Does anyone fancy forming a five-a-side team to be part of the Sidmouth League? Please contact Graham: graham@lambdadp.com

 

Exeter City in the news.  A profile of Paul Tisdale from The Times, 23 March.

 

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WANTED: we still need more new or used concrete slabs for building a path at the Cat & Fiddle training ground.  If you have some, or know where we can get some, please contact Di: dilee42@btinternet.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23rd March  Steve Basham and Troy Archibald-Henville visited the club  Troy and Steve answered questions for more than an hour, and here's a summary of their replies, not all of which are to be taken seriously.  Thanks for coming, guys.   Steve   Who’s worst to get past?  Danny Seaborne   Who’s the best player you’ve played against?  Sol Campbell   Do you know when you are going to be substituted?  No, Tis never gives us advanced warning.  In general subs come on around 60 minutes, leaving enough time to affect the match.   What about the future?  I’ve done some work with Setanta, and know some people at the BBC, so who knows?   Which striker do you play best with?  Stanno   Who decides about changing formation?  Never the team, always from the sideline.  We have to concentrate on formation and be able to change very quickly.  At the end of a match I am mentally tired.   What went wrong at Altrincham?  When a match starts to slip away it’s very hard to recover.   How do you get over missing a penalty?  Next time, grab the ball and put it on the spot!   What about physios?  It’s very scientific these days.  The physio’s main job is to get you fit so that you avoid injury.  We do a lot of Pilates in pre-season training to give core strength.   Troy   Why have you got such a long name?  My father’s name is Archibald and my mother's is Henville, and I thought they would both want to see their name on my back when I was playing.   When you lived in London did you know where Exeter was?  Yes.   Who’s hardest to defend against?   Logan   Would you rather play for Spurs reserves or Exeter?  Exeter!  Only few few hundred people watch Spurs reserves.   What fancy dress were you?  A reindeer   Role of captain?  We all have to be a captain when we are playing   Who are the best and worst dressed players in the team?  Dean Moxey’s name got mentioned….   From Luke (age 11).  Would you prefer automatic promotion or to go to Wembley for the play offs?  Automatic promotion!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul:

 

On going into the opponent’s half to clinch a winner in the dying minutes: It’s a long way back to the goal.

 

Superstitions: I used to only eat a certain colour of jelly babies, until I realised that didn’t work!

 

Personal highs: winning matches. 

 

Personal lows: losing matches.

 

Training: I record all the penalties on TV, and remember who takes them and where they aim for.

 

More training: I focus on one-on-one tactics, which can turn the result of a match.

 

Even More training: to take ball quickly from a corner and immediately kick up-field to a forward to launch a counter attack.

 

Steve Perryman: instils confidence.

 

On the team bus: watch films. 

 

On the snowy trip to Grimsby: I always want to go to the match and play.

 

His future: no idea!

 

Danny:

 

During the match: I like some verbal.

 

On being dropped: It gave me a kick up the arse.

 

Ambition: make money and retire to Marbella.

 

Superstition: haircut two days before the match.

 

Loan players: if they are better than me they should be in the team.

 

Biggest influence: Robbo

 

Steve Perryman: knows everything there is to know.

 

High this season: against Aldershot.

 

Low this season: giving away penalty against Wycombe.

 

Tisdale or Buckle: Tisdale, more proven. 

 

 

 

 

A huge crowd eagerly awaited the start of what was to be another crucial game in City's unbelievable season.  To roars of nearly 9,000 fans the home side started falteringly, the tension and expectation seemed to be inhibiting their usual close passing style.  At this early stage Morecambe were having the better of exchanges and three attempts were either wide or deflected as Exeter's goal was under seige.  Following Cozic's booking the resulting free kick led to the visitors taking the lead which stood until half time. The remainder of the half was best forgotten being a typical old time 4th division contest with the ball being in the air for a majority of the time.The crowd gave their response to a dismal half by unusually jeering our team off the pitch.

Whatever Tis said during the interval certainly changed City, within eight minutes of the restart they were 2-1 up thanks to great efforts from both Moxey and Harley, we awaited further goals as a revitalised team took Morecambe apart.  However, the impetus faded and the teams slogged it out for the last half hour with the visitors gaining the equaliser they deserved.  A disappointing result, an average game which leaves City travelling to Rotherham to determine their fate.  Whatever happens we have had a wonderful season, all credit to management and staff for lifting us back into the league where we have fully justified our hard earned return. Roll on August.

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Brentford vs Exeter, from Ian Emerson

How many times have we heard the words “it was a match of two halves”?  The Bees had 85% of the first half and City had 68% of the second half. In the first half The Bees ran us ragged and had a lot of missed chances, although City did defend well.  I was hoping that we might get to half time on even terms when Fleetwood (again) did extremely well, turned and scored; 1-0 to City.  In the second half it was a different story as the half progressed City created more space and gradually took more and more control of the game playing the sort of football now so much the Tisdale pattern.  Paul Jones (my City player of the year) saved a penalty, which the manager said on Radio Devon was “never a penalty unless Mat Gill had the fastest hands on the planet”.  We almost made it until right at the end of full 90 minutes when the Bees scored, and so we ended up with one point not three.  I think most of the City supporters would have settled for a point on Saturday morning and as Tis said we were playing the league leaders away in front of a big crowd and we did “very well”.

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Exeter vs Dagenham & Redbridge, from Mike Till

This was another three points ground out from a spirited Dagenham side that probably deserved more from the game than they achieved. The highlights from an Exeter point of view were from Stuart Fleetwood whose two spectacular goals from difficult angles sealed a win that sent City into the automatic promotion slot.  The defence doggedly kept at bay a lively Dagenham attack where Troy was a tower of strength and, with Fleetwood, the two recent signings look highly likely to - at the very least - get us into the play offs.

 

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Exeter vs Port Vale, from Ian Emerson

Another 3 points but only just!!!!, after 21 mins Danny Seabourne was sent off and City had to play the match with only 10 men which as one would expect left the remainder very, very tired.  Fortunately Port Vale proved to be Port Value scoring the only goal of the match i.e. AN OWN GOAL.  City did well holding on with the new forward signing Fleetwood looking as though he will be a big asset on the run in. East Devon Grecians were sponsors of  this match and 90 members and their guests filled the Flybe suite for a pre-match meal which was of excellent quality.  The sponsors nominated Bertie Cozac as man of the match, a well deserved choice, he had a bril game. At the end of the night a great result with every one looking forward to Sat’s game.

 

 

Exeter vs Darlington, from Ian Emerson:

The first half was a bit ordinary with City playing attractive football but not creating many shots on goal. The second half was totally different, again it was if the manager had summed up the opposition and tackled the game in a different way.  On came two subs and bingo - Brilliant!  We created loads of chances and had Darlo not had lady luck on their side we could have had two more goals. I thought Logey played very well and deserved more  rewards for his efforts, the Darlo goalkeeper was lucky beyond belief. This was a significant win against good opposition and keeps us on target for Division ONE, remember this time last year we were a CONFERENCE TEAM and look at us now!  Enjoy the good times.

(Ian used to be a Darlo supporter, but fortunately he has put all that behind him.  Ed.)

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Chester vs Exeter

From Ian Emerson:

I went via the E D G mini bus to the Chester match, on paper it looked like a walk over for City, Chester having played 32 matches, with only 25 points, and City having played 31 matches ,with 50 points, and a goal difference of +9 compared, with Chester – 27.

I was warned, by long term supporters, not to expect the stats to give the result, but to be cautious, unfortunately they were right. The 0-0 draw was a disappointment and from a very jolly outbound trip the return was subdued to say the least.

As Bill Shankley once said we were lucky to get 0. A further saying currently doing the rounds by an artist called Sea Sick Steve, is, ”I started out with nothing and I have still got most of it left”.
In all a disappointing match and not a lot to shout about, Chester were unlucky they missed two sitters, we somehow failed to get a hold on the game and whilst we were clearly the better footballing team, we were unable to capitalise on our potential.

The best bit was on the return journey and having stopped for refreshments, the team coach parked next to us and the manager Paul Tis , John Yems , and our goal keeping coach came over and had a chat to us all, as Jullian said what other club would do that?  It made our day.

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From Chris Lake:

Firstly an apology for the lack of match reports recently, largely due to me having computer problems and only having occasionally access to my brother's laptop!.

Secondly a match report for yesterday...(although to be honest there really isn't a lot to say). A changed city line-up from that of last week saw the return or Rob Edwards and Steve Tully.  Our defence at times looked unsettled and various errors left us lucky not to concede.  Paul Jones as always produced some top class saves to keep the clean sheet.

Attacking wise we were blunt.  Chester played a very clever game of frustrating our style of play which in turn frustrated the travelling supporters and the city team.  We can look on the bright side and say that we have taken 4 points from them this year, but you can't help feeling it maybe should have been 6.

I only have one picture to upload from Chester and a small video clip of our best chance of the game. These will be posted as soon as I have access to my computer again! There will also be the pictures from the last few away games also.