Striker delighted with battling brace and a City victory
Exeter City striker Tom Nichols was understandably delighted at scoring a couple of goals in City’s 3-2 win away at Accrington Stanley.
The youngster had the Grecians two goals to the good within 11 minutes of kick-off – but what was just as noteworthy was his all-round forward play for the youngster throughout his 83 minutes on the field.
Nichols revealed that he relished the physical side of the game that saw him give a torrid afternoon to Stanley centre-halves Tom Aldred and Dean Winnard.
And he also felt that getting a win under the belt for the first time in a while was a huge fillip too.
“I’m delighted to score a couple of goals, but more important was to win,” said Nichols. “We hadn’t won for a little while off the back of a couple of draws. It was a good feeling, so hopefully we can get a run going.
“I knew I’d take [my chance] when I got it, so I was just patiently waiting for it. I think Tis was impressed with the other side of my game as well – I was holding the ball up as I was told, and as I need to do, so I’m just as pleased with that as scoring the goals.
“It’s good fun battling up there when you’ve got big centre-halves that are wondering what’s going on. I enjoy that just as much as scoring really.”
The first goal of Nichols’ quick-fire salvo came as a ball forward found him beyond the offside trap and he lifted the ball over Marcus Bettinelli. His second came through neat interplay as Alan Gow flicked a Liam Sercombe pass into his path.
“I saw Jordan [Moore Taylor] was going to get a free header so I ran forward, and the centre-halves didn’t read it quite as well,” explained Nichols of the opening goal.
“The goalkeeper came off his line so I thought it was going to go round him, but then he stopped so I thought ‘here’s my chance’ – I played a left-foot swinger, and in it goes!
“Gowser flicked it through for the second one, and the keeper showed me one side and gambled the other way – so I just passed it into the corner.”
The Grecians’ next outing comes against Chesterfield next Friday at St James Park, and Nichols is in positive spirits that the Grecians will be able to earn back-to-back wins.
“We’re on a good little run and we’re all confident,” said Nichols. “There’s a good atmosphere in the camp again which is very important.
“Now we’re three unbeaten, and suddenly it looks a lot better than it did a few games ago. Chesterfield are doing well in the league, but on our day we can beat anyone in this league so we don’t fear anyone at all.”
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