City 3, Argyle 1 The above score line represents footballing nirvana for all Exeter City supporters, writes Richard Tuson.
The last time Exeter enjoyed the bragging rights for a Devon derby league victory over Plymouth Argyle was April 30, 2011 when a James Dunn goal at St James Park saw City win and all but seal their Devon rivals relegation from League One!
A lot of City fans have questioned manager Paul Tisdale’s attitude towards derby matches, sometimes feeling he seems them as ‘just another game’ and not the ‘do or die’ approach the supporters wish for, but Saturday saw that theory put to rest once and for all!
Its was the normal derby match start with no team wanting to give anything away, a boring game for the neutral, but nerve-shredding for the two sets of supporters. It was a contest that served up four goals of premiership standard – most fitting given that the match referee was Premier official Andre Marriner!
The first came Exeter’s way when Arron Davies latched onto Alan Gow’s perfect pass after 56 minutes. Argyle levelled 13 minutes later with a slick free-kick from the edge of the area – that Argyle’s first goal in nearly six hours of football.
The changing point of the game came on the 74th minute when Exeter introduced Jimmy Keohane. He immediately began to dominate the middle third, threading balls through to Gow and Scott Bennett. And it was these two players that decided the outcome with Gow curling the ball around Luke McCormick in the Plymouth goal on the 83rd minute and Bennett scoring his fourth of the season with the last kick of the game. The result puts Exeter up to third in the table just two points off the leaders.
This Saturday see’s Exeter at home again when they take on Hartlepool, which is back to the normal 3pm kick off. The north eastern team had an impressive 4-1 victory away at Mansfield last weekend, this after they have endured a difficult start to the season.
The East Devon Grecians will be organising a coach to the away game at Portsmouth on November 2, for more details of this or about the EDG’s please look up our website at www.eastdevongrecians.com
Come on you reds.
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