Grecians fail to earn plaudits on travels

FOR perhaps the first time this season, Exeter City looked like a side that are fighting against relegation from Coca- Cola League One as they crashed to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Oldham Athletic on Saturday.

Whereas the Grecians have been beaten before this campaign, they have tended to go down fighting, with the losses at Gillingham and Huddersfield the obvious exceptions. Defeats at Charlton, Leeds, Bristol Rovers and Walsall could be compensated for by the fact Exeter at least turned in decent performances, but on Saturday they were found wanting against a Latics' side who had started the day below them in the table.

Oldham's win took them out of the bottom four and above Exeter, who slipped closer to the relegation zone. They are two points above safety, but, with a tough post-Christmas and January schedule looming, including fixtures against the likes of Leeds, Charlton and Southampton, these are concerning times for City.

Not only are they concerning because of a tough-looking fixture list, but concerning also because, in 90 minutes of football on Saturday, they again drew a blank. Their forward line looked toothless at Boundary Park, and three successive matches have now been played in which Exeter have left the field with "nil" against their name.

Concerning also because they were again the victims of their own downfall. Mistakes led to both goals, none more so than the second, where goalkeeper Andy Marriott's decision to stay rooted to his line cost his team dear as Paul Heffernan chased a long Danny Whitaker ball out of defence and collected it just inside Marriott's penalty box. Seconds later, his deflected shot looped over the veteran shot-stopper and into the net.

Earlier, Deane Smalley had given the home side the lead with a scorching drive just minutes after a scrappy but even first half. In the build-up, Exeter had surrendered possession far too meekly. After the two goals, City had a few half-chances to get back into the game, but they failed to test home goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan, who had little to do all afternoon.

The Grecians made two changes to the side that lost at home to Brighton last week, with Danny Seaborne replacing Troy Archibald-Henville at centre- back. Adam Stansfield also started, with Stuart Fleetwood missing out due to personal problems.

Exeter started the better of the two teams and came close to opening the scoring, when Bertie Cozic turned after collecting a pass from Richard Duffy. The Frenchman's powerful shot clipped the top of the bar and went over.

Oldham looked shaky at the back, but City looked like there was a mistake in them. A number of players kept slipping on what looked a decent playing surface. Oldham's first attempt was a wild shot from Whitaker that caused more concern to those behind the goal than Marriott.

Exeter's best move of the half resulted in Ryan Harley, Marcus Stewart and Barry Corr combining to tee up Stansfield, but his shot on the turn deflected off a defender and into Flahavan's arms. It was City's sole attempt on target.

Whitaker came close with a shot from distance that clipped the top of the net as it whistled over the bar before winger Joe Colbeck scuffed a shot into Marriott's arms. The home side were beginning to get on top, though, and started the second half by opening the scoring.

Exeter lost possession in midfield and, with the defence drawn over to City's right, Dean Furman passed the ball into the path of Smalley, who drilled a first-time effort into the far corner.

If that was sloppy, then what followed seven minutes later was even worse. There seemed to be little danger as Whitaker hacked a ball clear from well inside his own half and up the pitch. Heffernan gave chase and, with Marriott opting to stay at home, the striker got there first before turning his marker, who could only deflect Heffernan's shot high into the air and over the head of Marriott.

That seemed to kick Exeter into life, but unfortunately the damage was already done. Stewart's excellent reverse ball presented Stansfield with a great chance, but his shot went wide of goal and the striker then headed over after Scott Golbourne, Exeter's one bright spot in an otherwise forgettable afternoon, had seen his shot deflected in the air and then headed back across goal by substitute Steve Tully.

Richard Logan showed a few neat touches after his introduction and his first touch of the ball was to flick on Golbourne's free-kick. Matt Taylor got on the end of it, but was again off target.

City battled on – they can never be criticised for a lack of fight – but they looked a disheartened team the longer the match went on. Late injuries to Stewart and Cozic merely added salt to their bloodied wounds.