STALEMATE KEEPS RECORDS INTACT
MATT Taylor was happy his Exeter City side earned a point against promotion rivals Colchester.
In a game of few chances, the two teams extended their unbeaten runs – Exeter to ten games, while Colchester are undefeated in 15 – in a match that did little for either side’s respective promotion battles.
“I thought it was two good teams,” Taylor said. “It was one of the quickest games we have been involved in, this season in terms of tempo, intensity and energy used.
“If I was being ultra-critical, I would say that our use of the ball wasn’t quite good enough in the middle areas of the pitch.
“We started the game well and they were probably our best chances, early on, throughout the 90 minutes, and you need to take one.
“They came back strong, they have good players and it was like two heavyweights slugging it out, no one taking a backward step so content is probably the right word.
“I am always asking more from this group and in terms of effort, they can’t give me more than that. But we will take a point.”
Exeter had a great chance – the best of the game – inside the opening three minutes, but Ryan Bowman dragged his shot wide of the far post after going through on goal.
Callum Harriott was denied by a brilliant goal line block by Pierce Sweeney as Colchester responded.
Jayden Richardson fired a good chance across the face of goal for Exeter, when he should have squared to the unmarked Nicky Ajose, but that was the only real chance of a second half that was devoid of clear-cut chances.
Colchester pressed, looking for a late winner, but Exeter came closest with an Archie Collins volley that was well saved by Dean Gerken with the last kick of the game.
Colchester manager John McGreal was pleased with his side’s defensive display.
“Apart from that opportunity we gave them in the last minute, the chances they had was off our misplaced passes,” he said. “Generally we had the better chances, we had more shots and one off the line.
“I am delighted with the performance. A couple of times we misplaced a few passes in midfield and we looked a bit more of a potent threat today.
“You have got no divine right to win games of football at this level so you have to work that little bit harder. We shaded it today against a top team. Matt has got these going in the right direction as we have.
“That point has moved us up to fifth in the table. It is brilliant and this is what we want to do. We have got top of the league on Tuesday and there’s no better game to try and get three points.”