Gloom as Grecians fail to end in style

EXETER CITY captain Jake Taylor said that the overriding emotion in the dressing room was of disappointment on Saturday, after the Grecians missed out on the League Two play-offs.

City’s 1-1 draw at home to Barrow meant that they finished ninth in the final table – although even a win would not have been enough in the end as none of the three results in other games went their way.

Matt Jay’s 20th goal of the season, tapping in a Robbie Willmott cross, had given them the lead, but Tom Beadling lashed home an equaliser from a corner midway through the second half and City could not go on and make it three wins in a row for the first time all season.

“There’s a lot of disappointment,” Taylor said after the match. “There are a lot of emotions around at the moment, and it wasn’t just down to today.

“We came short on too many occasions, and we’re extremely disappointed to not get to where we wanted to be – but it has been a great season for the youngsters to break through and get some League Two experience, and the club is in a fantastic position with everything that has gone on.

“It has been a season like no other and it has taken its toll and been relentless, but it has been enjoyable and there are so many positives.”

The Grecians’ long-serving skipper added: “If we had not won and there was an opportunity to make the play-offs, it would have been more frustrating, but it was not just down to today but different stages of the season and that’s all hindsight.

“It has been a difficult season without the fans and we have missed the atmosphere and it has been a strange time for everyone, so we do appreciate the messages and following from afar,” Taylor concluded, “and it’s a shame we couldn’t give them one last thing to cheer for.”