Exeter's winner at Wembley

From Wembley to Hampden

My tickets for next Sunday's Blue Square Play-Off Final at Wembley arrived this morning, by recorded delivery. The poor postman said that his round was going to take him much longer today, as every third household required an autograph! Naturally, Exeter (the city and, er, City) is eagerly anticipating this visit to London... not quite so novel for me, as I am up there every couple of weeks. The hope is that the pitch will have recovered from the exertions of the FA Cup Final the previous day -- when one of the world's most famous trophies will either have gone to a Welsh side outside the top flight (that'll give the FA indigestion!) or to a "lesser" (but still, by most standards, very flush) Premiership side.

As for Wembley itself. Frankly, I found it rather shiny and soulless last year. And £6 for a burger? C'mon. Thank goodness I'm a veggie and had a beanfeast beforehand. It's a venue that soaks up money -- both the taxpayer's and the punter's. This year the Play-Off tickets have been hiked from £25 and £28 to £33 or £38, while the Conference and the stadium argue about who's taking the cut when asked about it (they're not sure?). Compared to other 'big events', that's quite reasonable, of course, though some will argue that this is still Non-League and the actual cost of two top price tickets is higher once the service charge and recorded postage is added. The latter is vital, because there are no replacements, even if you can prove you bought a ticket and its disappearance is demonstrably not your fault. Legally, this is probably an "unfair term and condition." Not that it has put many people off. One Grecians fanatic has shelled out for 336 tickets to help others out, apparently!

By contrast, the New Hampden looks quite a small and slightly unimposing venue when it's empty (I've done the tour a couple of times, while visiting the Scottish Football History Museum), but it's a cauldron when full. I also really like the continuing connection with the roots of the game, emblemized by Queen's Park (thanks for the new defender, guys). I hope to see Scotland take on Northern Ireland there in August, if I have the time and any money left. Which is far from guaranteed. Oh, and it only took £4 million or so out of the public purse when the Glasgae stadium was built, compared to the squillions lavished on North London. Or so I'm told.
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All the goals

So it's Cambridge United who Exeter City will face in the promotion play-off at Wembley on 18 May. I have my ticket secure. But it'll be a tough task. Cambridge are a good side and may be favourites, as the Grecians were last year. But they can still do it, having taken four out of six points off them already. Bad luck, Nigel Clough, by the way. Now, hat tip to Dean Lord for pulling together all five goals from the Torquay triumph here:

The beginning of the end

This via the Setanta live coverage: Exeter City's first, rather nicely executed, goal in the smash-and-grab play-off victory at Torquay. Four goals in 24 minutes when 3-1 down over the majority of two legs. Astonishing.

Heading for the top

... and while I'm on the YouTube kick (so to speak), here's Richard Logan's header that put stunned Exeter supporters in dreamland yesterday, taking the Grecians through to their Wembley promotion play off after being two goals down in the tie.

Exeter make it to Wembley

Goodness, I'm almost too physically and emotionally exhausted to write after this afternoon's extraordinary last minute break-and-enter victory for Exeter City, taking them to Wembley on 18 May and another crack at getting back into the Football League. "Incredible" (Sporting Life) is indeed the word. Torquay fans must be in shock.

Usually I take my place in the sedate seats at St James' Park. But at Plainmoor I was in the stand right behind the goal where most of the crucial action took place. Exeter can count themselves lucky to have such passionate fans, and there wasn't a hint of a wavering in support when, after a cagey first half in which the Grecians had much possession to little effect, the Gulls took the lead just after the hour - meaning that City needed two goals just to take the Blue Square Premier play off (improbably) into extra time in the second leg.

Being a footballing pessimist who can normally pick a loser at a hundred paces (I'm a Sons fan, after all!), I confess I thought, "ah well, that's it." Torquay had the luck in the first leg, and one-team loyalist and veteran Kevin Hill, attaining the club record 473 appearances, seemed to have put the matter beyond dispute when he volleyed in from 12 yards on the hour. But shrewd Exeter boss Paul Tisdale instantly changed the formation to 3-4-3, the Big Bankers turned the volume back up, and within ten minutes substitute Ryan Harley had sneaked the ball through a bevvy of defenders to restore a bit of pride. Up to that point it was in doubt whether City could ever break through.

The atmosphere begun to change noticeably. It was still an uphill task though, and only when Richard Logan was carelessly bundled over by Torquay keeper Simon Rayner and last week's last ditch goal-poacher Chris Zebroski did the hope really flood back. Then, with extra time the anticipated next step, Wayne Carlisle (pictured) crossed superbly from the right and Logan beat the keeper at his far post, just in from of me. We could hardly believe it.

The Gulls flung everyone forward in a desperate attempt to salvage something from a tie which has seemed to be heading inexorably in their direction. It was agonising. Finally, well into time added on, City broke and landed the knock-out punch when Carlisle side-footed into the bottom-left hand corner to make it 4-1 on the day and 5-3 on aggregate. Pandemonium and ecstasy broke loose when the referee blew his whistle. "We're not going home!' roared the Grecian Army. They'll prize themselves away for Wembley, I'll bet. Extraordinary scenes.

I thought my match day programme columnist stints were over 'till the Summer now that Dumbarton and Exeter have played their last home games. But the Wembley Brochure deadline now beckons on Thursday. It'll be a pleasure...
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Just desserts?

The reporting angle from VitalFootball is "Sills in play-off misery" after today's snatched Exeter win over Torquay, occasioning no little schadenfreude from Grecians' supporters for whom the man is a bete noir, I've no doubt. (Sorry for that metaphorically clunky Franco-German conjunction!) Tim Sills, Gulls' top scorer with 22, and the player who put the first in against City last Thursday, was widely regarded as using gamesmanship to get Danny Seaborne sent off in the heated derby on 26 December 2007. Then in the first leg of the Blue Square play off semi he also got a yellow card for elbowing Exeter hero Steve Tully. The player and onlookers felt is should have been a red. The unsavoury incidents around the tunnel and in the dressing room last week added an unfortunate note of sourness to what is undoubtedly a local rivalry, but would be better for retaining a sense of proportion and some friendliness.
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City ready for the challenge

Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale is in ebullient mood ahead of today's crucial Blue Square Premier promotion play off second leg against Torquay United, which kicks off at Plainmoor at 12.30pm. There's a 1-2 deficit to overturn, but thankfully no 'away goals' rule. If things are even at 90 minutes, it's extra time and then penalties. I'll be there, biting my nails. The Grecians have no fresh suspension or injury concerns and will hopefully be boosted by the return of Steve Basham after a calf injury. More decisiveness up front is vital. City were clearly the better footballing team in the first leg, but were done in by lack of finishing, a disallowed offside goal that wasn't, and a goalkeeping goof.

On the way to Wembley?

Chris Goodlad writes: "I managed to watch the match [Exeter versus Torquay] on TV last night in the comfort of Henry's Bar for the price of a J2O. I was one of two supporters who watched the game! So much for the mass of excited fans watching in the local pubs. They showed the disallowed goal on Setanta about six times and we both agreed that it was not offside. I remember Martin Rice doing the same thing as Paul Jones when he played for Exeter only Martin Rice managed to do it twice in one match! I hope Exeter get a bit of any luck going in Monday's match - enjoy the trip."

The irony of Jones' costly mistake in the first leg of the Blue Square play off last Thursday night was that in the Final last year (which the Grecians lost to Morcambe), Jones became the first person to save a penalty at the new Wembley.
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Not Plainmoor sailing for the Grecians

Well, it's not over yet, but tonight was a bitterly disappointing one for Exeter City, who lost the home leg of their Blue Square promotion play off tie 2-1 to southwest rivals Torquay United. The clincher was a disastrous goal right at the end, resulting from a howler by second string 'keeper Paul Jones. Kicking a relatively straightforward through ball directly into the Gulls' Chris Zebroski, he gifted the striker the winner. This sad denouement to a tense but hard fought game came after Grecians' Wayne Carlisle had equalised Sills' first half opener for Torquay with a fabulous strike.

Exeter managed to dominate large chunks of the game with good, passing football. But early on they lacked penetration in and near the box, and top scorer Richard Logan came on too late in the second half to make much difference. With Steve Basham injured and Adam Stansfield struggling in the air against Torquay's big back line, the options are constrained. City were also very unlucky to have a Carlisle goal ruled offside after a great break by young George Friend, when Setanta TV's replay (so I'm told) suggested that it wasn't.

So now Exeter have it all to do on Plainmoor on 5 May. Wembley is still within reach, but it's going to be a tough call and the team will need all the resources at their disposal. That will surely include goalkeeper Andy Marriott. In spite of his slip up against Aldershot, he has played very well all season, providing assurance, experience and solidity at the back.

I confess I was very surprised when Paul Tisdale dropped Marriott for tonight. No doubt keeping Paul Jones on board by giving him a spin of the turf was partly on the manager's mind, and presumably he's done well in training. But he lacks experience and first team match practice this season, and he looked nervous on and off all evening. His error was a mistake waiting to happen, it felt. But the Grecians will live to fight at least one more day.
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Local rivals go head-to-head

I'm looking forward to the Blue Square Premier semi-final play off at St James' Park (pictured) tonight, where Exeter City take on local rivals Torquay - headed up by former player and assistant manager Paul Buckle, and with three ex-Grecians on board. That'll add some spice. There should be over 8,000 there, with another packed house due at Plainmoor on Bank Holiday Monday. I have a ticket for that one, too. Everyone is hoping that Exeter can make it back to Wembley again, and this time finish off the job in order to reclaim a Football League place. But first there's the Gulls. It should be an absorbing contest. Exeter can play flowing football when they're on song, and Torquay tend to push the long ball down the middle. There's not much local election fever here, but a good deal of football anticipation.
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City put celebrations on ice

Well, as ever the Simon Barrow Predictometer proved entirely reliable... in being wrong. Within a minute Exeter City were ahead against Stafford Rangers tonight, and despite a spell in the first half when they could create but not score, they never looked back - winding up 4-1 winners and playing some good football. It could have been 8, frankly. Stafford were defensively frail and Man of the Match Dean Moxey thoroughly deserved his hat-trick.

Then came the news that Stevenage had lost 2-1 at home to Northwich Victoria. The Grecians are now through to the promotion play-offs irrespective of the results on the final weekend of the season this Saturday. At this stage it looks likely that City's opponents in the two-leg semis will be Cambridge, with either Burton Albion (who fell apart tonight) and Torquay, also defeated this evening, in the final on 18 May. Exciting times. But there was restrained celebration at St James' Park. As manager Paul Tisdale (pictured) is bound to say: "We haven't won anything yet."

One pleasing moment was when Ishmale Reid, Rangers' best player, scored in the 90th minute with a scorching shot to the top right-hand corner of Paul Jones' net. The strike was met with generous applause from Exeter fans. Stafford are already relegated, and the supporters who followed them deep into the southwest this evening were a superb testimony to football loyalty. I'm glad this was reciprocated with a sporting gesture, albeit one not taxing for a side contemplating the possibility of a Football League place next term. Still, it's good to see a counterpoint to the unfortunate nastiness that has crept into the game in recent years. Good luck to Stafford next season. It will be tough for them, no doubt.

As a footnote, Matt Taylor was deservedly hailed Player of the Year in a short ceremony after the game. Along with Moxey he has been a tower of strength for the Grecians.
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The road to glory?

As someone who couldn't exactly be accused of being a football glory hunter, I confess to a twinge of regret that I won't get to see the broadcast of the Liverpool-Chelsea Champions League semi-final broadcast tonight, even if it is on the dreaded ITV. That's because I'm off to see my locals Exeter City take on already relegated and bottom placed Stafford Rangers in their last official home game in the Blue Square Premier. It will be a tense match (the one at St James' Park, I mean) because the Grecians should win, and they desperately need to if they are to get into the promotion play-offs. It would help if Stevenage lost, too. I don't think that will happen. This is one of those nail biters when the inner fitba pessimist in you says, "here's a train wreck waiting to happen". If I was ogling the telly with a cuppa in my hand I wouldn't have so much of an investment... and, er, the game might be rather better. I just hope Exeter play as they did against Aldershot Town. That was a cracking match. As was Liverpool against Arsenal, of course. {The pic is of Jon Challinor, who Exeter lost after the play-off final defeat at Wembley last May. See? Getting myself in the mood...}
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An ill wind benefits Sons

While the rains and mist descended gloomily in southwest England, the weather up in Dumbarton was described by Sonstrust chair Denise Currie as "beautiful but Baltic" today. The wind can whip up difficulties for teams visiting the Strathclyde Homes Stadium, "and it's fair to say that Craig Brittain's goal had an assist from the conditions", writes Alan Findlay of today's 1-0 win against East Stirlingshire for the last home game of the season. The match itself was pretty dire, I'm told, but those vital three points mean that Sons can go to Forfar next weekend knowing that they will not end up the worst professional team in Scotland. Some relief after a grim term. All eyes are on the what lies ahead now. Something better, surely?

Meanwhile, my local team Exeter City secured an important 2-0 away win at Rushden and Diamonds. Together with the point achieved at home midweek against 2007-8 Blue Square Premier champions Aldershot Town, that means the Grecians currently occupy the crucial final promotion play-off spot. A win against bottom-of-the-league (and already relegated) Stafford Rangers on Tuesday night will put them in poll position next Saturday and mean only a point is needed against Burton Albion, even if Stevenage (who have superior goal difference) get full marks from both their remaining games. That's definitely achievable in terms of ability. The question is whether ECFC have the psychological strength to claim the four points they need.

I can't end without a word of congratulation to the new champions. Twelve years after their namesakes folded, Aldershot Town are back in the Football League. The game against Exeter last Tuesday was fast, furious and fabulous: a credit to the game and to the Blue Square Premier. These guys are no Shots in the dark. They ought to be top ten in League Two next season, possibly higher. That the Grecians lived with them in the 1-1 draw, and by rights should have beaten them (bar a miracle save in the dying embers), bodes well for the future.

[Pic: Dumbarton goal hero Wee Craigie, (c) Donald Fullarton]
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Can anyone buy us a goal?

A second goal-free draw in a week for Dumbarton against Montrose this afternoon. Gaffer Jim Chapman has been outspoken about the forwards' inability to convert chances ("beyond a joke"), and by all accounts that's what happened again this afternoon, albeit with a better performance than in the dismal midweek Forfar fixture. Meanwhile, happier times for Exeter City, who grabbed three vital points from a tense and exciting home match against Northwich Victoria - a side whose performance certainly belied their lowly league status. With Burton and Stevenage losing, fate is back in the Grecians' own hands as far as the struggle for promotion is concerned. Dumbarton, however, remain one of three clubs separated by just three points at the foot of Scottish Football League Division Three, with a home and away game against the other contenders (East Stirling and Forfar) for the end of season booby prize. It could be tough unless we can find some inspiration. 'Mon Sons! Don't make mugs of yersels... please.
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Back to reality... sort of

Well, after two Dumbarton games (one home, one away) I am back in the southwest, and it's off to St James' Park this afternoon for a vital Exeter City match against struggling Northwich Victoria - whose hopes of escaping relegation from the Blue Square Premier have been boosted by some solid performances of late. It'll be a bit of a nail-biter, given ECFC's somewhat wobbly play-off ambitions, and I wish the Grecians all the best. Naturally, I'd really rather be at SHS watching the mighty Sons take on Montrose, who are pushing for promotion and are considered to be one of the better footballing sides in the Third Division - not a masive crown of honour, it must be said. My hopes of being up in Scotland for the last DFC home game against East Stirling have also been dashed. But there are some compensations. To be frank, the quality of the football I will watch today is likely to be considerably better, for a start. The Sons have been pretty dire this term. Hope for next season rests largely on who manager Jim Chapman can bring in as well as inspiring some confidence in young hopefuls. It's easy to snipe, but the fans should get behind him.

[Photo (c) and with acknowledgments to Donald Fullarton. Buy his pics, folks.]
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In Trusts we trust

Exeter City Supporters' Trust has increased its funding of the club by 8% to £65,000 for the 2008-09 season. The trust, which became the majority shareholder of the club in 2003, is also anticipating putting in £75,600 in 2009-10 and £78,000 in 2010-11. It means the trust will have paid over £850,000 to City since it formed. "If the Trust had not provided significant financial support in recent years, Exeter City might not exist today," said treasurer Nigel Banks. On top of the cash contribution the trust is also looking to repay £20,000 to fans who lent it money when it bought its majority shareholding in 2003. [Courtesy of BBC]

Ah, how we'd like to do something on that scale at Dumbarton, where the Sonstrust was first off the mark in Scotland but is still tiny by comparison even with a non-league English team. Very well formed, though, and ambitious for the future. It will be interesting to see how DFC's future ownership structure, still in negotiation, works out.
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Just another football Tuesday

What better way can there be to sort out the true football fan from the dilettante than a windy, freezing Tuesday evening in the middle of nowhere? Or, in this case, mid Sussex.

So it was that, inspired by Pauline Goodlad's dedication to the cause of the Grecians, and within striking distance due to work commitments in London, I headed off to see Exeter City take a point off low-flyers Crawley Town. In reality it was two lost rather than one gained, but thankfully Burton Albion have somewhat lost the plot lately, so ECFC remain in the play-off zone with their fate in their own hands. Three points away to York City on Monday is a necessity, though.

It was, as Snoopy would put it, "a cold and rainy night", braved by only 841 people, 301 from the South West alone. The lure of the pub, the fireside and Champions League football on the telly probably counted for a nother few hundred. The chips at the Broadfield Stadium are, I must report, a good consolation; the football less so. Thankfully there were enough incidents to make it a more than bearable occasion - including a well-struck 25 yard free kick by Exeter's Rob Edwards inside 14 minutes, and Dean Moxey's opportunistic equaliser on 80.

Exeter should really have stolen the game, but they were a little off colour. Special mention should go to Crawley's Bradley Thomas, whose ability to grab hold of an Exeter shirt at set plays while avoiding the ref's gaze (no doubt entirely accidentally) was one of the most consistently impressive displays of the night. Unless you were a Grecians fan.

Perhaps the best entertainment of the evening, however, came courtesy of the, well, lack of courtesy of the Exeter fans. For some reason, Crawley's keeper was wearing a number 22 shirt, as well as a rather curious all-weather ensemble which made him seem less than battle-hardened. So the Grecians began a chant (to the tune of 'Knees Up Mother Brown') of "You're not num-ber one, you're not num-ber one; you're not number, you're not number, you're not num-ber one..." Yup, then two, three, four, five, six, and right through to 21. The whole thing must have taken ten minutes, and the final verdict a less than flattering "'cos you're sh*te." Poor boy.

Incidentally, the Crawley matchday programme is informative, well-written and well-designed. A good addition to the collection.
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Playing the game fairly

Good community initiative at the Exeter -v- Altrincham match today: a special pre-match promotion for Fairtrade fortnight, involving the Grecians wearing special Co-op T-shirts and kicking ten fairly traded footballs into the crowd. Fair Trade is a movement which seeks to guarantee a reasonable price to producers in developing countries. It is not a particular brand or product, but a label of accreditation which any product has the potential to achieve. It is non-partisan, economically fruitful, and has greatly improved the lives of 5 million of the world's poorest people to date. There is a petition here calling on all professional and amateur football clubs to 'play the game' by to attaining Fairtrade status. Oh, and for those of you "interested in that sort of thing", an article about the pros and cons here. (Me in my 'day job' capacity.)

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Not justice, but football

If it's possible to thrash your opponents 2-2, that's what happened last night. Exeter City dominated Woking for much of the Blue Square Premier clash at St James' Park. They went in 2-0 up at half time. They played some flowing, attractive and entertaining football. But they did not translate the natural advantage into goals, and Woking took the two chances they managed to engineer very well. So a disappointing result (definitely two points dropped, rather than one gained), but a highly entertaining game. To add to the woe for many, former Grecians striker Jamie Mackie, who recently ascended three divisions to join ECFC's mortal enemies Plymouth, got a brace of goals on his debut for Argyll. Good job my programme column was about post-Munich peace, love and understanding. ;)

Usually when I am watching a match down here I'm also keeping an eye on how Dumbarton are doing up in Scotland, with text message updates from Denise Currie (thanks, D). Things are a bit grim for the Sons at the moment, and I admire the fans who continue to stick with it. I wish I could be there more, though I should count myself lucky to be getting what is almost certainly a rather better football diet week-in and week-out right now. Let's hope manager Jim Chapman gets the new players integrated and begins to find a formula soon, in prepration for next season (realistically).

Still, I'm very much looking forward to being back at the Rock at the end of March, when I'll be co-sponsoring the match against Stranraer to celebrate my five decades on the planet, four-fifths of which have been as a DFC fan. How time flies when you're having fun! On 23 February I'm off to that Orient - Notts Forest encounter. A rich and varied pitchside diet, indeed...