Exeter City 1 Cambridge City 0.
FA Trophy.
Saturday 4 February 2006.

Match Report 
by Matt Bamsey at ST JAMES'S PARK

Gloomy expressions on the players' faces, displeasure in the crowd and an overriding feeling of frustration from the manager. Amid the eerie atmosphere at St James's Park, it was easy to forget that Exeter City had actually booked their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy

Rarely had a victory been the subject of such restrained applauseIt really did feel like a defeat. On Monday night, City received warm applause from supporters for their tenacious efforts during their 3-1 defeat to league leaders Accrington. At the weekend the reaction to their 1-0 win over Cambridge City was frosty, to say the least. City boss Alex Inglethorpe commented: "It is strange when you win a game and you are booed off the pitch. "So, of course, we are going to feel a bit downit's like a defeat." Those who sat through this dross encounter will know the result cannot mask the deficiencies in what turned out to be a wholly disjointed display. In stark contrast to their gritty, yet ultimately unsuccessful showing against Accrington, Saturday was one to forget for the Grecians. Shaky in defence, static in midfield and toothless up front, too many individual frailties meant the team never blended as collective unit. Too many crosses were wasted, Too many passes went astray and even City's usual meticulous preparation at set-pieces was wasted by some wayward deliveries. They just never got goingthe tempo was flat as the home side lurched from one mistake to the next. There was no gulf between these two sides. No element of the Conference underlining its superiority over Conference South, nothing to suggest this was anything but a true test of City's resolve. If anybody but the most blinkered Grecians die-hard had
sat through 90 minutes at St James's Park they could testify to Exeter's sheer relief and delight at seeing off a lower league side who deserved at least a replay That they managed to scramble a last-gasp winner and avoid the daunting prospect of a trip to Cambridge tomorrow night will have prompted a huge sigh of relief all around When the goal eventually came, it was more out of luck than any attacking flair a twist of fortune that spared Exeter's blushes and broke Cambridge hearts Indeed the scrappy effort summed up this instantly forgettable contest. Jon Challinor's long throw was launched into the box, the ball brushed off the head of Steve Flack and almost in slow motion. cannoned off the crossbar. In his haste to repel the danger hapless defender Craig Pope took a wild swing at the loose ball and only succeeded in putting through his own net. It was rough justice on the visitors and a welcome gift for a home side clearly suffering from the exertions of Monday night's match against Accrington. Even then, City almost pressed the self-destruct button in the dying secondsthanks to a moment of indecision from skipper Glenn Cronin. Paul Booth robbed the Irishman and with the goal at his mercy fired wide. On the positive side, Inglethorpe's men are in the Trophy quarter-finals for the third successive season-even if the nature of the victory was far from convincing. "We know we didn't play well." added Inglethorpe. "But the truth of the matter is if we play this badly every week and win I would take it. It wasn't good enough on the day but it is a cup competition we kept aclean sheet and we are through" Cambridge, deploying two genuine wingers and a pair of strikers intent on inflicting real damage, carved out the clearest chances in the first half.  City defenders froze like the proverbial rabbits in headlights when Paul Booth met Robbie Simpson's cross with a fierce header that brought a sprawling save out of Paul Jones. Dale Binns stayed alert to lap up the rebound but he fluffed his lines from just two yards out ballooning wide in one of the misses of the season. The warning shots had been fired with Cambridge emphasising their determination to spring an upset every time they poured forward. City failed to click out of first gear in the opening 45 minutes, their passing game was non existent and, more alarmingly their defence was prised open on several occasions. After Jones had acrobatically touched Paul Booth's free-kick over the bar, the keeper flapped at Craig Pope's cross before Danny Woodards rescued the situation by clearing off his own line. The home side then had another let-off as Robbie Simpson watched in horror when his goal was chalked off for a foul on the keeper. Lee Phillips, one of only a few City players to emerge with any credit during the opening 4 minutes did manufacture a chance at the other end. Swapping passes with strike partner Craig Farrell, Phillips swept forward and unleashed an effort that was gathered by Danny Naisbitt. That was about as good as got for City in the opening period whereas Cambridge continued to cause moments of alarm Paul Booth let fly with a rasping drive that drifted wide and Simpson was foiled by Jones after his shot deflected off Jon Challinor

The Grecians improved in the second half after Inglethorpe reshuffled his side. Matthew Gill was replaced by Paul Buckle in midfield and a fragile-looking defence appeared far more solid with the introduction of Chris Todd. City began to take a grip on possession as the game wore on. Their shape was more compact, and their confidence had been seemingly restored thanks to an electric break 20 seconds into the half. Challinor pick-pocketed defender Pope before squaring for Phillips, whose stinging drive crashed into Glenn Fuff. Barely 60 seconds later Josh Simpson surged down the right and crossed for Simpson to head straight at Jones in the Exeter goal. Openings were restricted for the majority of the half until the game flickered into life in the last 10 minutes. The visitors felt a burning sense of injustice when Simpson was shown a red card for his second caution, having already received a yellow for a reckless tackle on Billy Jones in the 34th minute. Simpson committed the unforgivable sin of kicking the ball away and was swiftly dismissed for his troubles And when Pope put through his own net in the cruellest of circumstances, Cambridge's brave resistance had been broken. Of course, had Booth not squandered that last gasp gilt- edged chances, a tale of woe could have so easily changed to one of celebration. As it was, City were the side who stumbled into the next round by the skin of their teeth. 

It wasn't good enough on the day, but it is a cup competition, we kept a clean sheet and we are through." Cambridge, deploying two genuine wingers and a pair of strikers intent on inflicting real damage, carved out the clearest chances in the first half. City defenders froze like the proverbial rabbits in headlights when Paul Booth met Robbie Simpson's cross with a fierce header that brought a sprawling save out of Paul Jones. Dale Binns stayed alert to lap up the rebound, but he fluffed his lines from just two yards out ballooning wide in one of the misses of the season. The warning shots had been fired, with Cambridge emphasising their determination to spring an upset every time they poured forward City failed to click out of first gear in the opening 45 minutes, their passing game was non- existence and, more alarmingly, their defence was prised open on several occasions. After Jones had acrobatically touched Paul Booth's free-kick over the bar, the keeper flapped at Craig Pope's cross before Danny Woodards rescued the situation by clearing off his own line.

Exeter City
P. Jones, Woodards, Gaia (Tood 46) Sawyer, B Jones, Carlisle, Gill (Buckle46) Cronin, Challinor, Phillips, Farrell (Flack 64)

Yellow cards: Gaia 19

Cambridge City: Naisbitt, Pope, Chaffey,Fuff,Langstone, Dobson,(Gash 68), J Simpson, Molesley,Binns, R.Simpson Booth

Yellow cards: R Simpson, 34 & 82 
Red cards: R Simpson 82

Final Score 

Exeter City 1
Pope og (86)
Cambridge City 0

Referee: Steve Tomlinson

Att: 2166

EXETER City under-18s were in commanding form as they carved out a 3-0 win over Oxford United at the Cat & Fiddle training ground