U's:0 Grecians:1
So, this week we’ve had a new chairman, a new striker, and another defeat. I’ll be glad to see the back of January to be honest – five losses in seven games is a record quite out of context with the rest of our season. Hopefully we’ll fair better in Feb.
Despite only arriving at the Abbey at 6pm, and having never met his team mates before, long time transfer target Mark Beesley was thrust into the action for an immediate debut, playing in behind Evil and Rendell. The visitors lined up in a defensive 4-5-1 formation, looking content to sit deep and hit us on the break.
Beesley showed some good movement early on as United took charge of possession, but for the most part looked like a man who had, er, turned up at 6pm having never met his team mates before. It soon became clear that chances were going to be at a premium, as Exeter had bodies everywhere closing United players down and blocking shots almost before they had left the shooters boot. When we did get chances from set pieces, Stephen Reed’s delivery was again generally poor, and one wonders how many bad games he has to have before he gets benched.
Reedy did put in one good centre from open play, which Beesley met at the near post but couldn’t quite get his effort on target. Wayne Hatswell drilled a volley across goal that was well saved, while Evil rose well to meet an Albrighton pass but headed inches wide.
Up to now the visitors, led by the best-dressed man in the Conference, Paul Tisdale, hadn’t offered much as an attacking force, but as United began to get sloppy, giving the ball away unnecessarily on several occasions, they found their feet. Just before half time they got their first corner, which Dean Moxey arced across the goal for Dan Seabourne to head in at the back post.
If JQ hoped that the goal would draw a positive response from the players, he was sadly mistaken, and Exeter began the second half looking to add to their advantage. Adam Stansfield, who gave an adroit account of himself as loan striker for the Grecians, muscled his way past Morrison, but the young defender recovered well to block his shot. Matt Taylor met the resulting corner but saw his header blocked by the face of Taylor.
Despite only arriving at the Abbey at 6pm, and having never met his team mates before, long time transfer target Mark Beesley was thrust into the action for an immediate debut, playing in behind Evil and Rendell. The visitors lined up in a defensive 4-5-1 formation, looking content to sit deep and hit us on the break.
Beesley showed some good movement early on as United took charge of possession, but for the most part looked like a man who had, er, turned up at 6pm having never met his team mates before. It soon became clear that chances were going to be at a premium, as Exeter had bodies everywhere closing United players down and blocking shots almost before they had left the shooters boot. When we did get chances from set pieces, Stephen Reed’s delivery was again generally poor, and one wonders how many bad games he has to have before he gets benched.
Reedy did put in one good centre from open play, which Beesley met at the near post but couldn’t quite get his effort on target. Wayne Hatswell drilled a volley across goal that was well saved, while Evil rose well to meet an Albrighton pass but headed inches wide.
Up to now the visitors, led by the best-dressed man in the Conference, Paul Tisdale, hadn’t offered much as an attacking force, but as United began to get sloppy, giving the ball away unnecessarily on several occasions, they found their feet. Just before half time they got their first corner, which Dean Moxey arced across the goal for Dan Seabourne to head in at the back post.
If JQ hoped that the goal would draw a positive response from the players, he was sadly mistaken, and Exeter began the second half looking to add to their advantage. Adam Stansfield, who gave an adroit account of himself as loan striker for the Grecians, muscled his way past Morrison, but the young defender recovered well to block his shot. Matt Taylor met the resulting corner but saw his header blocked by the face of Taylor.
After this the match fell back into a similar pattern, with United huffing and puffing but not really getting very far. The only outlet was Dan Gleeson who consistently found space on the right, but even then the standard of final ball was hit-and-miss. On one occasion he saw his initial effort blocked, did brilliantly to win the ball back, but then pushed the ball tamely into the keepers’ arms. Glees also had a decent looking penalty shout turned down by generally excellent referee Sarginson when he appeared to be tripped in the box.
Despite the pressure you never got the impression United were likely to score, and indeed Exeter could have added to their lead when fleet-footed substitute Lee Elam broke away but curled an effort wide of the post.
Probably the best cross of the night came from Danny Potter, who raced up to join the attack for an injury time corner. He looped the ball over to the back post, where Evil rose like a big fat scouse salmon to flick a downward header towards the bottom corner. It seemed to have goal written all over it in big letters with marker pen, but Marriott flung himself down to tip the ball round the post.
0-0 would have probably been a fair reflection of the match, but that’s not to take anything away from Exeter, who were well organised and took their chance when it came along, much like we did to numerous teams earlier in the season in fact.
Man of the Match: Dan Gleeson – At least tried to get us going with some sporadic bursts of enterprising wingbackery.
Man of the Match: Dan Gleeson – At least tried to get us going with some sporadic bursts of enterprising wingbackery.
Hat of the Match: Tisdale’s Badly Drawn Boy-esque beanie is the clear winner, with JQ’s flat cap lagging behind on -1million style points. 
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