Exeter City 1 Bradford City 0.

League 2

Saturday 14 March 2009.

The Moxey Report 

On a bright afternoon at the Park, a homble swirling wind put paid to any attempt at attractive football from either side and it says something that City's winning goal came from a huge deflection in front of a very healthy 5.253 supporters. Manager Paul Tisdale kept faith with the side that capitulated against Bournemouth in midweek-save for recalling the impressive Liam Sercombe at the expense of Neil Saunders. It was City who started brightestIn the fifth minute the ball was pumped upfield where Steve Basham cleverly nipped in in front of his defender and lashed a first time shot into the keeper's midriff from the edge of the box. He might have done a bit better in the 11th minute when Adam Stansfield showed great determination holding off three defenders before laying off the ball to the right, but Bash's measured effort was screwed well wide. Despite a few moments from Bradford - although nothing to really write home about - it was City who eventually took the lead in the 20th minute. Dean Moxey took the ball down the left touchline beating a defender in the process. He looked up to launch a cross from some 40-odd yards out and as he delivered the ball it took a massive deflection off the shoulder or Bradford captain Graham Lee and looped high over the stranded keeper and into the back of the net to make it a somewhat fortuitous 1-0 scoreline to City. City almost increased their lead in a more conventional fashion eight minutes later when Sercombe sent over a cross from the left after collecting a poorly cleared corner where Basham butted purposefully goalward from eight yards out, but unfortunately couldn't keep it on target as the ball flew over the bar and onto the Bank. Sercombe was again involved a couple of minutes later setting off on a weavy run towards goalSadly for him when he got into a shooting position he was horribly off balance and completely mishit his shot way off target. The final action of a difficult first half for both sides came when Moxey cut in from the left to let fly from the corner of the box, but the keeper was alert and got down comfortably to save the daisy cutter easily. City began the second half as they had the first and were the brightest in the opening exchanges. In the second minute a lurking Alex Russell picked up a loose clearance and squared for Matt Gill to his right, but he lifted his 30 yard piledriver a foot or two over the bar. The wind continued to play havoc with attempts to knock the ball around, and a promising move in the 20th minute ended with Basham getting a nasty looking injury to his right legHe was down for some moments and was limping very badly when he eventually left the field to be replaced by Richard Logan. Logan was soon involved, exchanging a couple of neat passes with Sercombe down the right, but his shot from distance was always drifting wideNot to be outdone, Moxey and Stansfield tried the same trick down the left a couple of minutes laterbut the end result was the same with Moxey skewing his shot over the bar. City missed a terrific chance for a second goal in the final five minutes when Gill's determination saw him rob a midfielder then stride forward confidently. Spotting Stansfield overlapping down the right, he played the ball through to him, but instead of firing the ball across goal to the unmarked-and very vocal-Logan. Stansfield, who's been in fine form of late, decided to take it on himself and screamed a venomous shot against the angle of post and bar and behind into the impressive away turn out. With the fourth official indicating four minutes of stoppage time, big defender Zeshan Rehman can consider himself a very lucky boy indeed to stay on the pitch as the ref bizarrely only showed him a yellow card for hauling down Stansfield as he looked to burst past on goal 25 yards out. From the resulting free kick Gill and Russell showed a clever bit of trickery to lay the ball of sideways to Deano who's ferocious shot took the slightest of deflections onto the crossbar where it rebounded away to safety. Bradford pressed hard for an equaliser, but it never came, nor, if truth be told, ever really looked like coming either and soon enough that was that as ref blew the final whistle. A good win it was too. OK the goal might have been a massive deflection, but nevertheless City stuck to their task and never gave Bradford an inch. Also there might have been more misplaced passes than you're used to seeing, but with the wind and Bradford battling unrelentingly themselves, this was one of those games where you don't care how the result comes, so long as it does. Plus of course it was a most welcome return to winning ways after the midweek disappointment. 

BBC match Summary and information –

Exeter picked up three crucial points in the battle of two promotion hopefuls as Dean Moxey's deflected strike secured a win over Bradford. The only goal of the game was somewhat fortuitous, after Moxey had received the ball wide on the Exeter left. His cross deflected off Paul Arnison, looped over the head of the Rhys Evans in the Bradford goal and nestled in the far corner of the net. The Bantams dominated the second half, but Exeter defended superbly.

Exeter: Jones, Archibald-Henville, Taylor, Edwards, Sercombe, Gill, Russell, Moxey, Stewart, Stansfield, Basham (Logan 64).

Subs Not Used: Marriott, Tully, McAllister, Saunders.

Goals: Moxey 20.

Bradford: Evans, Arnison, Lee, Rehman, O'Brien, Furman (Colbeck 85), Bullock, McLaren (Thorne 64), Law, Michael Boulding, Jones.

Subs Not Used: Brandon, Ainge, Gillespie.

Booked: Rehman.

Attendance 5253 with 525 away fans.

Referee Andy Penn (W Midlands).

After match comment

PAUL TISDALE (Exeter City Manager)

"It was one of those games where you score early and both sets of players turned it into one team hanging on and the other trying to get the equalise. We were the team hanging on and it was a really long wait until the final whistle. I was really pleased with the playersefforts because they had to hang on for the best part of an hour "We had to concentrate on doing the right things at the right time. I said to the players at half-time that they shouldn't be afraid to make mistakes and we had 11 players who gave everything for the cause. None of the players went into the game feeling sorry for themselves after the Bournemouth defeat. There was a very positive and optimistic attitude and, when I walked into the dressing room at half- time, I actually heard the players sorting out their problems. I could hear the players telling each other where they were getting picked off and where they should and shouldn't go. It was all about the team and 11 players playing for the team. "They gave everything in the second half and it was hard to pick fault with anyone in terms of effort and will to win. It was a real blow for Steve Basham to have to go off. It would be a real shame if he is going to be on the sidelines because him and Adam (Stansfield) were working so well together.

DEAN MOXEY (Exeter City goalscorer)

"I saw Steve Basham in the middle so I crossed the ball and it has taken a little nick off one of their defenders and went over their 'keeper. But there is no doubt about the goal-it was minehaven't scored for a little while and that is what like doing. I like defending as well but I love scoring goals, especially in front of the Big Bank, and it was fantastic to get back on the scoresheet.

STUART MCCALL (Bradford City Manager)

"I don't think anyone who was there at Exeter would say that we didn't deserve at least a pointThere was no lack in effort or desire but we just didn't show enough cutting edge when it mattered in front of goalWe just didn't do enough in their penalty box and got done by an absolute freak goalWe were on top for most parts of the game and should have got something. Now we need to move on and prove it again over the remaining eight league games and see where that takes usRemember we are all in together. We are all one team.


Wednesday 18th March 2009

City Reserves 2 Cheltenham Town 0

R onnie Bull and Manny Panther were both on target as Exeter City reserves secured a 2-0 Awin over Cheltenham Town at St James's Park. After Bull had fired City into the lead, Panther produced a moment of magic to double their advantageThe former York City midfielder cut inside and unleashed a fierce shot into the bottom corner. There was a number of positives for City with Ryan Harley producing a number of defence-splitting passes, including the chip that set up Panther for his goal. Steve Tully, Fred Murray and Craig McAllister all shone in the second half and Panther stepped up his claims for a return to the first team. Ben Watson took the first steps on his comeback from injury as he played the last 25 minutes. Danny Seaborne looked as though he might have aggravated

Wednesday 18th March 2009 Exeter City Reserves 2 Cheltenham Town 0

Ronnie Bull and Manny Panther were both on target as Exeter City reserves secured a 2-0 win over Cheltenham Town at St James's Park. After Bull had fired City into the lead, Panther produced a moment of magic to double their advantage.The former York City midfielder cut inside and unleashed a fierce shot into the bottom corner. There was a number of positives for City with Ryan Harley producing a number of defence-splitting passes, including the chip that set up Panther for his goal. Steve Tully, Fred Murray and Craig McAllister all shone in the second half and Panther stepped up his claims for a return to the first team. Ben Watson took the first steps on his comeback from injury as he played the last 25 minutes. Danny Seaborne looked as though he might have aggravated a head injury and Bull limped off in some discomfort. But the performance gave City boss Paul Tisdale plenty of food for thought ahead of the weekend's trip to Accrington Stanley.

Exeter City team:
Andy Marriott, Steve Tully, Ronnie Bull, Fred Murray, Danny Seaborne, Manny Panther, Bertie Cozic, Ryan Harley, Neil Saunders, Craig McAllister, Richard Logan.