📝 Match Preview: Exeter City v Leyton Orient

All the details ahead of Saturday's match at St James Park.

14 September 2019

Exeter City return to St James Park in Sky Bet League Two as the Grecians look to continue their positive start to the season against Leyton Orient in a 3pm kick-off on Saturday.

The Grecians go into the match first in the league table and will be looking to maintain their good run, and they come up against an Orient side who come into the match following a home defeat to Swindon Town.

Ahead of the match, manager Matt Taylor said: “We’ve not played them for a couple of seasons. They’re a team that have been through a lot on the back of such success last season, and then losing their manager in such devastating circumstances. The character they’ve got is there for everyone to see, and they’ll have a spirit about them which will be second to none.”

THE CONTEXT

As stated above, the Grecians have been performing well of late, and their last match saw them pick up a deserved 3-1 win over Carlisle United away from home. Leyton Orient will begin the game in 17th place following their 3-1 home defeat to Swindon Town.

LEYTON ORIENT’S VIEW

Following Orient’s defeat to Swindon, interim-manager Ross Embleton said: "You can look at it in two different ways, we're not giving away too many chances, but when people get them they're taking them or we're allowing them chances that are too easy to score from so it's a concern."

LAST TIME WE MET

The sides last met back in January 2017 when the Grecians picked up an impressive 4-0 win at St James Park.

David Wheeler put City ahead after just four minutes on the clock before Ryan Harley netted twice in the second half. Liam McAlinden then netted the fourth of the evening when he finished well in the 82nd minute.

TICKET NEWS

Tickets are on sale at advance prices until 5pm in person and midnight online, on Friday, September 13 so you can save time and money, and pick your seat in advance.

Tickets are available online by visiting: tickets.ecfc.co.uk, by calling: 01392 411 243 or by visiting the club shop/reception at St James Park.

Junior Grecians tickets

Junior Grecians members get access to free match tickets when purchased alongside a paying adult. There are two family friendly areas available at St James Park, section E in the IP Office Main Stand and a section of the Thatchers Big Bank which is identified by the white barriers).

Click here to find out more.

MATCH SPONSORS

Our match sponsors for the match are RGB Building Supplies, and our ball sponsors will be West Country Milk. We would like to thank our sponsors for their continued support and wish them a pleasant day at St James Park.

Exeter City on social media

SATURDAY SOUNDS

Take a look at the playlist chosen by you, the supporters, on social media.

MATCH DAY PROGRAMME

Our award-winning match day programme returns this Saturday and as usual has a whole host of content for supporters of all ages. Inside we’ll have a feature interview with Aaron Martin, who discusses his good form of late, and we’ll also have our regular City and Me feature. Junior Grecians can take part in our quizzes and local journalists Matt Bamsey and Alan Richardson cast their eyes over the Grecians and the wider footballing world.

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 12pm and closes once supporters have left SJP, giving you the opportunity to make some purchases ahead of the match including the 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.

MATCH DAY ACTIVITIES

As ever, football at the Park isn't just about the 90 minutes on the pitch, we've got a whole host of opportunities and experiences to make your matchday extra special.

The Red Square Open

NEW for this match is FREE mini golf in Red Square thanks to Portable Putts. Come put your swing to the test!

First visit photo opportunity

Bringing anyone under-12 to their first match at SJP? We would love for them to be part of a 'first visit to SJP' pitch side photo opportunity.

If you would be interested in marking the occasion, and want to make the experience extra special, please get in touch by emailing: junior.grecians@ecfc.co.uk with their name and age so we can create a special 'first visit' certificate for them.

On a Saturday matchday, please head to the Junior Grecians Lounge in Red Square at 1:45pm, where you will be met by a member of staff and taken pitch side for a photo, certificate AND goody bag!

Please click here to view our 'First vist to SJP' guide

FREE Face Painting

The face painters are 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 Thatchers Big Bank, before finishing on the Stagecoach Adam Stansfield Stand.

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 2:25pm.

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 into 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 be trialling a bottle bar in the triangle kiosk, with Carlsberg plastic bottles available at half-time for just £3.50

Stadium Tours

Did you know that the Supporters' Trust offer FREE tours around St James Park?

The free guided tours are great for anyone who’d like to get a behind the scenes view, whilst finding out about the history of their club. The tours and are open to all; you don’t have to be a Trust member to come along.

Tours start at 11am on matchdays from Red Square and take in many parts of the ground that you wouldn’t otherwise get to see, including the boardroom, the brand new players’ changing rooms, match officials’ facilities and the security hub.

Lasting around 90 minutes, you will almost certainly learn something you didn’t know before, and maybe you’ll be able to tell us something from your experiences of coming to City that we didn’t know!

To book your place, please contact reception on: reception@ecfc.co.uk or call 01392 411 243, or email: andybratt1@gmail.com.

Matchday timetable

Take a look below to familiarise yourself with the key matchday timings here at St James Park.

Other Activities

Signed team sheets will be available for a donation.

You can also pick up some free player stickers, this week featuring Randell Williams, these are available from the Ambassadors, the Information Point and the Tombola Stand.

You can also take part in the Exeter City 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.

🎟 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 2 Leyton Orient 2

Nicky Law's late penalty ensures Grecians take a point at St James Park

14 September 2019

Nicky Law struck a late penalty to ensure Exeter City picked up a 2-2 draw at St James Park.

The Grecians went ahead late in the first half through Pierce Sweeney's first goal of the season, before Lee Angol quickly brought Orient level just before the break.

Louis Dennis then saw his shot deflect off Aaron Martin and up in the net just after the restart, but Law calmly converted late on to continue City's unbeaten start to the league campaign.

Matt Taylor made no changes to the side that beat Carlisle United 3-1 at Brunton Park, as City looked to continue their positive run.

The Grecians started with great intent and Randell Williams carved out an opening of his own as he cut inside from the right and curled an effort on goal, which was subsequently dealt with by Dean Brill.

With a quarter-of-an-hour played, City came close once more when Williams found space on the right flank and crossed towards the back-post, however Pierce Sweeney was unable to direct his header on target.

Ryan Bowman was the first to really test Brill five minutes later, as Aaron Martin flicked on into the area. The centre forward smashed a half-volley, from a similar position to his goal against Mansfield Town, but this time the Orient goalkeeper’s torso got in the way.

City were persistent in their pressure and they nearly had an opener through Law who swivelled and shot into the bottom right-hand corner expertly, only for referee Peter Wright to deem his first touch as handball.

Sweeney was in amongst the action again as he retrieved the ball from a corner-kick to cross with venom, the ball came off of an Orient player and glanced the top of the crossbar forcing the ball out of play.

Only seconds later however, Williams headed the ball back towards the on-rushing Sweeney who drilled a low half-volley past Brill to give City the lead.

Despite the Grecians’ superior dominance, the O’s equalised just before half-time as Dale Gorman miscued a long range effort only for the ball to fall into Lee Angol’s path to tap home.

After a promising start to the second-half by City it was Orient’s Louis Dennis who got the goal in the 53rd minute as he cut in from the left and fired past Lewis Ward with help from a Martin deflection.

The Grecians continued to push for a goal and an eventful goalmouth scramble almost led to one, but Dean Moxey, Bowman nor Sweeney, who were all involved, could force the ball into the back of the net.

Alex Fisher, who came onto the pitch for Lee Martin, was millimetres away from connecting with another wicked Sweeney cross, however the visitors managed to clear.

With seven minutes of added time revealed from the fourth official, a sense of a comeback fell over St James Park, and that comeback came seconds later as Ben Seymour was fouled inside the penalty area. Law was the man to step up and he smashed in an equaliser to earn the Grecians a well deserved point.

Exeter City: Ward (GK), Sweeney, A. Martin (Parkes 75’), L. Martin (Fisher 68’), Law, Williams, Bowman, Moxey, Sparkes, Taylor (C), Collins (Seymour 90’).

Unused subs: Maxted (GK), Woodman, Jay, Richardson.

Leyton Orient: Brill (GK), Ling, Widdowson, Gorman (Clay 70’), Ekpiteta, Coulson (C), Maguire-Drew (Alabi 83’), Dennis (Wilkinson 75’), Angol, Marsh, Wright.

Unused subs: Sargeant (GK), Judd, Harold, Otis.

Yellow cards: Ling, Wright, Coulson, Maguire-Drew, Marsh, Clay.

Attendance: 4,933 (438).

Standings