Last weekend Exeter City welcomed Charlton Athletic to St James Park for the much anticipated clash with the runaway leaders of League One, writes Gareth Hughes.

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Boasting the best defence on the division, the best away record in the country, having won the last three games and being seven points clear, was daunting enough pre-match information to concern many a home fan.

However the gulf in form and league position was definitely not apparent on the pitch, as the Grecians matched their opponents in all departments. Coming into the game City, given their difficulties in form in 2011, had in 2012, created their own positive run of form which included being unbeaten in four games, having not conceded in three, and having drawn three out of the last four matches. As Grecian followers appreciate the current difficulties for the team are the lack of goals which is a hangover from 2011; although with Bauza and Nardiello returning to full match fitness, a resurgent Richard Logan, the goals cannot be far from coming.

The game was won 1-0 by the Addicks scoring a fortuitous and freak goal in the 55th minute.

The goal is best described as a cross that deceived the City keeper, or if we were being more forthright, a cross that Artur Krysiak flapped at, or one he fumbled and misjudged. Apart from the goal this was the only real difference between the two sides throughout the whole 90 minutes.

In the first half , it was Exeter that looked the more threatening. John O'Flynn, James Dunne and Jake Taylor should all have done better with half chances, but failed to really test Charlton goalkeeper, Ben Hamer, a loanee at Exeter only last season. The best chance for Charlton came when ex-Grecian Matt Taylor's overhead kick was cleared off the line by Richard Duffy.

It was probably a first half Paul Tisdale would have been pleased with and, ironically, just as he setting about making his anticipated and hopefully match-winning double substitutions, the goal was scored. He replaced the impressive defender Richard Duffy with striker Guillem Bauza, and Richard Logan was introduced for John O'Flynn as the Grecians looked to find the back of the net.

Shortly after, Nardiello replaced Jake Taylor and the three fresh strikers were looking to make their mark on the game and herald a turn of form. It was, unfortunately, not to be and both fans and the management can take a lot of positives and pride in the performance of the team and individuals such as Scot Bennett, Richard Duffy and Troy Archibald- Henville. As had been said many times it is the strikers that need to deliver and I believe we can remain confident that they will soon be turning chances into the net.

●In terms of transfer news Exeter City have signed Bradford City full-back Luke O'Brien for an undisclosed fee. He is a direct replacement for Scott Golbourne, who left Exeter for Championship side Barnsley on Monday.

●This Saturday, it's a trip down the coast to Bournemouth to face the Cherries who sit in ninth place in the table. They have an indifferent record on their own territory, having won five, lost six and drawn two of the 13 games at Dean Court, scoring 14 times whilst conceding 17 goals. This week Bournemouth have signed free scoring Matt Tubbs from Crawley Town for a fee reported to be a staggering £800, 000!

It will be interesting to see how the price tag affects his game or will it be the super Grecian defence that stops him in his tracks? One thing's for sure is that there is plenty of confidence around the Grecians and none of it has been bought with big money that the club and its fans cannot afford. Come on you Reds lets bowl out those Cherries.