Late winner keeps City’s promotion dream alive
EXETER City moved three points closer to promotion to League One after another late winner and a goal from a set piece. The Grecians created a hatful of chances at Brunton Park against Carlisle United, but seemed set to have to settle for a point – until the 90th minute.
Jevani Brown swung in a corner which Tim Dieng nodded back across goal, and Padraig Amond was left unmarked six yards out to head home.
It was the fifth goal the Irishman scored this season, and by far the most important, sending the 403 fans who made the 700-mile round trip wild.
City in truth could and should have won by more than they did, but Mark Howard in the Cumbrians goal made a series of stunning saves.
But Amond finally beat him late on to keep Matt Taylor’s men second in the League Two table and ensure the long journey was worth it.
The manager still isn’t looking closely at the table and wasn’t bothered by other results. But another win made it eight unbeaten and just one loss in 18, the Grecians’ form ensuring that it doesn’t matter what their promotion rivals do.
“In relation to the performance, of the chances we created, I said to the group their keeper only made one outstanding save and some good saves, so we have not worked the goal enough on the balance of the possession we had,” Taylor said.
“But it only took one moment, it was a set piece, and Podge doing what he had done and been on the move and anticipated where the ball was going to land.
“I am delighted we kept our defensive mindset in a game where we had the better of the ball and we didn’t take our eye off the ball at the back.
“It was the most chances we have created for a long time, so the performance from box to box we were excellent, only the final bit, and if a goal goes in early on then the whole complexion changes.
“We had to stay and keep doing what we were doing, freshen up any areas, and if there will be a six yard box entry, Podge is the best forward. We created enough chances and it felt like it was one of those days where it wasn’t going to be our day in front of goal – and then it was.”
Offrande Zanzala, playing against his former club, should have broke the deadlock in the first five minutes, but saw Howard deny him from point-blank range.
The goalkeeper also kept out Dieng on three occasions, as well as stopping shots from Matt Jay and Jevani Brown, while Sam Stubbs and Amond had headed over.
But it was a set piece late on again that got City the points over Paul Simpson’s in-form side, when the Newport County loanee showed why City has signed him, as he headed in the winner.
The last four goals the Grecians have scored have come from corners or free-kicks, and the striker was in the right place at the right time to head home.
It is now four clean sheets in five as well, with Cameron Dawson barely threatened in City’s net.
“They were in fantastic form and have beaten some good teams, but I cannot recall Cam having too much to do and they didn’t cut us open,” Taylor added.
“In terms of the way we moved the ball, it suits us up at Carlisle. We didn’t get the reward and had to make it happen and were looking for the moment of quality, but it was a basic set piece which was an incredible thing.
“We are in a good position, I still don’t care about the other results.”
Victories for Port Vale and Mansfield Town ensured the gap back to the pair in third and fourth stayed at two and five points respectively, with City having played a game fewer than the Valiants.
But draws for Northampton Town and Bristol Rovers mean they are now seven points behind City, have played a game more, and with a worse goal difference.
City need 14 points from the final six games to guarantee to go up automatically (11 if they beat Port Vale), and are only five points behind league leaders Forest Green Rovers.
City are back in action on Good Friday when they host Colchester United in a 1pm kick-off. It is a game they will be looking to win in front of what will be a packed St James Park and keep the promotion dreams alive.