City thrash Rovers for first win of season

Visitors humiliated within 25 minutes

The Grecians came into this south west derby against Bristol Rovers having not scored a single goal this season, and City fans were desperate for a change in fortunes.

City boss Matthew Taylor stated before the match that he wanted his side to dictate the play and dictate the game, and the players came out eager to do so.

Padraig Amond was played through with a perfectly weighted through ball, and his dangerous shot from a tough angle parried into the path of captain Matt Jay who slotted it home, putting the Grecians 1-0 up in just three minutes.

Matt Jay continued to have a large impact on the game in the early stages, spearheading some dangerous passing moves for The Grecians.

City’s eagerness to get the ball into wide areas and float balls into the box proved highly beneficial when a cross from Joshua Key in the 15th minute was despatched intelligently into the top right corner by Matt Jay for his second of the game, putting City two goals to the good.

Just after their second, Grecians' loanee striker Padraig Amond was played in again beyond the Bristol defence. However his strike couldn’t cause the keeper problems as it went just agonisingly wide.

Exeter’s number 2 Jake Caprice wreaked havoc down the left all throughout the opening stages of the game, and his advancements were the source of The Grecians’ third when his well worked pass into Jevani Brown lead to the forward whipping in an inviting cross, which was met by Timothee Dieng who couldn’t miss. Both sets of fans were disbelieving of what they were witnessing.

City fans' moods were already sky high before Harry Kite nestled in the fourth. His goal was the pick of the bunch for The Grecians as his unsaveable strike from the edge of the box rocketed into the top left. This goal sparked many Rovers fans into a mad scramble for the exits, which was juxtaposed by City fans’ ecstasy as they witnessed their side score 4 in the opening half an hour, despite having failed to score in all 4 games this season before today.

Throughout the later stages of the half, both sides had chances to add to the score line, with City’s Matt Jay volleying over after finding himself free in the area in search of his third, and Caprice also came close however his curling effort was millimetres wide.

Rovers themselves had a few chances  - a free header from a set piece which was put frustratingly wide for the visitors, and could’ve had a goal back had anyone met a low cross driven in from the right, which troubled the City defence.

The Bristol fans left in the ground booed off their side at the half time whistle, as Exeter had completely suppressed any attacks they faced, and their clinicalness in front of goal had created a joyous atmosphere amongst City fans lucky enough to be in St. James’ Park today, as the belief was that they had put the game to bed in just 45 minutes.

The second half had a lot to live up to, and started in a similar fashion to the first when Matt Jay had a great chance, however he was once again denied of his hat-trick when Rovers’ keeper pulled off a worldie of a save to prevent the score from becoming even more embarrassing.

Joey Barton’s side had a consolation goal, when a perfect effort from The Gas’ Samuel Finley prevented Grecian ‘keeper Cameron Dawson from gaining a third clean sheet in four league games, despite his impressive performance.

Shortly after, Rovers had the ball in the back of the net again, but it was ruled out due to an offside in the build up.

On another day Exeter may have been left to rue the amount of missed chances they had today, however their fans can be delighted with the result, and proud of their players’ performance, having spectacularly overcome their goal drought with a 4-1 win, in a game in which City boss Matt Taylor said that the scoreline reflected their dominance.

Beyond the score, the Grecians can take further confidence from the game in the fact that it still wasn’t City’s strongest lineup, which is something Taylor was eager to emphasise - he stated how their was still many players out, but with key players returning, such as Sam Nombe who came off of the bench today, City fans can be optimistic for the future of the season.