Exeter City end ten-year stay in League Two on a tense and nervy night at a packed St James Park
EXETER City finally achieved that elusive promotion to League One with a dramatic come-from-behind win over Barrow to end their ten-year stay in League Two.
The Grecians knew a win at St James Park on Tuesday night would secure automatic promotion - and they got it.
A bizarre own goal when a long throw-in came off the post and hit Cameron Dawson and went in put the Bluebirds, who came to spoil the party, ahead on 11 minutes. But minutes after he hit the crossbar, onloan Huddersfield Town striker Kieran Phillips scored a wonderful solo goal to level it up before half-time, albeit with the aid of a deflection.
City needed a winner and in what was a nervy second half in front of 7,860 fans at St James Park, chances were few and far between. But with 12 minutes to go, Josh Key swung in a cross and captain Matt Jay took a touch, and then fired through the legs of Dean Farman to put City 2-1 up.
Exeter saw out the game to spark a pitch invasion at full-time and jubilant scenes. It was in stark contrast to Barrow’s last visit, on the final day of last season when, in front of no-one, City missed out on the play-offs after being held to a 1-1 draw.
After three play-off final defeats at Wembley in the previous five seasons, and two ninth placed finishes, missing out on the play-offs on the final day, City finally ended the hoodoo and got over the line. It was just the sixth promotion in the 121-year history of the club.
“It was incredible,” manager Matt Taylor said after the celebrations had died down. “It was strange because it felt like it was one of those nights where it wasn’t going to be our night and we might not get that goal. To fall behind in a freakish manner and then to score a deflected one ourselves, we just had to ground up a performance to keep us level and hoping for one chance.
“When it did come I didn’t feel nervous at all, I felt we were in control, we knew what we needed to do, they didn’t really have any chances after their goal.
“It was a game of very few chances, their goal was a freak goal and our goal was a big deflection as well and then the chancehas fallen to MJ.
“I am delighted for him. He is our captain, academy product, and constant threat in terms of goals and he took it so well and we saw it out.
“We’ve just got to enjoy these moments because this club and some of these players have been through some difficult moments, and to come through it in the way they have and to get promoted with two games left in the automatic positions is a reflection on that group of players.
“Let’s enjoy it as there has been so much hard work gone to make it happen.
“I can’t hide how happy I am for everyone. To find a way, it typifies what we have been. We don’t have superstars and had to grind out tonight, and we did, and to see the scenes on the pitch, it was incredible.”
City fell behind on 11 minutes in strange circumstances. A long throw from Remeao Hutton caused chaos in the box. Tom White stuck out a leg and didn’t get a touch, but Dawson wasn’t sure, and had to try and save it. But the throw bounced off the post and back off him and into the net, and eventually referee Lee Swabey gave the goal.
But after Phillips hit the crossbar from close range, the on-loan striker made amends on 35 minutes. He drove half the length of the pitch and fired home to level, albeit with the aid of a deflection.
The second half was nervous, with chances few and far between. But on 78 minutes, Key swung in a cross, it found Jay at the back post, and the captain on the half volley struck home his 18th goal of the season. The roar could be heard all around Exeter and ended years of hurt - and drew level on points at the top of the table with Forest Green Rovers who were beaten at Swindon Town - with City eight behind on goal difference.
“You don’t know how to feel,” Taylor added on the special feeling at full-time. “The final whistle goes and there is relief. I still can’t digest it and
wont for a couple of days. But the players have to enjoy it, to do it on our home patch, and on a night like this, it is really special.
“To see nights like tonight, it was a proper atmosphere. We were 15 points behind Forest Green, maybe more, so it is incredible to have pulled it back, and the players can celebrate for as much as they like.
“There are two games to go, it is all square, but let us enjoy tonight all have earned and enjoyed this moment, and then when it is right, we will focus on Northampton and we go there with no pressure whatsoever for the first time in a long time.”
The Grecians now head to Northampton Town on Saturday backed by 1,500 travelling supporters, while Forest Green Rovers will be epxected to beat Harrogate Town at the New Lawn.
The season then concludes with Exeter facing Port Vale at St James Park in front of an already sold-out crowd, while Forest Green end the season at Mansfield Town.
As it stands, Forest Green and Exeter will finish as the top two teams, regardless of results on the final two weekends of the season, while
Northampton are third on 76 points.
Port Vale are fifth (75) but level on points with Mansfield Town, who are fifth and one goal worse off than the Burslem club.
Bristol Rovers are sixth (74 points) with Sutton United seventh (73), and Swindon Town eighth (71 points. Even Salford City and Tranmere, level on 69 points, are not out of promotion contention just yet.