Exeter City v Forest Green Rovers Matchday Thread

[PeteUSA]

The ball was still in play it wasn't a head injury so therefore it was a shocking decision by the ref. Even after it should have at least been a drop ball in the box.

It wasnt a "shocking decision by the ref" either. In the old days (last season) it should have been a dropped ball, or 'bounce up' for the uninitiated. Under this seasons rules under todays circumstances the ball is dropped for the keeper to collect. Its one of the more farcical new laws buts thats the way it is. And even in the past, do you recall a referee ordering a dropped ball two feet from the goal-line? Not a chance.

 

[Sexton Blake]

MOM was a very close thing. Neither fullback put a foot wrong....Sparkes did brilliantly to beat the FGR defender on the edge of the area and deliver a perfect cross for Bowman to score what turned out to be the winning goal.

Sweeney has recovered his confidence and his work when in possession and accuracy of his first time passing, particularly in the first half, was excellent.

Bowman as always worked his socks off winning virtually everything in the air......was a continuous threat up front as well dropping back and providing additional defensive support.....His positional sense in finding free space in the six yard box to convert Sparkes cross was also excellent.

So why were none of these given the award.....the reason was quite simply because Maxted made an unbelievably truly world class save midway through the second half to deny FGR a certain equaliser and as a result was quite rightly given the award.

Full marks for MT recognising that when replacing Pym and Hamon he needed to sign not one but two quality keepers.

 

[OmanGrecian]

Extended highlights.

Interestingly the commentator says Bowman's name differently to how we chant it. Wonder which is correct.

 

[PeteUSA]

So why were none of these given the award.....the reason was quite simply because Maxted made an unbelievably truly world class save midway through the second half to deny FGR a certain equaliser and as a result was quite rightly given the award.

Sexton please! You're way OTT with that Maxted save. Maxted had an excellent 8/10 game and dealt with everything capably. The save you speak of was excellent because he dived with the striker and was in line with the ball when that header came in. His thinking on that was commendable and he made another excellent save earlier in the game. He proved to all that we dont have to worry about the GK position (fingers crossed) but he didnt make any world class saves.

 

[Rosencrantz]

Maxted made another smart save about 10-15 mins into the second half from a shot across goal that could very easily have been their equaliser.

Yeah I remember now, came from a series of slips on our part. The last from Sweenz which was probably the only foot he put wrong in the game. It was a save you would expect from your keeper though - good height and that.

 

[Spoonz Red E]

It wasnt a "shocking decision by the ref" either. In the old days (last season) it should have been a dropped ball, or 'bounce up' for the uninitiated. Under this seasons rules under todays circumstances the ball is dropped for the keeper to collect. Its one of the more farcical new laws buts thats the way it is. And even in the past, do you recall a referee ordering a dropped ball two feet from the goal-line? Not a chance.

Pete's right on this one.

"Drop balls can no longer be contested, but the change is more positive than it sounds.
If play is stopped, the ball will be dropped to a player on the team that last touched the ball - and where they touched it. All other players must be 4.5 yards (4m) away.
What that means is if a team's attack is stopped, they will get the ball back in that position - instead of the opponents booting the ball down the field.
However, any play stopped in a penalty area will be returned to the goalkeeper, even if the attacking team had the ball."

Football's new laws - what are they?

Scotland and Nigeria have fallen foul of football's new laws. We take a look at what they are and how they might affect matches.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Spoonz Red E]

Sexton please! You're way OTT with that Maxted save. Maxted had an excellent 8/10 game and dealt with everything capably. The save you speak of was excellent because he dived with the striker and was in line with the ball when that header came in. His thinking on that was commendable and he made another excellent save earlier in the game. He proved to all that we dont have to worry about the GK position (fingers crossed) but he didnt make any world class saves.

He also had the presence of mind to push the ball away into a safe area in both instances.

 

[Spoonz Red E]

The ball was still in play it wasn't a head injury so therefore it was a shocking decision by the ref. Even after it should have at least been a drop ball in the box.

I was as frustrated as you at the time but ...
the drop ball was done correctly due to the new rules.
The keeper was later being treated for concussion.

 

[Rosencrantz]

I was as frustrated as you at the time but ...
the drop ball was done correctly due to the new rules.
The keeper was later being treated for concussion.

It was. I'm surprised more unscrupulous defending sides haven't abused this rule yet this season when under pressure. Look how cynical watching Wycombe over the past few years make one .

On an aside, I know it was close to half time but with the keeper subsequently coming off, I would question the head injury protocol of the physio to let him continue. Same when their centre back took the ball in the mush earlier in the half. He went down quite heavily and looked a bit wobbly getting up. You would have thought he needed checking even if they had a corner to defend. Head injury assessment subs can't be far away in football.

 

[Rosencrantz]

He also had the presence of mind to push the ball away into a safe area in both instances.

Although Sparkes was quick to react with second "worldy" save. Jonny is a very good shot stopper. I think Lewis has the edge in commanding the area.