📝 Big Match Preview: City v Grimsby Town

All you need to know ahead of the match at St James Park

28 December 2018

The festive schedule continues for Exeter City as they welcome Grimsby Town to St James Park in a 3pm kick-off.

The Grecians go into the match following three consecutive wins over Crewe Alexandra, Oldham Athletic and Yeovil Town, but take on an in-form Grimsby side who have steadily climbed up the Sky Bet League Two table.

Manager Matt Taylor admitted he may be forced to make some changes to his starting 11 due to the busy fixture schedule. Ahead of the match, he said: “We’ll assess it, I know the ones that are physically low.

“Going into this (the 2-1 win over Yeovil) game I took a bit of a risk by playing some of them. I can’t keep taking the risk because some will break down so there will be changes of personnel come Grimsby.

“They’ve had two games in quick succession as well so there’s no excuses going into it. As you saw with Chio (Chiedozie Ogbene), Tristan (Abrahams) and Tilly (Jordan Tillson) were all outstanding and did their jobs perfectly and they’ve got to do exactly the same again. I need everyone involved in the squad, we’ve still got players to come back from injury which we’re looking forward to, but that’s the future. The next two days are key and then going into Grimsby.”

LAST TIME WE MET

The sides last met back in October at Blundell Park in what was a 0-0 draw. Despite having a number of chances in the second half, as well as a penalty saved, the Grecians were unable to break the deadlock.

Grimsby’s last visit to St James Park saw City run out 2-0 winners towards the end of 2017 when goals from Jayden Stockley and Liam McAlinden did the damage to give City all three poin

TICKET NEWS

Online and mobile ticket sales for the match with Grimsby Town will be available until 3 hours before kick-off.

Please note that pay on the day will be available. Supporters can pay on the gate for the Thatchers' Big Bank and at the ticket booth in Red Square for both the IP Office Main Stand and Stagecoach Adam Stansfield stand.

Please note that pay on the day is available. Supporters can pay on the gate (cash) for the Thatchers' Big Bank and at the ticket booth in Red Square (cash and card) for both the IP Office Main Stand and Stagecoach Adam Stansfield stand.

Ticket prices are as follows:

LES THE FEZ RETURNS!

As well as the chance to get your face-painted from 2pm, Les the Fez will be performing tricks, balloon modelling and japers.

Starting at 1:15 in the Junior Grecians Family Zone, and then touring the Park! Let’s hope he gets another standing ovation in the RGB Legends Lounge!

FREE FACE PAINTING

The face painters have made a valuable addition to matchdays and judging by the sights around the ground it is just as popular with adults as well as youngsters.

Their normal route if you want to catch them is: Starting at the Tombola Stall they head through Red Square for the Centre Spot before heading back to the family Junior Grecian Family Zone. Leaving the zone for the stadium, they start with the IP Office Main Stand and Stagecoach Adam Stansfield Stand before finishing on the Thatchers Big Bank.

GUARD OF HONOUR

For this week's match the lucky under-12s will be selected from the Big Bank. If your child has not taken part but would like to, please email: customerservices@exetercityfc.co.uk

MATCH SPONSORS

Our match sponsors for the match with Grimsby are Dick Oliver Ltd, with Dream-A-Way our associate sponsors. T’s Barbering and La Fabrico are also ball sponsors for the match. We would like to welcome all of our sponsors to the match and wish them a pleasant day with us.

MATCH DAY PROGRAMME

The match day programme will be available for £3.00 at the stadium, and the latest edition features an in-depth interview with CITY Community Trust, the football club’s charity partner. CCT are Exeter’s leading health and wellbeing charity and in the feature you can hear from the charity’s health and wellbeing officer Peter Ferlie, as well as Labour MP Ben Bradshaw and councillor Philip Bialyk about the current condition of health and wellbeing in Exeter and the hard work that is being done to help people to live a healthier life. You can also read regular features from local journalist Matt Bamsey and City fan Tony Morris, not to mention our regular quiz pages return.

JUNIOR GRECIANS ZONE

The Junior Grecians family zone will be open to its members from 12.30pm on Saturday and at 1.30pm for everyone else, including away supporters.

The zone has video consoles, large TV screens, a refreshments stall and table football. It is located near the players' entrance at the IP Office Stand.

MASCOTS

You can read the mascot profiles in the match day programme which you can pick up in the stadium for £3.00 on the day.

For mascot booking or information, please contact andy.gillard@ecfc.co.uk

CLUB SHOP

The club shop will be open from 11am to give you the opportunity to make some purchases ahead of the match and will close at 5.30pm.

🎟 PLACE YOUR TRUST IN CITY 🎟

Season tickets for the 20/21 campaign are now on sale and play a huge part in enabling your club remains financially stable and well prepared

By purchasing a season ticket in the super saver period, you will not only make huge and the best savings on admission for the campaign, but enable the club to operate fully whilst we have a period of no matches and minimal income. Find out more by clicking here.

Match Reports

📝 City 1 Grimsby Town 2

The Grecians fall to defeat in final match of 2018.

29 December 2018

Exeter City fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to Grimsby Town in Sky Bet League Two.

The Grecians dominated much of the match with having no less than 30 shots, whilst Town defended bravely with key clearances off the line and some excellent saves from James McKeown.

Martyn Woolford got the game's first goal when he popped up at the back post to fire in after 14 minutes before the Grecians levelled through Jayden Stockley in the second half.

But just moments later, substitute Mitch Rose converted from the penalty spot after Ahkeem Rose had been brought down by Dara O'Shea.

Manager Matt Taylor made four changes to the side that started the 2-1 win over Yeovil Town on Boxing Day with Jordan Tillson, Tristan Abrahams and Chiedozie Ogbene all coming into the side alongside Alex Hartridge, who made his first start for the club.

The Grecians got off to a positive start with chances falling in the opening three minutes. After a corner was cleared to Jake Taylor, his shot was blocked into the path of Stockley and his effort was saved low by James McKeown who could only parry into his area, and the ball fell kindly for the City striker again, but McKeown saved well for the second time.

But it was the away side would find the net first, on 14 minutes, when a deep cross was first headed away by O’Shea, but Woolford was on hand to volley in at the far post to give Grimsby the advantage.

Despite falling behind against the run of play, the Grecians continued to push forward. They had the ball in the net through Jayden Stockley, but for the offside flag, and Tristan Abrahams saw his speculative effort edge just wide of goal.

The Grecians thought they’d levelled just after the half hour mark when Ogbene’s effort edged wide before Tristan Abrahams popped up to tap the ball home. After deliberation the officials then ruled that the striker was offside prior to tapping home.

City got closer to an equaliser again when an Archie Collins corner floated to the far post for Pierce Sweeney to volley well towards the top corner but for a goal line clearance from Alex Whitmore.

Abrahams was next to test McKeown as Dean Moxey’s cross was nodded on well by Stockley, but the on-loan striker’s header was clawed away from danger by the Town keeper as City went into the break behind.

The second half was just five minutes old when Grimsby were reduced to 10-men when Alex Whitmore slid in dangerously on Jake Taylor leaving referee Chris Sarginson with little option but to reach for the red card.

The Grecians continued to dominate possession and chances, and they had two good opportunities when the ball first fell to Sweeney, but his effort was well blocked for a corner. The resulting set piece found the head of Stockley, but he was unable to keep his header on target.

City final got their equaliser on 78 minutes when persistent play saw them cross from the left before Stockley guided his header into the far corner.

But they were level for just a couple of minutes as Grimsby were awarded a penalty after O’Shea brought down Ahkeem Rose, which Mitch Rose then converted.

It was almost 2-2 when Nicky Law crossed low for Sweeney to flick towards goal but for another remarkable save from McKeown who tipped it round the post.

More goal line clearances would follow from the away side in a crowded box when the ball found Taylor at the far post, but his powerful drive was blocked well.

Stockley would then hit the crossbar from close range on 90 minutes from Sweeney’s wicked delivery but the Grecians couldn’t find that all-important goal to take even a point from the game after a dominant display.

Exeter City: Pym, Sweeney, O’Shea, Tillson (Law, 53), Stockley, Abrahams (Forte, 64), Moxey, Ogbene, Taylor, Collins, Hartridge (L. Martin, 90+1)

Subs not used: Hamon, Woodman, A. Martin, Oates

Booked:

Grimsby Town: McKeown, Hall-Johnson, Hessenthaler (M. Rose, 80), Clifton, Woolford (Pollock, 52), Cardwell, Fox, Embleton, Whitmore, Hendrie, Thomas (A. Rose, 75)

Subs not used: Russell, Welsh, Buckley, Pringle

Booked: Woolford, Hendrie

Sent off: Alex Whitmore

Attendance: 4,956 (Inc, 253, away)

Ticket News

🎟 NEXT AT SJP: Grimsby Town on Saturday, December 29

Back the boys to a fourth straight league win...

27 December 2018

City will be looking to make it four straight league wins on the bounce this Saturday, December 29 as they take on Grimsby Town in a 3pm kick-off at St James Park.

Tickets are currently on sale at advance prices so, why not save money and time queuing by buying in advance!

You can book online via Mobile, tablet or desktop by visiting: tickets.ecfc.co.uk or by calling: 01392 411 243 or by visiting the club shop/reception at St James Park.

Matchday sales and collections for the new Stagecoach Adam Stansfield Stand will need to be made at the ticket booth in Red Square as the new stand ticket booth is still a work in progress. Supporters are encouraged to collect their tickets in advance from St James Park.

Ticket prices are as follows, advance tickets are available up to the day before the match.

Thatchers Big Bank		Ticket Prices
Ticket Type	Advance	Gate
Adult	£16	£17
Senior	£13	£14
Student	£13	£14
Under-18	£4.50	£5
Wheelchair Area	£13	£14

IP Office Main Stand/ Stagecoach Adam Stansfield Stand		Ticket Prices
Ticket Type	Advance	Gate
Adult	£22	£23
Senior	£19	£20
Student	£19	£20
Under-18	£9.50	£10
Wheelchair Area	£19	£20