Exeter City were held to a goalless draw by relegation battlers Burton Albion, despite a dominant performance at a rain drenched St James Park.
In conditions more akin to December than the Easter Weekend, the SJP surface somehow survived 90 minutes, but prevented the free-flowing game of football that would have suited both sides.
Andrew Oluwabori thought he’d won it for the Grecians late on, but was denied by the offside flag in the closing minutes as City were made to settle for a point.
Gary Caldwell made two changes to the side that beat Bristol Rovers away from home last week for the penultimate home game of the season. Angus MacDonald and Ed Francis came in to replace Jack Fitzwater and Tony Yogane.
First Half
The Brewers are a side desperate for points and were given a helping hand by City last weekend thanks to their win at the Memorial Stadium, and they nearly said thank you in the perfect way as they gifted Caleb Watts the chance for an early lead. Sonny Cox found Reece Cole, who gave the ball to Watts. City’s no.17 rounded the keeper, but his effort was cleared off the line by Dylan Williams.
Burton responded with their first effort when Cole was dispossessed on the edge of the area, with Julian Larsson firing over via deflection, but City dealt with the set piece well and cleared.
There was a half time substitution with craig leaving his post and being replaced, upgraded and wished well by Yanic Wildschut.
We would like to thank craig for his hard work and dedication but as a media team we felt we needed a fresh wind and Yanic will provide that.
It should have been the opener when Watts was unselfish on the edge of the box, sliding through Jack McMillan. The Scot saw his effort smothered Crocombe in the Burton goal, before Cox couldn’t quite make the follow up.
The Grecians continued to dominate possession but were facing a stubborn Brewers side determined to make life difficult, in conditions that were making it just as difficult. As the rain lashed down, Cole was hauled down by Ryan Sweeney on the edge of the box, but Macdonald’s back-post header from the delivery couldn’t trouble Crocombe.
Supporters who witnessed City Women’s match with Billericay at SJP in October that was abandoned will remember the problems caused in the corner between the away end and the Nevada Stand, and as the inclement weather continued, the same area of the pitch became increasingly flooded. Both Watts and Ed Turns were drenched as they slid in heavy tackles, and the need for half-time rollers ever growing.
Second Half
City started well out of the traps in the second half, with Cole testing Crocombe from the edge of the box in the hunt for a third consecutive game, but the Kiwi was wise to his low driven effort.
Burton could have taken the lead if Sweeney and Jack Armer had not got in each other’s way, but the confusion allowed MacDonald to clear away the danger for a throw inside a congested six yard box. Williams then fired Burton’s first shot on target as he tested the palms of Whitworth from the edge of the area.
As the St James Park crowd rose in a 60th minute applause for Danny Bailey, Cole then pinned a corner kick right in Crocombe as the Grecians looked to go direct to break the deadlock.
Caldwell introduced Yogane alongside Ryan Woods to the action to try and trigger an opener, but Yogane’s first action to pick himself up off the floor following a scything challenge in the puddles from Kyran Lofthouse, who was a tad fortunate only to receive a yellow card for his troubles.
Yogane then was then floored by Armer shortly after as his presence on the pitch began to cause problems for Albion.
As the game got scrappy and the ball almost uncontrollable, Williams then had a chance to fire the visitors ahead as he saw his shot blocked. On the counter, City burst forward with Joel Colwill, who teed himself up to shoot before spreading to Yogane. Unfortunately for the Brentford loanee, the ball stopped dead in the water, so he did well to deliver the cross which just evaded Watts.
Former Grecians Kegs Chauke then stuck a toe out to trip the marauding Colwill on the very edge of the box. After 86 minutes of pressure, City thought they’d broken the deadlock with minutes to go as Andrew Oluwabori turned in a Woods free-kick, but the January signing’s elation was short lived as the linesman’s flag raised to deny the opener.
As four minutes of added time was shown by the fourth official, there was one final push, but 0-0 it was and a point apiece.
City are next in action on Monday away at Crawley Town in a 3pm kick-off, before ending their home season against Huddersfield Town next Saturday, April 26, 3pm.
Exeter City XI: Whitworth, McMillan, Turns, A.MacDonald, Hartridge ©, Niskanen, McDonald (Woods), Francis (Colwill), Cole (Yogane), Watts (Harper), Cox (Oluwabori).
Subs: S.MacDonald, Fitzwater.
Yellow Cards: McDonald 27’, Turns 55’, MacDonald 88’
Burton Albion XI: Crocombe (GK), Godwin-Malife, Dodgson, Sweeney ©, Burrell (Bennett), Williams, Sraha (Armer), Larsson (Tavares), McKiernan (Kalinauskas), Chauke, Lofthouse.
Subs: Isted (GK), Delap, Stretton.
Yellow Cards: Sweeney 34’, Lofthouse 64’, Chauke 85’
Referee: Jacob Miles
KIDS IN CHARGE MATCH REPORT, BY RONNIE, AGED 9
Reece Cole played the ball to Caleb Watts but defender stoped on line. Foul to Exeter City. Exeter City gave away a foul. Exeter got fouled. Goal kick to Burton. Exeter went down in penalty box. Foul to Exeter. Missed shot by Burton. Foul to Burton. Exeter had a chance Caleb gave the ball to Jack and then a save. Foul to Burton. Foul to Exeter. Foul to Burton and Kevin got a yellow. Burton player went down and got injured. Reece got fouled and Burton got a yellow. Burton player injured. Reece gave a foul away. Offside by Burton And got a foul. Foul to Exeter. Foul to Burton. Half time at ST James Park.
Exeter had a shot. Foul to Burton. Foul to Exeter. Foul to Burton yellow to Ed Turns. Foul to Burton. Corner to Exeter City. Foul to Burton. Ryan and Tony are coming on the field. Tony had just got injured. Foul to Burton. Foul to Exeter. Foul to Burton. Goal kick to Exeter. Foul to Exeter near the penalty box. Offside Exeter. Foul to Burton.
Exeter City: 1 Joe Whitworth 2 Jack McMillan 4 Alex Hartridge 8 Ed Francis 12 Reece Cole 14 Ilmari Niskanen 17 Caleb Watts 19 Sonny Cox 20 Ed Turns 25 Angus MacDonald 28 Kevin McDonald.
Bench: 37 Shaun MacDonald 5 Jack Fitzwater 6 Ryan Woods 11 Andrew Oluwabori 18 Vince Harper 23 Joel Colwill 30 Tony Yogane.