Exeter City 3 Salisbury 1

Saturday 25 February 2006.
FA Trophy.

Referee: Danny McDermid

Att: 3653

City archive match report

So a healthy 3653 - including a magnificent 1300 from Salisbury, easily the biggest away turnout at St James' Park since Manchester United came to town nearly 14 months ago - saw City sweep majestically into the FA Trophy semi final courtesy of a superb 3-1 win on a gloriously sunny afternoon

City lined up: 
Jones; Moxey, Todd, Santos, Woodards; Challinor, Buckle, Cronin, Taylor; Flack, Phillips.

City were the first to come out of the blocks and took command of the game straight from the off. As early as the second minute Phillips signalled his intent by cutting in from the right and skipping past two defenders only to see his shot blocked at source from the edge of the penalty area.

More good work, mostly on the floor it should be noted, continued from City, particularly down the left and this resulted in a Moxey free kick in a similar position to Wayne Carlisle's goal-scoring effort last weekend. Only this time Deano floated the ball towards the far post where Todd butted firmly at the keeper from ten yards out.

On the quarter hour, the pressing down the left finally produced its reward with a wonderful ball from Moxey being helped on by Challinor into the path of Flack crashing his way into the box. Unfortunately for Salisbury the crashing was Flack to the floor under a clumsy challenge for a cast iron penalty, and the double jeopardy of the hapless defender then being sent off, presumably for being the last man. But after all that up stepped Phillips to confidently stroke the ball low and hard to the keeper's left in front of the Bastin Stand to put the Grecians a deserved one up.

Forced into a mini-reshuffle, Salisbury bought on a former City favourite Andy Cook, who made his way onto the pitch to warm applause from the Doble Stand faithful. It made little difference though, as City continued to dominate, without really testing the keeper, and at the other end Paul Jones had little to do except collect ballooned crosses and hugely wind-assisted howitzers raining down from his opposite number.

City picked it up a little further on the half hour when good work from Taylor sent Phillips scampering only to see his shot ricochet skywards which the keeper collected comfortably but not after carrying it over the line for a corner. Somewhere in the move Cook went down injured and sadly had to be carried from the game on a stretcher, forcing Salisbury into yet another substitution. Moxey then, eventually, knocked in the corner for Taylor to flick across goal to the back post where the barnstorming Flack came thundering in to head home from about two yards out to ease any doubts, even with an hour of play still to go.

City continued to press forward, sensing there was more to be had from an overworked and undermanned Salisbury defence, and good efforts from both Challinor and Taylor were well blocked. Moments later a Challinor long throw caused bedlam in the Salisbury box and an eventual flick found Phillips with time and space on his hands to bring the ball down under control before unleashing a drive straight at the keeper when a third goal seemed the most likely outcome. The rebound pinged around for a bit more, with both Flack and Todd having efforts before the ball eventually was scrambled clear to safety.

With ten minutes of the half remaining, Salisbury finally had the chance to properly test Jones, but with a free kick central some thirty yards out, the effort was tame and easily collected by Jones. The ball was soon back up the other end, and in the last five minutes the Salisbury goal escaped further punishment when first Taylor smashed a 20 yard volley narrowly wide then Moxey blasted high into the Bastin Stand from the edge of the box after a mazy run from just inside his own half in the last notable action of the half.

With City fans at last winning the half time race against opposition fans, the omens were good for the second half, and so it was with mere seconds on the clock that spadework from Flack and Phillips afforded Buckle the opportunity to scuff a weak effort at the keeper from 20 yards.

City continued to hold all the cards, and on the hour the match was over when a Challinor long throw from in front of the Doble Stand was glanced goalwards from Phillips and looped into the far corner of the net to make it three. Sensing a morale-boosting hat trick, five minutes later Phillips was again put through only to fire wide from the corner of the penalty box.

Midway through the half, though, disaster struck. Having already been cautioned moments earlier for a somewhat rash challenge just outside his area, Woodards foolishly earned himself a second yellow, and thus red, for kicking the ball away after running it out for a Salisbury throw. With both sides now reduced to ten men, Salisbury woke up and started to play, even if it was in reality to no avail.

With the final fifteen minutes approaching Flack was withdrawn - to a deserved standing ovation - and Farrell introduced. Seconds later the seemingly impossible happened when the defence fell asleep to allow the third Salisbury substitute - bought on minutes earlier - a simple side foot home from about five yards out to make it 3-1.

Now it was Salisbury's turn to sense something, and made life mightily difficult for the remainder of the match, so much so that Alex was forced to retire the hard working Phillips up front for a bit more steel at the back with the introduction of Billy Jones for the last five minutes. Alas Salisbury had decided to start to play far too late and after a bit of stoppage time the whistle was finally blown.

But what an improvement on previous weeks. I know Salisbury were a man short for much of the game, but even up until then City were well on top, with at times some quite delightful and crisp passing, and most of it on the floor. The move that led to the penalty was assured and lightning quick, and although doing Salisbury no favours whatsoever, they can surely have no complaints about either the penalty itself nor their defender's subsequent early bath. Indeed, they might have had a second man sent off just before half time if the ref hadn't been feeling sorry for them: their number six had already been booked for back chat - the ref desperately didn't want to book him but when he just couldn't keep his gob shut he had no option - and then clattered Challinor on the edge of the box when flying in high from behind attempting to win a header. I reckon he'd have been carded if he hadn't already been booked. The only downside for me was our defence leasing up in the last fifteen minutes and letting them in. Up until then they'd been unfussed and untroubled, so there was no need to make life hard for themselves unnecessarily.

Of the players, the back five, as I've said, were comfortable for 80% of the match. Woodards let himself and his team mates down badly with a stupid sending off, and I would expect Alex to pointing out to young Danny the error of his ways, especially as he's now going to be suspended for at least one game - probably Southport next weekend.

Andy Taylor stood out for me in midfield, especially after falling from favour in recent weeks. He was keen to get up and down, and not afraid to challenge when required. On the opposite side Challinor worked hard and had no little influence with pretty much all of City's best stuff, especially in the first half, coming from his combinations with Moxey and Phillips. In the middle Buckle strolled around nonchalantly, expertly breaking up anything Salisbury could muster, and ensuring the supply line was maintained from defence to attack. Cronin, however, continues to suffer from a crisis of confidence, and you felt for him trying desperately to rediscover is form with purposefully and nervously hit short and simple balls to nearby team mates early on.

Up front the two strikers were virtually unstoppable, and with Phillips notching his 11th and 12th goals of the season and Flack weighing in with another, then with luck the strikers' barren spells are over. But the two did so much than score - Phillips ran and chased and provided a willing recipient for many of Flack's all too easily won flick-ons.

So, much to be cheerful about after today's performance, including the fact that this actually was a performance. Three goals as well, and everyone playing their part in an entertaining game and ultimately easy victory. Games that end up as today's are perfect for restoring morale and confidence, and that today's game has ensured our furthest progress in the Trophy to date, and a two legged semi final with the reward of a final appearance at Upton Park for victory to boot, hopefully the lads can and will continue in this vein and take it on to the home game against Southport next Saturday.