Grecians Stub out bad form
‘OUR LUCK’S TURNING’
MATT TAYLOR believes Exeter’s luck is turning as they moved a step closer to promotion thanks to goals from an unlikely source.
Grecians defender Sam Stubbs converted two firsthalf headers for his first goals since October 2020 to ruin Steve Evans’ first game in charge of struggling Stevenage.
But his second was mired in controversy as Stubbs appeared to shove Stevenage defender Luke Prosser in the back before finding the back of the net.
It is now six games unbeaten for the secondplaced Grecians who have opened up a five-point gap on the chasing pack. Exeter manager Taylor said: “The first goal absolutely flew into the net and I haven’t seen a goal like that here for some time.
But the second one, if I am honest, I’d have been asking for a free-kick if that had been given against us.
“You need luck in football, we have had rotten fortune over the seasons at
Exeter, so maybe it is our time to use that luck.
“Having the gap helps because that’s extra points teams have got to make up and extra points we have got in the bank.
“I can keep a lid on things privately, but let’s look forward to the rest of the season.
“We are in a positive position so why shouldn’t we be excited. There is no pressure on us and we have got to enjoy the ride.
“Some players might never get this opportunity again.”
Stevenage keeper Christy Pym made a smart save in the 27th minute, diving to his right to push Josh Key’s longrange strike around the post.
But Exeter broke the deadlock from the resulting corner after Jevani Brown picked out Stubbs who planted a bullet header past Pym in the 28th minute.
Relegation-threatened Stevenage grabbed an equaliser on 38 minutes when Luke Norris caught
Exeter’s defence napping by converting Eliott List’s cross at the back post.
Yet Stubbs produced another moment of aerial magic, climbing above Prosser to dispatch another pinpoint Brown corner.
The goal sparked furious protests from the Stevenage players and bench.
Matt Jay and Offrande Zanzala blew glorious chances to seal the win in the second half before Cameron Dawson brilliantly denied Bruno Andrade an equaliser.
Stevenage are three points above the drop zone and have gone 10 games without a win.
Boro chief Evans (left) said: “We should have defended the first goal better but the second one is clearly a foul. Any other referee in Britain gives it a foul but we had Carl Boyeson today and he doesn’t see it.
“I am not questioning Carl’s integrity but even their bench said it was a foul.
“If we had showed a little bit more quality we would have got something from the game against an excellent Exeter side.” EXETER CITY: Dawson 8; Stubbs 9, Hartridge 7, Sweeney 7; Key 7, Sparkes 7, Collins 7, Rowe 7 (Dieng 90); Brown 8, Jay 7 (Coley 68 7) Zanzala 7 (Phillips 80).
Subs not used: Brown, Caprice, Diabete, Amond. STEVENAGE: Pym 6; Cuthbert 6, Prosser 5, Vancoute 5; Barry 6, Coker 6, Taylor 5, Carter 5 (Read 46), Westbrooke 5 (Andrade 60); List 5 (Reid 70), Norris 6.
Subs not used: Walker, Lines, Upson, O’Neill. MAN OF THE MATCH: Sam Stubbs.
The defender was a rock at the back and netted two stunning headers.
REFEREE: Carl Boyeson 7.