Unfortunately I wasn't one of the 8,549 people who packed St James Park this afternoon to see Exeter City secure a thrilling 2-0 win against League One leaders Leeds United, having moved to Birmingham earlier this month -- but I can imagine the ecstasy. And for once my anticipatory powers proved right in the programme note I supplied, More memories in the making. There I wrote: "The bookies have most of their money on new-look Leeds today, and the pundits say Exeter should be happy with a point. But that underestimates the determination of Paul Tisdale’s side... who will be straining every muscle to make this a truly memorable match for all the right (red and white) reasons."
OK, not an outright prediction of victory, but a good nod in that direction. The Grecians have thrown away a number of games they should have claimed this season, so sooner or later they had a favourable upset coming their way, according to the lottery inclinations of football. It's one of the things that makes the game so compelling.
According to the Beeb, "Exeter produced a brilliant showing to inflict only the second defeat of the season on Leeds." Ryan Harley was the two-goal hero, securing the win in the 83rd minute with a 25-yard drive into the top corner that left Casper Ankergren well beaten. I'm looking forward to watching it on the Football League Show tonight... though my guess is that it will be another unsatisfyingly brief clip. The attention will go to Norwich City's five goals and manager Paul Lambert's triumphal return to former club Colchester United. Of course if Leeds had tanked the Grecians, they'd be gushing over this, too.* But that certainly won't dim the warm glow emanating from the southwest tonight...
[* To be fair, Manish Bhasin has just advertised the FLS on Match of the Day with reference to a "major shock in League One", so here's hoping.]
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