Colin Lippiatt blasted his side following a sixth defeat in eight Nationwide Conference matches on Tuesday night as Exeter City doubled their home goal tally for the season with a comprehensive triumph over an injury ravaged City side whose two sole major crumbs of comfort were a goal for Duane Jackman on debut and Lee Clarke's first goal in open play since last seasons play off final.
Despite the verbal bashing dished out by the Saints manager and the four goal salvo enjoyed by Paul Tisdale's side after a goalless opening 42 minutes, this was a match in which St Albans began promisingly and for at least 25 minutes were in control of affairs. Unfortunately for the travelling fans, numbering 52 plus a sprinkling of officials, City were again toothless in attack and once behind were unlikely to stave off a third successive defeat.
Exeter will doubtless be delighted at maintaining their unbeaten record at St James Park this season but the Grecians will be a touch concerned that they were so slow at getting into the game and once in control conceded two goals that a side that has been somewhat shot and goal shy of late.
City showed two changes from the side that played against Burton Albion with Dean Cracknell and Jackman coming in for Adam Wilde and the injured Matt Hann. Exeter also made two changes to their starting XI with former Saint Jon Challinor reduced to a seat on the bench, still, that is closer to a place in the side than another former Albanian, Patrick Ada, is getting as he currently doesn't feature at all in Tisdale's squad.
Attacking the large covered terrace holding 1,089 Exeter supporters St Albans quickly made a positive impression with only crucial diving tackles blocking two goalbound efforts from Lee Clarke following a Lee Flynn throw in on two minutes. Just three minutes later and a Cracknell cross was just too high for Jackman while Dave Theobald ended the Grecians first serious attack by heading out for a corner. On 16 minutes Theobald tried his luck at the opposite end but headed wide from a Tom Davis corner while Paul Hakim turned swiftly and shot low from the edge of the box but failed to really test Martin Rice - it was the Saints sole on target effort during the opening half.
Rob Edwards headed powerfully over from an Andy Taylor corner but it was a rare good moment for Exeter whose passing, at this stage of the game, was poor. On a counter-attack the Saints should have done better when Clarke collected the ball midway in his own half and advanced before looking to free Jackman who had acres of space. Unfortunately Clark's pass caused Jackman to check his stride and he was eventually caught, albeit illegally, close to the penalty area. Cracknell's free kick failed to clear the wall although his follow up came close to clearing the stand.
With that let-off Exeter virtually took charge of the game and the Saints downfall was not far away. Billy Jones went close with an effort from 30 yards while Lee Philips, whose influence grew as the game wore on, sent Bertrand Cozic away and his shot had Paul Bastock scampering to his right to claw the ball away. On 41 minutes City's left flank, for the second time in three minutes, was woefully exposed as Philips sublime first touch sent Taylor through but his angled low drive was brilliantly blocked by the legs of Bastock.
The visitors were in need of half time but on 43 minutes the Grecians struck the all-important first blow following a stunning lightning fast move packed with one-touch football that ended with Philips squaring the ball inside to Cozic whose seemingly well placed shot was actually scuffed and wrong-footed Bastock as it went inside the keepers left hand post. During the interval City suffered another blow with stomach cramp ending Hakim's participation to be replaced by Wilde.
With a 2,494 crowd now roaring them on Exeter were a different proposition and Bastock had to be assertive on 52 minutes to collect a Philips cross when strongly challenged by Taylor. But City hit back impressively with Davis exchanging passes with Jackman before sliding an excellent ball through to Clarke whose rising shot was parried and then gathered by the slightly surprised Rice. Cozic sliced wide after working a fine one-two with Taylor and Bastock took a header from Taylor before this corner of Devon was stunned into silence by City's first goal in 263 minutes.
Clarke headed on a long ball from Bastock towards Jackman, a defenders attempted clearance thudded into the City new boy and went into the penalty area where a quick burst by Jackman left him with just the keeper to beat. Rice got down well to the low shot but could only watch in frustration as the ball, after striking him, trickled slowly and painfully over the goalline.
Taylor clipped an effort just over from close in but City were level for just eight minutes before Philips pass inside to Matthew Gill was crisply struck to Bastock's right from 28 yards and into the net. Again St Albans stormed back with Clarke finding Jackman who had two bites at the cherry only for both to be blocked before Exeter really upped the tempo with Philips, ignoring a most impressive bandage covering most of his head, tormented the sinking Saints.
Philips glanced a header wide then saw a long-range effort bounce low and strike Bastock on the legs before a brilliant tackle by Magnus Okuonghae denied the Grecians skipper. Bastock was kept busy as he caught a Billy Jones kick while the Saints gained an increased edge to their attacking intentions with the 79th minute introduction of Rob Norris.
But by now Exeter were in full control and on 81 minutes went into a 3-1 lead when Philips, standing offside in the eyes of Lippiatt, chested down a long cross before cutting inside Flynn and cracking a brilliant goal high to Bastock's right.
Taylor sent an excellent low ball across the face of the City goal before Dean Moxey, on 87 minutes, played Jamie Mackie in down the Exeter left, after gliding past Okuonghae the midfielder was fouled by Davis with Jones sending the resulting penalty into the centre of the goal as Bastock dived to his right. Referee Chris Sarginson, who had a decent game, took no further action against Davis who had previously been booked and misses Saturday's game against Gravesend & Northfleet through suspension.
St Albans managed to get the score back to a touch of respectability with a well-crafted goal in the third minute of added time. Flynn went down the left and took a return pass from Wilde before his deflected cross was headed on at the near post by Dave Theobald for Clarke to score a most welcome goal from a tight angle via his right foot. |
