Exeter City Season Review 2011/12: January

A new year, a chance to improve on the first half of the season.

Some ins and outs for the month. Ahead of the Yeovil game, Chris Hackett was recalled by Millwall, but Reading’s Jake Taylor’s loan was extended. Tom Nichols moved on loan to Blue Square South side Dorchester Town and Tom went on to score on his début for the Magpies. Chris Shephard moved to Blue Square Premier strugglers Bath City. Coming up on the transfer deadline, Scott Golbourne moved to Barnsley for an undisclosed fee. City also signed a new left back, Luke O’Brien, from Bradford City.

5 matches due for the Grecians during January.

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The Bank holiday, Monday 2nd, saw local rivals Yeovil Town come to the Park. Yeovil were 22nd in the table prior to the game. Both sides needing points. The Western Morning News (WMN) reported that:

It was a fair result, although the draw leaves both sides with just a point to show for their efforts over the festive period and facing a battle to stay clear of the relegation zone in npower League One.

City 1 Yeovil Town 1. Att: 5,912

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Saturday 7th saw a trip to the new stadium that Chesterfield have moved to. City just one point outside of the relegation zone, Chesterfield rooted to the problem. Though City had only won once on the road, the locals were expecting the 3 points. It looked liked they might, when Troy was adjudged to have pulled down Jack Lester. However, Artur was equal to the occasion and for the 2nd time this season saved the spot kick. That save gave City the impetus and goals from Logan and Sercombe delivered the points to the Grecians. The thoughts of the WMN:

If ever the Grecians needed a result, then this was it. Without a win in their previous five outings, Exeter did not exhibit any of the signs of a team struggling at the wrong end of the table. They were bright up front, tenacious in midfield and commanding at the back.

Chesterfield 0 City 2. Att: 5,856

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Saturday 14th welcomed Hartlepool to the Park. With a victory the previous Saturday, City would have been confident of victory. However, Hartlepool came in defensive mood, and only had 1 shot on target to City‘s 6. However, neither side could find the net.The WMN thoughts were:

The Grecians have struggled to score goals this season and their lack of an attacking spark in the final third at the weekend cost them the chance to move clear of the npower League One relegation zone.

City now 3 games without defeat, but remain close to the relegation zone.

City 0 Hartlepool 0. Att: 4,016

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Representatives of Exeter City flew to Brazil to meet Brazilian footballing representatives to discuss the 100th anniversary of of Exeter City playing international football in Brazil. The meetings went well, and it was reported back that there is a real hope that the 100th anniversary can be marked somehow, prior to the 2014 World Cup.

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Back to the football in England. Exeter travelled to Oldham on Saturday 21st. Scene last season of dramatic fightback by City in a 3-3 goalfest. This season was to be very different. The WMN said:

Tisdale’s side have drawn four of their last seven games and are three points clear of the drop zone. But, having been turned into a team hard to beat, they must now use that as a platform to start turning draws into victories.

A second successive goalless draw for City, though they did create chances.

Oldham Athletic 0 City 0. Att: 3,587

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Last game of January saw leaders Charlton Athletic visit St James Park on Saturday 28th. A match that City more than held their own. Neither side had many opportunities in front of goal, and it did look like City could well get their 3rd successive 0-0 result. However, in the 55th minute Krysiak fumbled a cross from the byline in to his own net. The WMN wrote:

The saying goes that there is a fine line between success and failure. Never was that more apparent than at St James’ Park on Saturday, when Exeter City went down to a 1-0 defeat to npower League One leaders Charlton Athletic.

City 0 Charlton 1. Att: 5,439

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3 consecutive games with out scoring for City. 6 points out of 15. City 19th in the table.

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References for quotes and match reports
Yeovil Town WMN match report
Chesterfield match report from WMN
WMN match report for Hartlepool
WMN match report for Oldham.
WMN match report for Charlton