A Quadruple Performance by the Grecians

Saturday 27th September 2008:

Macclesfield Town 1 Exeter City 4

A fourth goal in four games for number 4 Matt Gill put the gloss on a shining City performance as they recorded a 4-1 win at Moss Rose....writes JIM SHEPHERD

If you were late getting in to the ground, or delayed coming in to listen on the radio, then you'd have missed City's first of the afternoon. Kicking off towards the away fans basking in glorious autumn sunshine City won a throw near the right comer flag Gill launched it into the area where Logan jostled and fired against the bar. As the ball bounced down Stanno was on hand to rifle it home to send the Grecians in to the lead after 40 seconds. But Macclesfield were a team coming off a 3 game winning streak in September and didn't seem perturbed by the early setback. Jones made an easy save from a blocked shot soon after as the home side settled into a comfortable passing game. But with them failing to have an early cutting edge it was City who had the next chance. A Moxey comer was scrambled away from Stewart as he was poised to pounce in the 6 yard box. Seaborne was booked midway through the halfcatching Yeo late, but once again it was down to being played a ball which he was then struggling to reach. Stansfield had the next chance for either side as City broke from deep. Logan attempted to play in Stewart but the ball ran through to Stansfield. He struck sweetly from 18 yards but the keeper stood tall and batted the shot away. Stanno was involved again soon after, winning a comer after Jones had picked out Logan with a peach of a pass the "opposite way" as the defence covered a more conventional clearance. A couple of speculative efforts were traded before City got the second their invention and passing had deserved. Harley was the executor but the instigators were Stansfield and Edwards. Moxey got the ball to City's number 9 at the second attempt and he held the ball before laying it back to Edwards on half way. Edwards found Harley 30 yards out, centrally, in the hole Stansfield had leftHe drifted towards the edge of the box before feigning to play the ball to Logan on the right. This gave him enough space and time to cut inside two defenders and stroke a left footed shot into the corner leaving the keeper stranded. It seemed an almost effortless strike. As the half time was approaching City conceded to a bit of a sucker punch. Stansfield challenged for the ball in the Macclesfield half but the ball broke for the defence. A long ball was pumped forward more in hope than expectation but that hope was rewarded. As the ball bounced Taylor was unable to get enough purchase to send it back to Jones and Yeo pounced to reduce the arrears. Maybe it was a bit of poetic justice that he scored in the time added on for the treatment he'd received after Seaborne's booking but it put a bit of wet lettuce on the half time burger for the City fans. Within 2 minutes of the second half starting, Gill and Stewart sent Harley in on the left and his accurate low cross was turned beyond the keeper by Stansfield and for the next 20 minutes City threatened to dominate.

Save for a tame Gritton shot from 20 yards that Jones dealt with easily Moxey, Logan, Gill, Stewart and Harley all had efforts on the home goalThe best chance came at the midway point of the half. As City broke from a Macclesfield comer Harley and Stansfield exchanged passes until the latter fired from 15 yards but Brain, in the Macclesfield goal, stood up well and produced another good save.

But then a little wake up for Tis' men as Gritton hit the bar with a header from 6 yards. Jones had to save as a shot was drilled in from wide and was called into action again claiming a cross as forwards ran in from deep. With quarter of an hour to go Watson replaced Stansfield to give the Macclesfield defence some more headaches but the next real chance fell to the home sideCity once again gave the ball away a little sloppily in their own half and as a cross fell to Gritton 8 yards out Jones pulled off a magnificent save almost point blank. But it only dropped towards Yeo who instinctively swung but could not keep the ball down and once again rattled City's crossbar, With 5 to go Logan was taken off with Jack Obersteller given his debut, Stewart moving to the right. He'd hardly been on the pitch though as City put the game awayA delicious ball inside the left back by Watson found Gill and he cut into the area and stroked the ball round the keeper to maintain his extraordinary run of goals and cement his place as City's top scorer of the season. Gill made way for Cozic as 2 minutes of added time was played and as the referee blew to end the game the City fans in the 1854 crowd voiced their approval vociferously.

Stansfield was, well, Stansfield. He could have had a hat-trick and hassled, harried and caused lots of mayhem and uncertainty in the home defence. My man of the match, but a close run thing with Harley, Gill and Logan.

Macclesfield: Brain, Flynn (Deen 46), Morgan, Brisley, Jennings (Gritton 46), Reid, Bell (Hessey 79), Dunfield, Thomas, Green, Yeo.

Subs Not Used: Hadfield, Harvey.

Goals: Yeo 45.

Exeter: Jones, Tully, Seaborne, Taylor, Moxey, Stewart, Edwards, Gill (Cozic 87), Harley, Logan (Obersteller 84), Stansfield (Watson 77).
Subs Not Used: Marriott, Sercombe.

Booked: Seaborne.

Goals: Stansfield 1, Harley 35, Stansfield 48, Gill 85.

Attendance 1,854 with 282 City fans.

Ref: Gavin Ward (Surrey).

Tuesday 30th September 08 Totesport.com Combination

Salisbury City 0 Exeter City 2

Two second half goals from Steve Basham capped another good City performance as the Reserves won 2-0 at Salisbury City in the Totesport Combination League.

On a wet night and aher a long journey to Salisbury, Rob Edwards considered it a decent performance and a good work out, with the style of football continuing the theme and standard set by the first team. Basham's first goal came from the penalty spot and then he followed this up with a neat finish after Craig McAllister had cleverly set him up in the box.

City team:
Jordan, Obersteller, Bull. Bennett, Murray, Cozic, Sercombe (capt) Shephard, Basham, McAllister, Watson. Subs: Frear, Dawson, Osman T

Wednesday 8th October 08

Friendly
Exeter City 3 Exeter University 1

In a competitive match lat the Park, City came out 3-1 winners in the Jannual Varsity match. City retained the Varsity Shield, won last year when they also provided the opposition for the Uni, in the match to raise funds for the Cardiomyopathy Association. One of the University's Sports Science students Michael Poiden, died of the condition and the cause has been taken up by the students in his memory. City's slick passing football created an opener from Chris Shephard and then Ben Watson followed it up with a lobbed second before half time. Early in the second half the University pulled one back with a neat finish from Nick Robbins but, shortly after. Ben Watson added his second to make the game safe The most pleasing aspect of the night was the attendance, a magnificent 2720, down to hard work from the University team, which will contribute a tidy sum to the Cardiomyopathy Association.

City team: Jordan, Bennett, Bull, Murray, Obersteller, Sercombe, Cozic. Shephard, Basham, McAllister, Watson:
Subs:- Ben Osman, Western, Pattison, Bassett, Frear