City take big step towards going up
EXETER City took a big step towards automatic promotion out of League Two after a comfortable 2-0 win over Rochdale.
Goals from Tim Dieng and captain Matt Jay took the Grecians to the 80 point mark and the verge of promotion.
Three points tomorrow night when Barrow visit St James Park will be enough to end their 10 year stay in the fourth tier.
But even if City were to fail to win that game, a point against either Port Vale or Northampton Town will almost certainly be enough.
Nearly 7,000 fans packed out the Park in the hope that promotion could have been achieved on Saturday. And while the Red Army will have to wait three more days, City are nearly over the line after another impressive performance as they bounced back from the Easter Monday defeat.
“It was a big win in terms of where we want to be at the end of the season,” manager Matt Taylor said. “For that group of players to reach 80 points with three games to go is an outstanding achievement and they need to celebrate it. We need to enjoy it, and then get ourselves ready for Tuesday.
“Today has been big on the back of Easter Friday and Easter Monday, and to respond in the way we did was magnificent. It was another good performance and I am pleased the extra bums on seats have seen us play well and seen the reasons why we are near the top of the table.
“It was a big step to what we want to achieve. Rochdale are a dangerous team they can be and they look above the way they are, but we stayed in the game and packed a punch when we needed to. The first goal was important as we were starting to get on top of the game and then pleased to get in ahead, and the second goal was crucial.”
Robbie Stockdale’s side were safe in midtable but started the better at St James Park and former Grecian Jimmy Keohane twice forced Cameron Dawson into saves in the opening five minutes. But that was as good as it got for Dale as City gradually turned the screw.
Archie Collins, Offrande Zanzala and Dieng had all come close to breaking the deadlock before City scored on 34 minutes. Collins swung in a free-kick and the Frenchman reacted fastest to stretch out a leg and poke home his 14 th goal of the season.
On the hour the lead was doubled.
Jake Caprice and Jay combined well down to left to find Jevani Brown. While his shot was parried away by Jay Lynch, it was only into the path of the onrushing Jay whose diving header flew into the roof of the net.
Jay’s goal took his tally to 17, ending a nine game drought, and the manager was delighted with the skipper. Taylor said: “It was the best we have seen for a little while. There was freedom and the goal was a moment I wanted us to score more of hoping the ball fell in his path and felt like that kind of second goal would be one to settle the game.”
City know that victory over Barrow on Tuesday in front of what will surely be a sell-out crowd will be enough to seal promotion. A spot in the dreaded play-off is already assured. But a win could draw them level with Forest Green Rovers, who sealed their promotion with a point at Bristol Rovers.
“Barrow is our game in hand,” Taylor added, with the Bluebirds securing their safety on Saturday with a win over Sutton United. “We have to make the most of it and it is another chance for points. “Barrow have picked up some fantastic form under the new manager so have to be ready for that, and all the focus is on the game and not what could happen after the game.”