📝 Big Match Preview: City v Bristol Rovers

All you need to know ahead of tomorrow night's clash with Bristol Rovers

13 November 2018

Exeter City round off their Checkatrade Trophy group matches as they welcome Bristol Rovers to St James Park in a 7.45pm kick-off.

Both sides have already sealed qualification into the knockout stages of the competition having beaten Yeovil Town and West Ham United’s under-21 side to the top two positions.

All that is left to decide is which team will take top spot and therefore confirm themselves a home tie in the next round.

Here's how the table currently looks

Ahead of the match City defender Jimmy Oates said: "There's probably going to be a few changes because of injuries, but everyone is keen to get out there, show what they can do and get back to winning ways.

"Getting the home advantage will be massive, and you never know who you're going to draw. We're keen to get that home draw."

LAST TIME WE MET

The sides last met in a competitive fixture back in April 2016 as the Grecians fell to a 3-1 defeat at the Memorial Stadium.

But the sides did also meet in a pre-season friendly ahead of this season when the Grecians ran out 4-0 winners away from home, with goals from Jonathan Forte, Dean Moxey, Hiram Boateng and Troy Brown.

The Grecians ran out 4-0 winners in a pre-season friendly back in July

TICKET NEWS

Ticket prices have been slashed for the match and represent great value. Only the Thatchers' Big Bank and IP Office Main Stand will be in use for the match.

To purchase tickets online, please click here. You can also call the club during the normal office hours on 01392 411 243 (option 3) or visit the club shop and reception in person between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.

Admission prices are as follows:

Thatchers Big Bank

Adult: £10
Over 64/student: £8
Under-18: £3
Designated area: £8
IP Office Main Stand

Adult: £12
Over 64/Student: £10
Under-18: £4
Designated area: £10

MATCH DAY PROGRAMME

In a reduced page copy of The Grecian you can get the lowdown on Rovers’ key men as well as the ones to watch from a City perspective. You can also remind yourself of how the Grecians fared in against West Ham United’s under-21s.

CLUB SHOP

The club shop will be open from 8:30am on the day of the game and will shut after kick-off.

The club shop will close after kick-off at St James Park

JUNIOR GRECIANS FAMILY ZONE

The Junior Grecians family zone will be open to its members from 5.45pm and then to the general public, including away fans, from 6.45pm. The zone has video consoles, large TV screens, a refreshments stall and table football.

Visit the Junior Grecian zone ahead of the match

🎟 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 2 Bristol Rovers 0

Joel Randall scores first senior goal for Grecians as they top Checkatrade.com Trophy group

13 November 2018

Joel Randall scored his first senior goal for Exeter City as they beat Bristol Rovers 2-0 to top their Checkatrade.com Trophy group.

The Grecians went into the final game of the group knowing they had already qualified for the knockout stages, but also that only a win against Bristol Rovers in 90 minutes would be good enough to top the table.

And they rose to the challenge as Jonathan Forte flicked home Chiedozie Ogbene's low cross shortly into the second half before Randall added his strike eight minutes' from time.

Both teams named youthful sides for the game, with City boss Matt Taylor calling Will Dean and Archie Collins into the starting XI and Randall, Harry Kite, Josh Key, James Dodd, Jordan Dyer and Joel Belsten onto the bench.

It was Rovers who started the match the brighter of the two teams, but City remained compact and resolute in defence before creating the better chances during an even first half. Dara O'Shea was first to go close as he glanced an Archie Collins free-kick towards goal but Bristol Rovers' keeper Adam Smith made a smart stop before Tristan Abrahams' follow up effort was blocked.

The second big chance for City came shortly after as Jimmy Oates sent a cross to the back post, but Collins' header was inches wide.

However, it took until the second half before City really started to dominate possession and territory as they managed to get the returning Ogbene, and their other attacking players, on the ball further up the pitch.

It was from an Ogbene cross that City took the lead as he latched onto a loose ball down the right and fizzed a ball into the near post where Forte expertly flicked a shot past Smith and into the far corner.

Abrahams then went close to doubling the score on two occasions but his first effort was a volley that was narrowly off target and then he fired a powerful shot into the side netting following a good pass from Matt Jay.

Jay, playing in midfield, was instrumental in a lot of City's good work and it was the academy product - who made his debut for City in the competition five years ago against Wycombe Wanderers - who set up one of the current crop of youngsters trying to break into the first team for the goal that finally settled the tie.

Randall initiated the move as he passed into Jay, but then he carried on superbly and hit a powerful shot past Smith for a moment to savour.

Exeter City: James Hamon, Dara O'Shea, Aaron Martin, Jonathan Forte (Joel Randall, 70), Matt Jay, Jimmy Oates, Tristan Abrahams, Luke Croll (Harry Kite, 65), Chiedozie Ogbene (Josh Key, 60), Archie Collins, Will Dean. Subs not used: Felix Norman, James Dodd, Jordan Dyer, Joe Belsten

Booked: Tristan Abrahams

Rovers: Adam Smith, Joe Partington, Michael Kelly (Tareiq Holmes-Dennis, 60), Joe Martin, Rollin Menayese, Connor Jones (Theo Widdrington, 60), Luke Russe, Sam Matthews, Zain Walker ( Cameron Hargreaves, 52), Alex Jakubiak, Gavin Reilly. Subs not used: Andre Alexis-Jr, Ben Morgan, Deon Moore, Harry Warwick.

Booked: Rollin Menayese

Attendance: 874 (149, away)

Exeter City FC

Standings