Departing Stansfield bags hat-trick as Exeter win

SJP hero leaves on a high

Exeter broke a losing run to endethe season on a high with a win over Morecambe which saw the visitors relegated to League Two.

Centre forward Jay Stansfield's first senior hat-trick - in his last game for season before returning to his home club Fulham - would have make hie late father Adam, also an Exeter hero, proud.

The Big Bank paid homage - to either or both - with a giant Number 9 Stansfield shirt.

Eariler, Exeter suffered a little scare when Morecambe striker Cole Stockton scored his own second goal, but wasn’t enough to see Morecambe to safety. 

The game started with Exeter on the back foot, with Morecambe pressing hard and keeping most possession.

City's passes were being wasted and it took 14 minutes for the first shot to be registered - in Morecambe’s favour. After that, chances came and went, but nothing was made from them.

Not long into the second half of this noon rearranged match (the king's coronation pushing League One matches to Sunday) - Stansfield scored his first of three. The crowd were rapturous; their affection for Stansfield story evident in the long applause and 'Stann' chants.

But Exeter's lead was quickly neutralised when Morecambe’s midfielder Jensen Weir sent in a long ball to make it one-all.

But just three minutes later, Stansfield scored again. More love for him.

Exeter started to look dominant, winning back the ball when they lost it and passing it round well. When Josh Key, whose own chances were fluffed with one too many touches, sent the ball into the box, Stansfield was unmarked. His third goal, his pleasure clear.  

Exeter looked to kill the game by bringing on all their substitutes. Stansfield came off looking emotional, and presumably with manager Gary Caldwell thinking the match was nearing its end.  To everyone's surprise, the foruth official added 14 minutes of injury time. It this had been an evening kick-off, people would have missed trains home.

That allowed two more goals; one apiece, with Exeter finishing mid table and Morecambe heading down. 

With the 2022/23 League One campaign at a close, there were emotional farewells as loanees Jay Stansfield, Joe White, Rekeem Harper and Kegs Chauke are set to return to their parent clubs. Jack Sparkes is also leaving the club after 14 years, while Josh Key, Jamal Blackman Gary Woods, Archie Collins and Kevin McDonald are out of contract.

It is understood players will be having conversations with the manager this week about their futures.