Exeter vs Newport

[Moomin]

Another 1-0 home win, which is unheard of in these parts!

Have to say though, Newport were very good today and really made us work for the win. Nouble up front is a proper handful and he was really unlucky not to equalise late on with a shot that hit the post.

The first half an hour was pretty much all Newport and Amond missed two good opportunities but we then got a foothold in the game and started to build some pressure that culminated in an effort being cleared off the line. They then had a header cleared off the line too so was happy with 0-0 at HT.

Second half we looked much better and started to get on top. Holmes scored a belting goal cutting in from the right, giving the keeper no chance. Then Reid superbly picked out Tillson who somehow missed the target and almost straight after Reid had a shot blocked by the keeper and Reid then crossed straight onto Taylor's head who beat the keeper but the defender knocked the ball off ththe line with his arm. I still don't know how the ref (who was shite) didn't see it as it would have been a straight red card.

The final 10 minutes was tense as we opted to sit deep and play one up front but we once again stood firm.

Top players today were Troy Brown and Moore-Taylor who were superb at the back. Plus Reid and Holmes were great going forward.

Also nice to see Stockley and Boateng come on but by that time it was too late for them to get into the game.

Overall delighted with the start, obviously. Unlucky Newport, if you play like that over the season I can see them being a dark horse for the play offs.

 

[Trapdoor]

Great result, Newport have made a cracking start to the season and are in fine form. Keeping another clean sheet at home is wonderful considering last year's complete inability to do so.

Hopefully we start to build some real confidence now and get the new signings settled into the team.

 

[Roger Stone]

Great result, Newport have made a cracking start to the season and are in fine form. Keeping another clean sheet at home is wonderful considering last year's complete inability to do so.

Hopefully we start to build some real confidence now and get the new signings settled into the team.

Don't know his name but the Phil Lynott lookalike at CB had a fine game fair play. Like Woodman too. Overall a decent day out at the Exeter Uni open day, lunch at Spoons on the way to SJP and a gallant defeat. Don't you Wurzels get booked ? Persistent fouls all fecking game. Nothing bad in terms of challenges just every couple of minutes. Reid had 2 deliberate handballs first half too. Why was our goal struck off? Could see why from our end.

 

[Roger Stone]

Forgot to mention but was good to see you guys join in with the minutes applause in memory of a young 14 yr old County fan who passed away earlier this week. Much appreciated. County players will be pall bearers at the funeral on Friday.

 

[Moomin]

Don't know his name but the Phil Lynott lookalike at CB had a fine game fair play. Like Woodman too. Overall a decent day out at the Exeter Uni open day, lunch at Spoons on the way to SJP and a gallant defeat. Don't you Wurzels get booked ? Persistent fouls all fecking game. Nothing bad in terms of challenges just every couple of minutes. Reid had 2 deliberate handballs first half too. Why was our goal struck off? Could see why from our end.

Had to look up who Phil Lynott was, so assume you mean Troy Brown who is one of the best and underrated centre backs going.

Have to say, perhaps from a biased point of view, but couldn't recall much that warranted a yellow card but I do remember Reid's hand balls which were fairly blatant.

Re your goal being disallowed, there was a push on one of our defenders which looked 50/50 but you see them given as fouls quite often nowadays.

Newport look good and Flynn has really turned things around, so I'm sure you will do well this season.

 

[Jabba the gut]

Newport shocked me TBF - but in a good way.

Last time I saw them they were abysmal and had me convinced they would be heading for the Conference again one of these seasons. However it was an extraordinary transformation today.

Given that some fans sometimes misinterpret opposition possession as proof positive of a superior passage of play, rather than recognising it as part of their own side's gameplan and don't consider the ratio of possession to genuine goal threat (i.e ECFC v Cambridge second-half) I would say Newport were as tough a side as we've played, which is saying something given that two of them are big contenders and the other isn't exactly relegation fodder.

That front three were impressive - constantly on the move (particularly Amond) with a fair bit of skill. The formation seemed to be a bit different than way it's often played these days (the way Tis played it when Stockley was on loan) at least until the subs, when the central MF dropped into a deeper line. TBH I'm not sure what the rationale for the original set-up was (i.e essentially three lines instead of 3.5/4 but it worked, which is credit to the manager's acumen.

With no disrespect intended to NCFC, I'm a bit disorientated to find myself thinking that assuming they keep their players/manager they'll be up there this season. That forward line will give many teams in this division serious issues. I'd actually take a draw in the away game this minute.

 

[County1]

Another 1-0 home win, which is unheard of in these parts!

Have to say though, Newport were very good today and really made us work for the win. Nouble up front is a proper handful and he was really unlucky not to equalise late on with a shot that hit the post.

The first half an hour was pretty much all Newport and Amond missed two good opportunities but we then got a foothold in the game and started to build some pressure that culminated in an effort being cleared off the line. They then had a header cleared off the line too so was happy with 0-0 at HT.

Second half we looked much better and started to get on top. Holmes scored a belting goal cutting in from the right, giving the keeper no chance. Then Reid superbly picked out Tillson who somehow missed the target and almost straight after Reid had a shot blocked by the keeper and Reid then crossed straight onto Taylor's head who beat the keeper but the defender knocked the ball off ththe line with his arm. I still don't know how the ref (who was shite) didn't see it as it would have been a straight red card.

The final 10 minutes was tense as we opted to sit deep and play one up front but we once again stood firm.

Top players today were Troy Brown and Moore-Taylor who were superb at the back. Plus Reid and Holmes were great going forward.

Also nice to see Stockley and Boateng come on but by that time it was too late for them to get into the game.

Overall delighted with the start, obviously. Unlucky Newport, if you play like that over the season I can see them being a dark horse for the play offs.

A fairly reasonable assessment of this afternoon Moomin. You are a good footballing side, and when we went into the break at 0-0 after being on top in the first half I did fear the worst. Good luck for the season.

 

[RebornKirtonRed]

That was a man's game , Very physical, nowhere to hide and refreshingly no histrionics or handbags.

A rather dull first half on our part,reminiscent of Lincoln match .......thought we were going to concede but Troy Brown and JMT were the doggies dangly bits all game......I don't think Troy missed a single header .......the man is class.

Looking at the table goal-difference between all the teams except bottom three is very tight, could be a repetition of last season where every team can beat every other team and often did.........Carlisle in 6th with GD of 1 said it all.