Exeter City 0 Stockport County 2 ( Football League 1) Saturday 5 April 2025

 

 

 

 

County scorched their way up to fourth spot in League 1 today, with a well-constructed and ruthlessly delivered  2-0 victory against Exeter City at their sun-drenched St James Park home.

The delivery of same every bit as ruthless as I have suggested as two goals inside 22 minutes by Kyle Wootton saw off any realistic hope the Grecians had of taking points from County.

Thereafter  the careful construction of County`s game surfaced as another example of their compelling mastery of game management ,   smothered anything Gary Caldwell`s side could do to redress the balance of the match.

The points were County`s,   a long trip to Exeter had been as joyful as any visit to sunny Devon had a right to be, as we look forward with ever greater relish to what awaits us in the remainder of the season!

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 A welcome start for County`s Owen Moxon was the only surprise as the game started.

And it took just 2 minutes for the game`s probable outcome to be hinted at as Jayden Fevrier surged forward on the break to the edge of the home box where he released a pass in the direction of Tanto Olaofe to his right.

Tanto needed minimum prompting and his first time cross, sent low into the box, was met by Fevrier but his goal bound effort was blocked on the line- a melee ensuing ending as Kyle Wootton converted from close in – County had the lead they came for  and 813 County supporters gave full throated voice to their utter joy!

That was an excellent start and inevitably matters cooled a touch in the minutes that followed the goal- Fevrier featured again not long after but to less effect!

Moxon and Hills were busy next as Exeter  looked to hit back, and the Grecians pressed County back for a while albeit without really threatening Addai`s sense of well being twixt the sticks for the Hatters.

Then our hosts world started to crumble around them as County hit them with another massively incisive move- started by Touray who delivered a neat ball into Tanto`s path down the left.

A moments hesitation followed as Tanto wondered , briefly, whether he was offside- he wasn`t, and he wondered no longer sliding an inch perfect cross smack on Kyle Wootton`s toes and he made no mistake- scoring with real power to double County`s advantage!

Another 8 minutes and Woots  almost claimed a well-deserved hat-trick, but the moment came via a free kick  that followed long delay for treatment to Owen Moxon after he had been clattered by Ben Purrington and the immediate consequence for County was that Moxon had to be substituted ( having sustained a facial injury) being replaced by Will Collar.

As County settled after the disruption – Wootton missing out  but not by much, so Exeter tried to up their game- looking to play football doing it but not causing any great waves against a composed County presence.

Tony Yogane did offer pace down the left in the Grecian`s cause but neither him nor those attempting the same down the other flank  could ruffle County`s confidence- Caleb Watts doing his level best to prove me wrong , but he failed to test Addai with the half chance that came his way.

We were into added time now…loads of it….and a rare chance to mentally admonish Referee Ben Speedie followed as a clear foul on Woots was ignored ( rather in the manner dozens of similar offences are dealt with  by men in black kit at this level) by the official.

Exeter broke clear as a result via Watts who increased any anxiety County may have felt by feeding Yogane with a neat pass. It looked promising for Grecians, and then it didn`t as the City wide man stumbled and lost the ball- any chance was gone!

A late/late exchange of passes twixt Fevrier and Hills saw the latter shoot wide to end an interesting half of football from County.

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The first few minutes of the second half offered curious contrasts as County went close almost straight from the re-start- action that was promptly followed by Pye and Norwood called into urgent action to repel an early City free kick.

Exeter continued to press from that last action, but without any significant success- a set of circumstances threatened by a suicide pass aimed for Addai by Ethan Pye with red/ white striped shirts showing distinct interest- County survived this rare ringing of the alarm bells with their 2-0 lead intact.

The game went off the boil for some time thereafter- neither side covering themselves in glory with their football, but I asked myself whether it was necessary for County to be seeking `further glory` s opposed to securing what they had, and I thought that , on balance today’s situation called for the sort of game management that DC`s men rather major in with the points probably secure , but with other major challenges beckoning soon!

Meanwhile, as Exeter looked again to increase their revs , so Brad Hills surfaced  as a major player  for County doing excellent work to deny Ilmari Niskaden as he pressed for City, and excelling again as McMillan lifted a cloud scraper into the County box.

Play livened up somewhat next- Jack Diamond promising much but being blocked as he broke clear for County.

But from that action, Exeter were able to mount a reply, and Hills had to look lively to ensure there was no damage to County as Pat Jones surged clear .

On it went , home keeper Joe Whitworth out quickly to find touch as Fevrier looked to reach Wootton’s through ball into the box.

It was not long before County rang the personnel changes again as Tanto and Fevrier were replaced by Bailey and Knoyle.

The changes might have encouraged Exeter, but there was still no visible sign that they would inconvenience County any time soon.

As for County, Diamond was now probably their best option going forward – other than that much of the earlier attacking zing was now absent from their play.

But I have already said that prevailing circumstances in the promotion battle point to superior game management being a possibly decisive factor in the games that follow for us, so I clung to that sturdy raft regardless!

Meanwhile Hills continued to be centre stage for County- not in a good way one moment as he wasted a free kick- a lapse almost immediately cancelled out by a neat bit of work to block a shot from Watts , with 15 minutes of normal time left to play.

Diamond and Hills both pushed Exeter back – both failing to press home momentary advantage.

Diamond was soon replaced by Powell, Cosgrove coming on for Wootton with the game in its last 10 minutes.

With time running out fast ,so City looked for advantage – a free kick and a corner coming and going but with no damage inflicted on DC`s side as County defended everything that came their way with impenetrable resolution.

Collar featured in a late reply from County, but Exeter cleared from this reasonably easily- pushing County onto the back foot for most of added time- Niskanen  firing his effort over the bar on 91 minutes….Magennis coming as close as anyone in Exeter red/ white had come all afternoon – his flick missing out by a foot or so.

Exeter were trying for sure, but with no turn around in terms of rewards- County simply not countenancing the slightest concession- Fraser Horsfall epitomising the blue resolve with some top-quality work under pressure in the last few minutes of added time.

A blast or two of Mr Speedie`s whistle ended Exeter`s angst sending the County team home clutching 3 more invaluable points, and their supporters heading for SK3 in great good humour!

Exeter City line up :

Whitworth, Niskanen, Turns (Cox, 66'), MacDonald, Hartridge, Purrington (Woods, 27'), McMillan, Francis (Cole, 46'), Yogane (Jones, 46' (Harper, 54')), Watts, Magennis .

Substitutes not used: Colwill, McDonald.

Stockport County line up:

 Addai, Touray, Horsfall , Diamond (Powell, 83'), Olaofe (Bailey, 66'), Fevrier (Knoyle, 66'), Pye, Wootton (Cosgrove, 83'), Moxon (Collar, 30'), Norwood, Hills.

Substitutes not used: Wogan , Connolly.

Attendance: 6541 (813 away)

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