Grecians striker overwhelmed at debut winner
EXETER CITY match-winner Will Hoskins was ecstatic to get the winning goal on his Grecians debut against Yeovil Town.The striker was a 73rd-minute substitute for Alex Nicholls in the season-opener on Saturday afternoon, and earned the Grecians all three points when he converted Matt Oakley's pass five minutes from time.
"I couldn't have asked for anything better, and it's been a long time in coming," Will said. "It's what I love doing, and the reason I do it is to have that feeling of getting those goals again. I didn't think I'd be feeling that for some time while I was in the midst of my rehab.
"I thought I'd put too much on it loft-wise, or that the defender might have got round to clear it off the line, but fortunately I just watched it drop into the net. It was a relief, after everything that has gone on; to get the winner was just the icing on the cake."
Much like team-mate David Wheeler in scoring City's second goal of the day, Will did take a bump in finding the net, but he conceded that the euphoria of netting the winner far outweighed any other emotion.
"I was fine!" he insisted. "The goal obviously gave me a bit of immunity to it, though it was nothing like the clattering David Wheeler took for his goal! I'm fine - it was a tough task for me, and I still have a lot of fitness to catch up on. The boys were magnificent, and looked fit and strong.
"Beforehand, I didn't even know whether I was going to make the bench - the Gaffer has a whole team in mind, and not just myself, but it was nice to make that bench and then come on and make an impact.
"It was a fantastic ball [from Matt Oakley], and it made my mind up with regards to the finish I needed to make. I saw the keeper coming out, and I knew that I had to finish quickly in order to get it over him. I guess the natural instinct that has got me to where I am today just took over, and thankfully, I got it right.
"It's been a tough time for me, not just with football, but in my personal life as well, so I must thank everyone who has been there for me. I'd like to dedicate that goal to my late Aunty Val; it was just perfect.
"I don't want to categorically say that from here on I'll be injury-free, but I'm working hard with the physio team, doing the right things at the right time and living right. I'm doing all I can to make sure I can get out there on that pitch.
"Ask any player; it's always hard coming off the bench. You don't have the time to adjust yourself, you just have to go straight into it. You have to use a little bit of experience - there were a few touches from me which were tired ones that maybe should have been better, but today I think the goal overshadowed that. I was probably as blown as the other lads were who played the full ninety, but in trying to get ready to do a full ninety minutes, coming on like I did is only going to help."