A look at how Grecians are getting on away from SJP
FOUR CITY PLAYERS are currently plying their trade away from St James Park as they gain invaluable experience while out on loan.Wondering how they are all getting on? City fan Exiled Grecian has the latest:
Connor Riley-Lowe
Truro City, National League South (Joined in July, six-month loan)
Truro's run of eleven league games unbeaten came to an end this weekend, as Steve Tully's men succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at Maidstone. Connor was involved from the start for the eighteenth time this season as he continues to be a key member of the Cornish side.
Stats
League: 18 starts, 2 goals, 1576 minutes.
FA Cup: 3 starts, 252 minutes.
FA Trophy: 1 start, 90 minutes.
Last game
5th December: Maidstone United 2-1 Truro, played 90 mins.
Alex Byrne
Weston-super-Mare, National League South (Joined in July, six-month loan)
Alex started for the seventh consecutive time as Weston-super-Mare beat cult icons Wealdstone 3-2. It looked as though Weston, who had come from behind at half time to lead 2-1, were going to drop two much-needed points when Wealdstone equalised in the eighty-fifth minute, but the Somerset outfit rallied and came away with all three points in stoppage time minute. Byrne played the full ninety minutes as the Seagulls secured their fourth consecutive win and move two points clear of the drop.
Stats
League: 14 appearances, 10 starts, 926 minutes.
FA Cup: 2 starts.
FA Trophy: 1 start.
Last game
5th December: Wealdstone 2-3 W-s-M, played 90 minutes.
Jason Pope
Weston-super-Mare, National League South (Joined in July, six-month loan)
Jason remained on the bench for the entirety of Weston's victory at Wealdstone. Pope has been restricted to just one Weston appearance so far this season due to injury, but he did feature for the Grecians in the Under-21 Premier League Cup defeat to West Ham last week, replacing the injured Tom McCready off the bench.
Stats
League: 1 start, 65 minutes
Last game
3rd October: Margate 0-2 W-s-M, played 65 minutes before being replaced by Alex Byrne.
Matt Jay
Hayes & Yeading United, National League South (Joined in November, one-month loan)
Matt made it two in two league games this weekend, as Hayes & Yeading beat Bath City 3-2. The diminutive striker showed silky feet as he went past three players in the box before coolly slotting home the opener. At 2-0 down, former Grecian Frankie Artus had two penalties saved as Bath went in search of a way back into the game. They did eventually level things up, but in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage-time, Jay had an effort which the keeper could only parry into the path of former Torquay United striker Elliot Benyon, who duly obliged to emphatically seal all three points for Garry Haylock's men.
Stats
League: 2 starts, 2 goals, 180 minutes.
FA Trophy: 1 start, 90 minutes.
Last game
5th December: Bath City 2-3 Hayes & Yeading United, played 90 minutes, scored 1.
For more updates on City's loan stars, head to Exiled Grecian's blog.