, Cansdell-Sherriff, McIntyre, Holt, Walker (Hindmarch 68).
Subs Not Used: Garner, Darren Moss, Hibbert, Humphrey.

Booked: Murray, Hindmarch.

Goals: Murray 71.

Att: 4,916

Referee: S Hooper (Swindon)



Tuesday 19th August 2008
Football Combination S & W.

AFC Bournemouth (a)

Report by Simon Hayward

Bournemouth 1 Exeter City Reserves 0

Dean Moxey marked his return from injury by playing for more than an hour in Exeter City reserves' 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Dean Court.

Nineteen-year-old trialist right-back Peter Moore-released by Wigan at the end of last season-also featured in City's first game of the Football Combination League Wales and West Division season. And Grecians boss Paul Tisdale was pleased with the team's performance. "Dean had a very, very good hour, Tisdale said. "That puts him in contention for a place on the bench on Saturday. "I have said before it is about ensuring a player is fit enough to be able to play from the first minute, so today gave us more of an idea on that. "But I won't be making any decisions just yet. As I've said. Dean, like others, is in contention for being named in the squad. "Peter Moore was good as well. He did well at night-back in his first game for us. "We'll take a look at him now for the rest of the week before we make a decision on him. "It's not just about the game but also about what he does in training, so we won't be rushing into a decision.

Steve Hutchings' strike after half an hour was enough to separate the two sides in a closely fought match. City enjoyed a number of chances against a young Cherries side and were unfortunate not to grab an equaliser. But Tisdale was just glad the Grecians were able to field a number of players returning from injury, including Moxey and Ben Watson, while giving others the chance to maintain match fitness.

"Ben Watson played for 65 minutes and did very well he said. "He still needs more football, as do all the players who have been out injured, but each and every one of them is making excellent progress. The reserve team matches are very important because they are an opportunity to maintain match fitness for the whole squad. It's valuable in general for the players to keep as close to match fitness as they can because they need to be ready to step into the first team if, for whatever reason, the chance is there for them to step up.

"For the players who played today, their job is keep me thinking and if I do want to make a change to the first team or need to make a change because of injury then they are ready to step in

Exeter City reserves:
Jordan, Moore, Bennett, Tasker (Obersteller, 70), Moxey (Shepherd70), Cozic, Sercombez, Panther, Basham, McAllister, Watson (T Osman, 70).