Fifteen budding young journalists were given the chance to test their writing skills at Exeter City last season when they attended a course organised by Excellence South West.
The course called ‘Up the City’ aimed to teach the children, from years five and six, the basics of sports reporting and how to go about writing a match report on a League Two fixture.
Exeter City media manager Simon Larkins joined the children to pass on his advice and after a day of learning in the classroom they were given a tour of the stadium and got the chance to interview staff and some ex-players. Then, as part of the course, they attended the Exeter City vs Colchester United match on May 5 and were tasked with writing a match report on the game.
The best match report was then chosen out of the 15, with first prize winning two tickets in the CITY Community Trust box for a match at the start of this season.
Exeter City is pleased to announce that SAM HUGHES' match report was chosen as the best. His report on the game is as follows:
Exeter City Vs Colchester United
Saturday 5th May 2018
By Sam Hughes
With the play-offs looming, changes were made, as several players were rested, including top-scorer, Jayden Stockley, who missed out on this gloriously sunny match in front of a packed St James Park.
Exeter City manager, Paul Tisdale, made a total of nine changes to his starting eleven and subs following last Saturday's 3-1 defeat against Stevenage.
Troy Archibald-Henville, Ryan Harley, Jordan Moore-Taylor, Liam McAlinden and Kyle Edwards came into the team for Storey, Croll, Taylor, James (who dropped to the bench) and Stockley.
On the bench, Tis made four changes with Archibald-Henville, Harley and Edwards coming onto the field for Woodman, James and Loft while Ryan Brunt dropped out of the squad altogether to make way for Dan Seaborne.
Just before a 3:00 pm kick off, Christy Pym was announced as Player of the Season, drawing cheers from the packed Big Bank on the sweltering hot Saturday.
A couple of early chances from both teams, Colchester in their bright green away kit and City in red and white stripes. McAlinden had plenty of opportunities in the first five minutes, as did Mikael Mandron though as the Colchester crosses were fired over.
In the 8th minute, a great cross from Hiram Boateng saw City nearly score after Simpson's header spun goalwards, just missing the top right corner. A disappointing moment for City as Simpson and Boateng both missed an open goal. McAlinden watched his teasing cross go past the players and out for a throw.
A cheer came from Grecian fans after a Colchester clearence landed on the still-under-construction new stand.
Crosses were fired over by Sweeney but no joy for Exeter. In the 41st minute, there was a goal City's way but it was ruled out. Simpson, scored it with a header in the six-yard box and he did well to get to the ball, but it was ruled out for a push and that cut the celebrations short. More chances fell for both teams but at half-time, the score was 0-0.
In the second half, Colchester started strongly with City defending desperately. Chances like Ryan Gondoh skying a clear shot climaxed to a controversial penalty given to Colchester after a foul by Pierce Sweeney on Ogedi-Uzokwe – who later said that he had wanted to take it - in the box.
But a crucial and quite brilliant save from Pym kept the scores level, prompting a round of 'Christy for England' from the City fans. The
The scorching heat forced a drink break in the 65th minute as the chances continued. Soon, City had a case for handball after a free kick hit the wall but referee Charles Breakspear wasn't interested.
But City's fans weren't grumbling for much longer after Sweeney's cross found its way onto the head of Robbie Simpson who nodded the ball into the right side of the goal. 1-0 to City.
Three minutes afterwards, Exeter nearly got two but Moxey was offside so no double for the Grecians.
Colchester made two changes but nothing changed in the scores. A last-minute chance for the away side hit the roof of the net but after 90 minutes plus 3 mins added time, the score was still 1-0.
So the last game of the season for City saw Simpson score and Christy Pym show why he is the Exeter City's Player of the Season.
If your child is interesting in taking part in a similar course this season contact Excellence South West via email on admin@excellencesouthwest.co.uk.