Match pictures courtesy of Keith Stone at CheggersPics.co.uk
Poor fare for fans as Grays go down again
Another defeat means Grays have taken just five points from their last eight Blue Square Premier matches and they will now be desperate to end the sequence of poor results and break their home hoodoo at home to Weymouth on Tuesday.
Richard Logan's first-half strike was enough to maintain Exeter's unbeaten home record in a match of few chances. The only goal of the game came after 10 minutes as Adam Stansfield's teasing cross was whipped home by Logan from close-range.
It meant Grays had slipped to their second away defeat of the season as nervy Exeter City held out against what was, in all honesty, a generally insipid attacking effort from the traveling side, with only one or two moments of real threat.
The home side started at a high tempo and Logan's close range strike gave them a deserved advantage.
But Paul Tisdale's side have drawn five out of six at home this season and after going in front they went into their shells and Justin Edinburgh's men took control with Stuart Thurgood orchestrating affairs from the middle of the park.
Aaron O'Connor and Gavin Grant both came close to levelling matters but found Grecians keeper Andy Marriott in inspired form when it was required.
After the break the game deteriorated rapidly as both sides struggled for fluency and constantly surrendered possession through aimless passing or misguided long balls.
The hosts pragmatically closed the game out late on and Grays looked like a side resigned to defeat.
Edinburgh made three changes to the side beaten by Stevenage last time out with Adam Gross and Jack Haverson replacing Charlie Hearn and Ernie Cooksey and O'Connor preferred to Danny Kedwell up front.
For Exeter, Logan had been surprisingly left out in their last two matches and he started the game like a man with a point to prove as his surging run created the game's first chance.
The big striker brushed off Andy Sambrook and Jon Ashton and charged into the box and only a last-ditch block from Haverson stopped him pulling the trigger.
At the other end a low cross from Dennis Oli sparked panic in the Exeter box but O'Connor failed to connect and Rob Edwards cleared.
Minutes later the Grecians made the breakthrough as Logan lashed Adam Stransfield's cross into the roof of the Grays' net.
Thurgood tried his luck from range before terrorising the hosts with three successive corners, the second of which was desperately clawed over by Marriott.
The Exeter keeper then produced a stunning reflex save to tip over O'Connor glancing header.
On 35 minutes Thurgood, O'Connor and Grant combined with the latter shanking a woeful effort wide after being put in down the right.
The hosts were glad to hear the half-time whistle while a came too soon for a Grays side that failed to pick up where they left off after the turnaround.
Thurgood went missing and the front two failed to make an impact.
Jamie Mackie wasted a good opportunity to double Exeter's advantage after 74 minutes as he shot wide when well placed in the penalty area.
By that time Ben Watson had come on and buzzed around, making a marginal difference to justify manager Justin Edinburgh's faith in him.
Watson was back in the side after suffering the wrath of Edinburgh for a breach of club discipline and put on the available for loan list, though Simon Downer who was in trouble with him wasn't in the squad.
And it was Watson who came closest to snatching a point near the death, but his drive from the edge of the area was well kept out by Marriott as Exeter held on to claim the win.
The match also saw a first appearance as second half substitute from 18-year-old Peterborough United midfielder Alfie Potter who has been with Blues on loan. He blotted his copybook by getting booked two minutes from time for unsporting behaviour.
Thanks to the Thurrock Gazette for the match report
|