Match 10
16th September 2023
Cheltenham Town (h)
FLYA
Bristol Rovers (a)
Match Report
Exeter City 1 Cheltenham Town 0
Caleb Watts completed a perfect debut as his second half goal secured City another three points to send them top of Sky Bet League One.
After a goalless first half but one of many chances, the breakthrough came from the second half substitute, less than 24 hours after signing for the club.
Manager Gary Caldwell made two changes from last weeks defeat against Leyton Orient last Saturday, with the return of Vil Sinisalo from international duty and new signing Yanic Wildschut coming into the side. Watts joins the bench and Ilmari Niskanen misses out after returning from international duty with an injury.
The first 15 minutes saw the Grecians with most of the possession and our first chance coming in the seventh minute with Wildschut receiving the ball on the left side before sending it low into the box for Reece Cole to strike into Southwood’s hands.
The Grecians' defence was on top form throughout the first half with Cheltenham struggling to find their way into the final third. City found it hard to get the ball in the back of the net with multiple shots from Zak Jules and Reece Cole heading straight into the palm of the keeper’s hands
20 minutes in saw referee Martin Woods go into his book for the first time as he resulted in handing a yellow card to Cheltenham’s full-back Ben Williams on a harsh tackle on Demetri Mitchell just on half way.
It was the Grecians who continued to press against the visitors defence with shots flying towards Southwood as both Ryan Trevitt and Cole both testing the keeper from far causing some trouble towards Cheltenhams back line.
Jules was showing some great talent in his converted role in midfield having some great passing moves with Tom Carroll who was able to switch the play on numerous occasions to Wildschut and Mitchell. Overall a positive first half for City as they were on top for most of the half which caused some serious problems for Cheltenham. With the commencement of the second half City came out like they finished the first and continued to press the Robins back line and a early chance came in the 50th minute as he dribbled his way past multiple players and was able to take fire just on the 18 yard box which unfortunately ending up in the keepers hands once again. There was a fantastic double save by Vil as Cheltenham made a huge counter attack via Elliot Bonds who knocked it wide to Jovan Malcom and came one on one with Vil who did superb to put pressure on the striker and make a double save and parry it away. It was Sinisalo's action of an otherwise quiet match for the Finn. Caldwell felt the need to change it up in the 58thminute and try become more attacking to get the opening goal, another debutant in Watts took to the pitch in place of Wildschut and Kyle Taylor came on for Jules. City should have taken the lead, but for a save from Southwood and the woodwork, with Sonny Cox, Trevitt and Mitchell all involved as the ball simply would not go in. Perseverance paid off though just a few minutes later as Watts, on his debut by finding a loose ball on the edge of the six yard box where he strunk a wonderful half volley to send the Grecians into the lead they deserved. After the goal Cox was replaced with James Scott on his return from injury, and he should have doubled the lead within minutes. He stretched onto a Reece Cole cross and tapped the ball into the back of the net to increase the scoring until the linesman’s flag went up during the celebrations to rule the goal offside. A crucial save by Vil in the 93rd minute secured the victory and clean sheet for the Grecians and receive maxium points at SJP.
Exeter City: Sinisalo (GK), Mitchell, Sweeney, Aimson ( C ), Hartridge, Jules (Taylor 58’), Carroll, Trevitt, Cole (Borges 89’), Wildschut (Watts 58’), Cox ( Scott 69’)
Subs: Woods, Fitzwater, Borges, Watts, Richards, Taylor, Scott
Cheltenham Town: Southwood (GK), Long ( C ), B. Williams, Bevan, Freestone, Sercombe, Street, Ferry, Chapman, J. Williams (Bonds 45’), Malcolm
Subs: Harris (GK), Keena, Olayinka, Bonds, Peupion, Davies, Butler-Oyedeji
Referee: Martin Woods
Attendance: 6312 (322 away)
U18 Report:
Bristol Rovers 4 Exeter City 0
Derek Baker reports on a tough afternoon for the U18s.
Exeter City’s Under-18s were only second best as they suffered a 4-0 defeat away to Bristol Rovers U18s at the weekend in their latest fixture in the Youth Alliance South West division.
Despite two very early opportunities, the Grecians never really got going, and were punished for their inaccurate play by their opponents with two first half goals.
The visitors tried to regroup and introduce some fresh legs from the bench, but after the interval, the Pirates continued to look the more threatening, and two further goals meant the Devonians returned home with no points.
Exeter currently sit eighth in the league standings, with just the solitary win in their opening game, however, there is still plenty of the season remaining for City’s youngsters to turn around this slump in form.
Saturday saw ECFC’s Under-18s Lead Coach, Tom Donati, hand starts to last week’s super-subs, Harry Crees, Kieran Wilson and George Birch, while Sean Hart dropped to the bench.
Arguably, the Grecians failed to really click into gear during the opening exchanges, however, they were able to carve out two decent openings inside the first five minutes, but, they were unable to take an early lead.
It was those few chances that prompted a strong reaction from Rovers, and they tended to dominate most of the play from that moment onwards.
A breakthrough for the Gas came as no real surprise later on in the first period, but the Devon outfit tried to respond as they put together another spell, however, they were unable to make the most of the openings they created, and therefore, an equaliser never arrived.
The hosts doubled their lead before the interval came, giving Donati and the rest of the Exeter coaching staff a real headache in terms of solving the problems in front of them.
After half-time, City used their bench to try and change the flow of the game, however, despite the effort being high, they were unable to shift the momentum of the contest as the Pirates racked up their third goal to compound the away side’s misery.
The Bristol goalkeeper looked assured and confident in between the sticks, and despite the prolific Theo Cutler leading the line for the Grecians, they were unable to beat the Rovers shot-stopper.
The Gas managed to net another to secure an emphatic result, meaning the Devon team will have to look for some retribution when the clubs meet again in a midweek fixture in the Floodlit Cup.
Exeter City’s Under-18s Lead Coach, Tom Donati: “To be honest we didn’t think we started too brightly, but we created two chances to score. But from then on we allowed them to dominate us. We didn’t take our chances just before the second goal, and we have got to be better in those moments, and not get drawn away from what we are trying to do.
“At half-time, we tried to change things, but we had a young team, and had a bench made up of Under-16s. We changed to some of those young players, but it was difficult for them, though their effort levels were high.
“I have touched on it before, but we have got so much work to do with the group, which is exciting. The mindset needs to change in terms of everyone stepping up to what is required. It was a rather recipe for disaster here. Their goalkeeper played very well, but we lacked a cutting edge to our play.
“We play Bristle Rovers again in the Under-17 Floodlit Cup which will be good for the boys. It will be a similar group, so for them to understand that you can’t dwell on things for too long will be good. Then we play Cheltenham Town U18s in the league on Saturday, which will be an opportunity for change.”
Exeter City Under-18s: Dylan Shanahan, Tom Dean, Max Edgecombe, Scott Simmons, Sam Joce, Harry Crees, Liam Oakes, Alfie Cunningham, George Birch, Kieran Wilson, Theo Cutler
Subs: Liam Cartwright, Jack Anthony, Sean Hart, Rohullah Mohammadi
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