📝 Match Preview: Cambridge United (FA Cup)

All you need to know ahead of Tuesday night's Emirates FA Cup replay

19 November 2019

Exeter City are back in Emirates FA Cup action on Tuesday night as they take on Cambridge United in a first round replay at St James Park.

The winners of the match will go on to face Hartlepool United at home in the second round, which is scheduled to be played Sunday, December 1.

Ahead of the match though Aaron Martin said they were only focused on Cambridge United and banishing the memories of a last second goal they conceded at the Abbey Stadium to force this replay.

"We can't wait," he said. "I felt we were really unlucky last game, to concede in the last few second of the game, but we are all looking forward to it and getting out there and hopefully getting into the next round.

"There is no point think about the next round though when we have got a game in front of us. As long as we stick to what we know and play like we know we can hopefully we will be in that next round."

Watch Aaron's full pre-game interview below 👇

THE CONTEXT

A last-minute goal from Sam Smith denied Exeter a victory at The Abbey in the first round of the FA Cup away at Cambridge United on November 9.

Alex Fisher had given the Grecians the lead as Matt Jay drove down the left wing, and though his initial cross was cut out, Cambridge couldn’t clear and Alex Fisher profited, picking the ball up and firing into the left-hand corner for his first City goal.

Just as it looked like City were home safe, Sam Smith fired a low shot through Jonny Maxted to equalise in the last minute of the game to take the fixture to a replay.

TICKET NEWS

Ticket prices have been reduced across all stands, with no advance discounts.

Ticket prices are as follows:

IP Office Main Stand/Stagecoach Adam Stansfield Stand:

Adult: £20
Senior/Student/Wheelchair: £15
Under-18: £5

Thatchers' Big Bank:

Adult: £15
Senior/Student/Wheelchair: £10
Under-18: £5

How to buy:

Please Click here to buy online.

You can also call the club during the normal office hours on 01392 411243 or visit the club shop and reception in person between 9am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

MATCH DAY COVERAGE

As usual, we’ll have the match covered across our social media channels and we’ll have a post-match interview with manager Matt Taylor and a player as they reflect on the result.

You can also tune into BBC Radio Devon to listen to commentary as well.

There will be short highlights and the SJP 360 recap of the match.

Exeter City on social media

MATCH SPONSORS

Our match sponsors are Heavitree Brewery, and match ball sponsors are SWBS

We would like to thank our sponsors for their continued support and wish them a pleasant day at St James Park.

MATCH DAY PROGRAMME

A reduced sized programme, priced at just £1.50 is available for Tuesday night which takes a look at the opposition and has the usual has a whole host of content for supporters of all ages.

Junior Grecians can take part in our quizzes and fun pages!

CLUB SHOP

The club shop will be open from 9am and closes once supporters have left SJP, giving you the opportunity to make some purchases ahead of the match including the popular new third kit! There is a great range for all City supporters including training wear, mugs, scarves and a selection of pocked money items for kids!

Matchday Activities

You can take part in the Exeter City Academy tombola where the first prize is a signed Exeter City football. All funds raised go directly to the academy to support the future of the club. There is one remaining opportunities to pull out number 25 (Jake Taylor!) and win a signed match ball.

Signed team sheets will be available for a donation.

Red Square Fan Zone: There will be Giant Jenga. Steve Dart will be looking for an Exeter City and Cambridge United supporter to announce the teams at 6:50pm.

You can also pick up some free Enjoy the Match player stickers, from the Ambassadors, the Information Point and the Tombola Stand. This week is one of our own, Archie Collins.

Join the Guard of Honour

Want to be on the pitch as the players enter SJP? Then be part of the flag waving, Guard of Honour! This Saturday lucky children will be chosen from the Stagecoach Adam Stansfield Stand at 7:10pm.

After assembling, the Guard of Honour (and parents) move to the far side of ground to get some practice in waving their flags, which also presents an opportunity for Grecian to pose for photographs.

When the players finish their warm up the Guard of Honour go on their 'lap of honour' in front of the stands to the players’ tunnel. After they have been on the field and welcomed the teams and officials onto the pitch they receive their “gift” (normally a packet of sweets) and certificates of participation.

If your son, daughter or grandchild has not been involved in the Guard of Honour, please email customerservices@exetercityfc.co.uk.

Junior Grecians Lounge

The Junior Grecians are the Official Junior Supporters Club of Exeter City FC.

The room provides a safe comfortable environment for families to enjoy pre-match entertainment, such as a large screen TVs, Playstation consoles and Table Football, as well as the option to enjoy refreshments from the Zone’s very own kiosk.

A feature wall displaying a packed Big Bank also provides a photo-sharing opportunity using the #jgzone hashtag. There are activities and competitions to suit all junior age groups, from FIFA19 and Table Football tournaments to free Activity Packs for younger children.

The Zone also features a VIP party area and there are several party packages available to book throughout the season.

So, if you are visiting St James Park on a matchday with children, be sure to pop in to the family zone!

New for this season, is the Family Zone 2 in the Stagecoach Adam Stansfield Stand, the astroturfed area includes a photo wall opportunity, table football, and beanbags where children can gather to play games and relax before kick-off.

BOTTLE BAR

On the Big Bank on Saturday?

We will again have the bottle bar in the triangle kiosk, with Carlsberg plastic bottles available at half-time for just £3.50

Post-match Pint

Make sure you visit the Centre Spot bar after the match, where pints of Thatchers, Carlesberg and Tribute and selected Ales at the FECRACE bar are just £3.

🎟 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

📝 Match report: Exeter City 1 Cambridge United 0

Alex Fisher nets winner as City book place in FA Cup second round with victory over Cambridge

19 November 2019

Another FA Cup goal against Cambridge United for Alex Fisher proved to be the winner this time as Exeter City progressed to the Second Round with a 1-0 win at St James Park on Tuesday night.

Grecians manager Matt Taylor made three changes from Saturday afternoon’s draw with Cheltenham, with Lee Martin, Nicky Law and Craig Woodman replacing Jack Sparkes, Nigel Atangana and Ryan Bowman.

City nearly took the lead within two minutes, as Archie Collins’ cross from deep evaded Alex Fisher to take U’s goalkeeper Callum Burton by surprise, but the ball rolled narrowly wide of his left-hand post.

It was an entertaining opening 25 minutes, albeit one that resulted in few chances, with the game predominantly fought in the midfield and little of note in either side’s offensive third. Nicky Law had a shot blocked from just outside the penalty area with 25 minutes on the clock, before Fisher’s flick nearly released Lee Martin through on goal, but the latter’s touch was wayward, and Cambridge dealt with the pressure.

Law’s cross then wreaked havoc in the Cambridge penalty area soon after, and Fisher was unlucky to have mis-timed his run as the visitors were able to clear in the only other opening of note for either side in the opening period.

Into the second period, and City looked to break immediately through Nicky Law, but his pass was cut out in the most clear-cut chance City created up to that point.

A brilliant free-kick from Randell Williams with 55 minutes played was flicked on into a dangerous position by the Cambridge defence, but nobody from either side was there to convert it goalwards and Cambridge only conceded a corner, from which Aaron Martin headed wide.

After regaining possession, Lee Martin fired a shot in from distance that Burton held onto relatively easily, but it was City’s best phase of the game.

Just after the hour mark, Law again was involved after a fortunate deflection off a Cambridge defender, though the shot that followed his run flew harmlessly over of Burton’s goal.

A couple of minutes later, Lee Martin did well to create a yard of space down the City left, and his cross found Williams, but the City man mis-hit the volley and it didn’t trouble Burton. The winger nearly made up for it in spectacular fashion with a free-kick after 65 minutes, though Burton tipped it over.

But City were, after 70 long minutes, not to be denied – substitute Ben Seymour refused to give up on a lost cause down the right wing, and beat his man to the ball before delivering a superb cross that Fisher met sweetly to give City the lead. It was no less than the striker deserved for his industrious showing leading from the front.

Going a goal down spurred the visitors into life; after a short period of pressure the loose ball fell for Liam O’Neil just outside the area, and his effort rolled wide. But City responded in kind, and with five minutes left the academy graduates nearly combined to great effect – Jack Sparkes broke down the left wing and delivered a superb low cross in towards Ben Seymour, who dived in to meet the ball and, though flagged for offside, was only a matter of inches from completing a sublime move.

But the Grecians survived, and saw out the rest of the game with a clean sheet to emerge 1-0 winners in the replay, which sees us progress to the Second Round with a tie against Hartlepool at St James Park.

Attendance: 2,719 (88 away)

Exeter City: Maxted, Sweeney, Woodman (Sparkes 63), A Martin, L Martin (Seymour 64), Law (Atangana 80), Williams, Jay, Fisher, Moxey ©, Collins.

Subs not used: Visser, Bowman, Parkes, Richardson.

Booked: A Martin

Cambridge United: Burton, Knoyle, Taylor © (Dallas 76), O’Neil, Maris, Dunk, Darling, Smith, Knibbs (Jones 82), Roles, Ward.

Subs not used: Mitov, Jones, Taft, Dearman, Simper, Dickens.

Standings