SUPER-SUB RICHARDS IS CITY HERO
EXETER boss Paul Tisdale was a happy man after guiding his side to their first win of 2014 with victory at Southend.
The Grecians bagged two goals in the final seven minutes of the match to end a run of six games without a triumph.
And Tisdale felt it was a well deserved three points at Roots Hall.
“I thought we played really well and the performance warranted all three points,” said Tisdale.
“We conceded two goals by Southend overpowering us in the box but I felt we played the conditions really well.
“The pitch was really sticky and muddy and to be honest I was surprised it was on with the weather we have had recently so hats off to Southend’s ground staff.
“But we played the ball well around the park and Jimmy Keohane behind John O’Flynn worked really well for us and their movement was excellent so I’m delighted.”
Exeter initially went in front after ten minutes when Arron Davies’ header sent Keohane through on goal and the striker made no mistake with an assured 12-yard finish.
However, two minutes later, the Shrimpers were back level when Mark Phillips headed home a right wing free-kick from Ben Coker.
Phillips, who had previously not scored all season, popped up again in the 22nd minute to nod in a right wing corner from Kevan Hurst.
But Southend continued to look shaky at the back and goalkeeper Daniel Bentley did well to deny both Keohane and John O’Flynn.
However, with 82 minutes on the clock, the Grecians drew back level in stunning circumstances when Liam Sercombe sent a well struck 25 yard-shot flying in to the top right hand corner of the net.
The Shrimpers then wasted a couple of half-chances with Jason Williams and Kevan Hurst both being denied by Exeter’s debutant goalkeeper Christy Pym.
And the Grecians hit back to bag an 87th minute when substitute Eliot Richards scored his first goal for the club.
The striker cut in off the left flank, following a short corner, before drilling home a low shot to give the visitors a win Southend boss Phil Brown felt they fully deserved.
“Exeter played with a verve and tempo we just couldn’t seem to get and credit to them, they got the victory they deserved,” said Brown.
“We’re frustrated and it’s not a nice feeling but the whole place just seemed to be a bit played.
“I’m not going to blame the conditions but we need to get back out there, roll our sleeves up and get stuck in, not just lie back and think of England. “We’re at home again on Tuesday to Hartlepool and we need to make sure we get a much better
result in that game now.”
SOUTHEND UNITED (4-4-2): Bentley 6, White 5, Phillips 7, Thompson 4, Coker 5, Hurst 6, Leonard 6, Timlin 6 (Williams 85 6), Atkinson 5, Barnard 5 (Gomis 69 6), Corr 5 (Eastwood 77 6).
Subs not used: P Smith, Laird, Straker, Payne. EXETER CITY (4-5-1): Pym 5, Butterfield 6, Bennett 6, Coles 6, Woodman 7, Sercombe 7, Oakley 6 (Wheeler 73 6), Grimes 6, Davies 7, Keohane 6 (Richards 60 7), O’Flynn 6 (Nichols 84 6). Subs not used: Krysiak, Moore-Taylor, Dawson, Parkin.