APOLOGY’S ACCEPTED BY DARREN
STEVENAGE boss Darren Sarll applauded Reuben Reid after the striker issued an apology for handling Exeter’s equaliser.
Jobi McAnuff bagged a stunning opener for Boro on 31 minutes before Reid controversially levelled matters seven minutes into the second half.
Sarll praised Reid for his honesty after the striker said sorry for the accidental handball at the final whistle.
“The player admitted it to me after the game,” said Sarll. “He apologised and I thought that was a touch of class from Reuben Reid.
“He is a goalscorer and he wants to score goals. If the referee is not in the correct position three yards from goal, it’s not Reuben’s fault.
“But you can still have a quality in a man and his apology spoke volumes about his honesty.
“We were excellent in the first half and they won the second half.
“We were strong and resilient and made sure we came away with a point. We are going into the last 14 games with something to aim for.”
The Grecians almost took a second-minute lead when Troy Brown met Craig Woodman’s corner with a header which was going in until Steve Schumacher cleared off the line.
The hosts threatened again after Ollie Watkins swept past Tom Pett before letting fly with an effort which was pushed around the post by Jamie Jones.
Boro grew into the game and claimed a deserved opener thanks to a moment of magic from former West Ham and Watford midfielder McAnuff. He skipped past two Exeter defenders before planting a shot beyond the despairing reach of Bobby Olejnik.
Exeter were level on 52 minutes when Reid bundled home Lloyd James’ cross with his hand as he attempted to knee the ball into the back of the net.
Olejnik produced a smart save to deny Henry Cowans after the substitute let fly from 25 yards.
Exeter had chances to win it, but Watkins fired into the side-netting and Joel Grant blasted a last-gasp chance wide.
The Grecians remain in the play-off places and manager Paul Tisdale said: “It was a really good point.
“Stevenage are a good team and play to their strengths. We found ourselves a goal down in the first half and we didn’t do a lot wrong. “We changed the pattern at halftime and the tempo changed. The game became more fluid and we got the goal. “I have told the players we are back into the flow of an unbeaten run. “That is the target and there will be lots of points won and lost by other clubs. “We just have to keep our heads down and take it one game at a time, because we are doing well.”