Stevenage 2 Exeter 0.

Tuesday 20 September 2005.

Down Broadhall Way
by Nick Southwood

A week ago travelled to Stevenage for Exeter City's Nationwide Conference game. I had been working in Ware, which is only down the road, so it would have been rude not to go. Besides, City were top of the table and unbeaten. It promised to be a cracker.

I arrived at Broadhall Way fiendishly early. 5:30pm is way to early for an evening game and the site of a lone City supporter brought plenty of (admiring) glances. There is a large car park opposite the ground which was very handy. Having parked up i went to the ground via the underpass.

I visited the little shop that Stevenage have got. There was a kid and his mum in there buying a Stevenage shirt. The effect was only spoiled by the Arsenal shirt the youngster was wearing. I picked up a programme, at £2 it was a pretty good read although a little flimsy.

At 6pm i found myself in the queue for the social club to open. There were about 20 thirsty folks ahead of me, and only one was a home fan. I got myself a drink and went to the far end of the room and started on the programme.

Soon a group of 4 Stevenage fans pitched up nearby complaining that not only had their usual table been taken but also that the place was full of away fans. I got talking to one of them about the prospect for the evening and the Conference in general. A video was put on the big screen (or wall as it was) of a vintage Stevenage game. No-one knew who the opposition were though. Soon enough the Exeter Exiles began arriving, many resplendent in the days work gear.

The ground at Broadhall way is relatively new, probably 10 years old or so. The away end is all seater - hence the £13 admission. Thankfully the all seater rule was not enforced and many chose to stand. The left hand side was an all seater stand with sponsors boxes, on the right was a nice looking standing terrace with a roof. The far end let the place down though with a 2/3rd width covered terrace and a portacabin. The pitch looked pretty good. The locals were in good voice to our right and the MC was very load - think of those European games from Turkey and you get the idea.

City kicked off towards the other end, lining up Jones (P), Jones (B), Hiley, Todd, Sawyer, Taylor, Cronin, Buckle, Challinor, Phillips and Edwards.

City were poor in the first 45 minutes. We were abject. Had it not been for the great form of Paul Jones we could have been three down at half time. Stevenage were everything we had been recently, quick, committed, accurate and motivated. City struggled to pass, run, tackle and mostly to know what to do. Stevenage broke repeatedly at pace down the wings and get dangerous balls into the box. We were very lucky to go in 0-0 at the break.

The second half saw two City substitutions, Scully on for Taylor and Farrell on for Edwards. Quite a few were surprised that neither had begun the game. Sadly it didn't make too much difference to the action as Stevenage picked up where they'd left off. Scully did cause a few problems for them on the wing, but his corners were not well taken not that we had many. Phillips and Farrell put in a lot of running up front but didn't get any service from the midfield. Challinor looked out of place on the left (which he was), Taylor and Scully struggled to make an impact from the right, Cronin looked off the pace and Buckle had a game to forget. On the hour mark Stevenage were awarded a penalty. It can only have been for handball, Elding blasted it wide to the left though. I thought we'd got away with it but minutes later it was 1-0. A bad pass from Buckle put Hiley under too much pressure and the forward fired home. Flack came on for Sawyer who looked to be hobbling as City went to 3-4-3. City then looked their brightest, but the game was settled with a second for Stevenage in the 88th minute.

Stevenage were really excellent value for their win. They only soured it by time wasting from the minute after their first goal. Added to this was their seemingly unending supply of dives and "injuries" during times of City pressure which wound up the away fans no end. Such a good footballing side don't need this sort of thing. Well, the first loss in the ninth game of the season. Most City supporters would have taken that two months ago, sadly the manner of the defeat was upsetting. Only really Jones came out with any credit. Hopefully Exeter will bounce back with the home games against Burton (last Saturday) and Woking this evening.

BBC Match Summary and information 

George Boyd and Dannie Bulman were on target as Stevenage brought an end to Conference leaders Exeter's eight-match unbeaten run with a deserved victory. Defences dominated a tense first half, and Stevenage missed a penalty after the break, with Anthony Elding shooting wide in the 66th minute. But Boyd spared his blushes by hitting the opener shot from the edge of the area on 70 minutes. Nil man sealed the win two minutes from time after being played in by Boyd.

Stevenage: Julian, Warner, Gregory (Goodliffe 89), Laker, Henry, Hocking, Boyd (Williams 90), Bulman, Weatherstone, Nurse, Elding (Maamria 75).

Subs Not Used: Quinn, Gore.

Booked: Laker.

Goals: Boyd 70, Bulman 88.

Exeter: Paul Jones, Hiley, Billy Jones, Sawyer (Flack 82), Todd, Taylor (Scully 45), Cronin, Challinor, Phillips, Buckle, Edwards (Farrell 45).
Subs Not Used: Rice, Gaia.

Booked: Buckle, Todd.

Attendance 2,445

Referee M Bull (Essex).