City v Port Vale

All you need to know about Saturday's match at St James Park

20 October 2017

Exeter City will be looking to pick up their sixth home win of the season when they host Port Vale on Saturday.

Vale are 22nd in the League Two table, but come into the match on good form having won two out of their last three matches under new boss Neil Aspin.

Therefore, City manager Paul Tisdale is expecting a tough match.

“I don’t know the manager at Port Vale but I do know that he has made a big difference and I know that he has probably done what I would have done.

“He has stiffened his team’s resolve and they have suddenly tightened up. I’m sure he has concentrated on basics and I think he has made some very shrewd decisions and given his team some very shrewd direction.

“And they have just won two games and they look like a really strong unit. I suppose over a length of time, the rest of the season, they’ll find a level but at the moment he has got a team that have been battered, I suppose, mentally for a couple of months with losses who have now pulled together and shown some real resolve.”

The IP Office Stand is sold out for the match against Port Vale, meaning that there are only standing tickets, in the Thatchers Big Bank available. Fans can purchase these tickets by calling 01392 411243 or by clicking on the following link. Tickets will then be available to collect on the day from the ticket booth in Red Square.

Standing tickets in the Thatchers Big Bank will still be available on matchday, but there is a £1 increase on the day so again we advise purchasing tickets in advance.

For more details on pricing visit the following link

Thank you to our match sponsor SWH Group, our ball sponsor RGB Building Supplies and our special sponsors the Gazzard Family and friends.

You can find out more about SWH Group by clicking on this link and RGB Building Supplies by clicking on this link.

We have an extensive range of sponsorship opportunities. For more information contact Jake Wood at Exeter City at jake.wood@ecfc.co.uk.

Redevelopment work: The away terrace and the Stagecoach Family Stand will not be open to supporters for Saturday's game due to redevelopment work at the club.

All entry for home fans will be via the Stadium Way turnstiles into the IP Office Main Stand or the Thatchers' Big Bank. There will be no entry possible from the Jungle Path/Well Street side to the Thatchers' Big Bank.

For more information read the following article

Lifelong Exeter City fan and drummer from the Hoosiers Alan Sharland is the feature interview in this Saturday's matchday programme. Al will be at the game against Port Vale and talks to the Grecian about his experiences being an Exeter City supporter and what the Hoosiers are up to at the moment.

Matt Taylor takes on the first, best and worst feature, while there are all the usual features and an in-depth look at our opponents Port Vale.

You can pick up a copy of the matchday programme in the club shop & reception and around the ground for just £3.

The Junior Grecians family zone will be open to its members from 12.30pm on Saturday and then to the general public, including away supporters, from 1.30pm. The zone has video consoles, large TV screens, a refreshments stall and table football.

For zone is located in Red Square. For more information on it read the following article.

Our mascots for today's game are the following: Aden Macdonald, Damien Bowyer and Grace Stephens.

We would also like to wish Daniel Parker a happy 17th birthday and Tali Knight a happy 12th birthday.

You can read the profiles of our matchday mascots and birthday guests in the matchday programme.

If you would like to be a matchday mascot at one of our games contact our operations manager Andy Gillard via email at andy.gillard@ecfc.co.uk.

If you would like your birthday mentioned in the matchday programme email simon.larkins@ecfc.co.uk.

The club shop will be open from 11am to 5pm on matchdays. The club shop is located in Red Square at the back of the IP Office Stand.

Match Reports

City 0 Port Vale 1

City narrowly beaten in League Two

21 October 2017

Exeter City were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Port Vale at St James Park in Sky Bet League Two.

Tom Pope's first-half goal gave Vale all three points, and despite City's best efforts to get back into the match, they were unable to find the net.

The Grecians made three changes to the side that were beaten by Luton Town in midweek, as Jordan-Moore-Taylor and Hiram Boateng returned from injury and Kyle Edwards also came into the team with Craig Woodman, Jordan Tillson and Lee Holmes all replaced.

The away side created the first opportunity of the match on five minutes as Ben Whitfield looked to test Christy Pym as the wind hurled around St James Park.

After Kyle Edwards was dispossessed in the City half, Whitfield went for goal and forced a smart save from the Grecians’ goalkeeper as he held onto the ball well after diving to his right.

Danny Pugh was the next Vale player to force a stop from Pym on 13 minutes when he found himself in space on the left-hand side.

But the midfielder could only direct his effort straight at the City keeper in front of the Big Bank.

Jayden Stockley had the Grecians’ first real chance of the match on 23 minutes when he rose above everyone to meet Dean Moxey’s corner, but he could only direct his glancing header the wrong side of the Kelle Roos’ post.

Seconds later, Port Vale made the breakthrough as they burst down the right well and David Worrall squared the ball to Tom Pope in space, who finished calmly past Pym to give the away side the advantage.

Vale looked to benefit from the wind at every opportunity in the first period, and just after the half-hour mark Whitfield unleashed a powerful free-kick from distance, again forcing Pym to make a brilliant save as he tipped over.

In a combative half, which saw both sides struggle for any consistent rhythm, chances became scarcer as the sides went into the break with Neil Aspin more than likely the happier of the two managers.

City began the second-half in better fashion as they increased the tempo in front of the home fans.

After Reid did well to get in down the right, he found Jake Taylor on the overlap who crossed towards Stockley, but the City number 11 couldn’t make a clean connection as Vale eventually cleared.

City had the ball in the net on 58 minutes, but for a foul in the build-up, as Troy Brown headed in a curling Moxey free-kick just before Stockley saw his close-range header edge just over Roos’ goal, after a good delivery from Edwards.

As Paul Tisdale’s side searched for a way back into the match, Jordan Moore-Taylor’s free-kick from just outside the Vale box went close, but the central defender’s effort fizzed just over.

City then created two good chances on 75 minutes as Stockley managed to wriggle some space in a crowded box and shoot, before the ball rebounded to James on the edge of the area, and his low effort on target was blocked bravely by the onrushing Vale defenders.

The Grecians continued to press forward, but that left them vulnerable to the counter-attack and substitute Cristian Montano had the chance to add another for the away side, but for a good stop from Pym.

For all their efforts, the Grecians weren't able to fashion that one clear opportunity as the away side frustrated them and held out for the narrow win.

Exeter City: Pym, Sweeney, James, Stockley, Moore-Taylor, Moxey (Jay, 87), Taylor, Edwards (McAlinden, 70), Reid (Sparkes, 87), Brown, Boateng

Subs not used: Hamon, Archibald-Henville, Jay, Wilson, Byrne, Sparkes

Bookings: Taylor, Moore-Taylor

Port Vale: Roos, Anderson, Kay, Harness (Barnett, 72), Pugh, Pope, Worrall, Gibbons, Smith, Whitfield (Montano, 56), Gunning

Subs not used: Boot, Davis, Reeves, Turner, Stobbs

Bookings: Worrall, Montano, Gibbons, Harness, Kay

Attendance: 4258 (Inc, 243, away)

Exeter City FC

Standings

City v Port Vale

City 0 Port Vale 1