Exeter City scoreline doesn't reflect the quality of play

Exeter City and Fleetwood Town played out a thoroughly entertaining 0-0 draw at Highbury Stadium.

The scoreline didn’t reflect the amount of chances that either side created, with both teams having opportunities to take the victory.

One of the best openings for City came deep into stoppage time in the second half, as Danny Coles couldn’t get over a loose ball and saw his effort clear the bar – but the teams both merited a point from the clash in Lancashire.

There were two changes to Paul Tisdale’s starting XI after the midweek fixture against Bristol Rovers.  A back injury to Tommy Doherty kept him out of the squad completely, meaning Steve Tully started for the first time in almost two months.  He began on the right of midfield, with Matt Oakley stepping into the centre alongside Scot Bennett.

The other change saw Jimmy Keohane recalled into a starting berth, with John O’Flynn taking a seat on the bench.  Alongside him in the dugout sat Jamie Reid, who was drafted into the matchday squad.

The first attempt of the day fell to the home side, as a headed clearance by Steve Tully invited a strike from Anthony Barry, but the midfielder sliced his strike and it drifted well wide of goal.

A foul by Pat Baldwin on Gareth Evans then allowed Fleetwood to line up a free-kick 20 yards from goal, and Jon Parkin’s effort had plenty of power but no direction.

The first quarter of an hour had played out rather evenly, despite the Cod Army having the more evident chances.  And City’s first real effort soon came, as a cross by Craig Woodman from the left found Jamie Cureton in the box – the striker swivelled and hit a left-footed effort from 12 yards, which a diving Scott Davies clawed away at the last moment.

The hosts had had a fairly anxious start, and a visibly agitated Graham Alexander was urging his troops to push out.  They responded down the right flank as Gareth Evans showed neat feet to step inside and feed Parkin.  His initial effort was blocked and fell into Ryan Crowther, who cut in from the left and shot over.

Down at the other end, Keohane picked the pocket of the Cod Army’s defence and had two quick shouts for a penalty as the ball firstly ricocheted against a defender’s hand and then he was bundled to the ground by Shaun Beeley in the box, but the referee waved away both counts.

Keohane’s jinking runs in possession were giving City plenty of incisiveness into opposition territory.  A foray all the way from the halfway line a little after the half-hour mark saw him eventually tee up Cureton, whose curling effort cleared the crossbar.

For the complete report go to www.exetercityfc.co.uk/fixtures-results/match-report/?matchid=3519822&tc...