Exeter City climb the table
A GOAL and an assist from Alex Nicholls proved the difference for Exeter City as the Grecians came away from Victoria Park with their third league win in as many games. The win moves Exeter City up to 12th in the Sky Bet League 2 table, only four points off the play-off places.
After a cagey opening half an hour Nicholls headed City in front, connecting with Lee Holmes’ whipped cross from the left-hand side. Despite being under the cosh for much of the second-half the Grecians defended resolutely, and after some fantastic work from Nicholls down the right-hand Joel Grant wrapped up the three points with only five minutes remaining, poking home from two yards out.
There were two changes to the City side that secured back-to-back Sky Bet League 2 victories with the win over Accrington Stanley last Saturday. Captain Jordan Moore-Taylor missed out through injury after picking up a knock last weekend, meaning that Christian Ribeiro was drafted in to partner Troy Brown at the heart of the Grecians’ defence. Notable team news for the hosts was that club captain and seven-goal top-scorer Billy Paynter was deemed fit enough for a place on the bench after an injury-enforced spell on the sidelines.
As the wind whipped off the North Sea and into Victoria Park, it was the home side who carved out the game’s first chance. Within a minute of kick-off Rakish Bingham was first to a loose ball in the City area, but Troy Brown was well-placed to block the former Wigan Athletic man’s driven effort at goal.
Kicking towards the contingent of City fans in the Rink End Stand who had made the near seven-hundred-mile-round trip north east, the Grecians nearly broke the deadlock in the eleventh minute. After Alex Nicholls collected the ball following a Jayden Stockley knock-down, the winger immediately lifted the ball into the path of Tom McCready. The City full-back then connected well with an effort from the right-hand side of the Pools’ box that forced Trevor Carson into a good save.
Both sides struggled to find their rhythm as the game became increasingly bogged down in midfield. It was City that adapted better to their surroundings, though, as once Lee Holmes worked the space to deliver a cross from the left-hand side following a couple of neat step-overs, Alex Nicholls got across his marker to head the Grecians into the lead from twelve yards out.
The away side looked encouraged after Nicholls’ goal, with Stockley beginning to see more of the ball in the final third. The City loanee came within inches of doubling his side’s lead with an effort on the turn, but saw his powerfully-struck effort sail just over the crossbar.
The remaining minutes of the half were played out without incident, and City went in for the break with a one goal advantage after a battling first-half display.
HALF-TIME: HARTLEPOOL 0-1 EXETER CITY
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Line-Ups
Hartlepool: Carson, Richards, Harrison, Jackson, Carroll, Featherstone (capt) (Magnay 64’) , Woods (Paynter 64’) , Gray, Hawkins, Bingham, Oates (Thomas 33’).
Subs: Bartlett, Jones, Walker, Fenwick.
Exeter City: Olejnik, McAllister, Ribeiro, Oakley (capt), Holmes (Davies 60’), Nicholls (Reid 90+3’), McCready, Tillson, Grant (Taylor 86’), Stockley, Brown.
Subs: Butterfield, Hamon, Wheeler, Watkins.
