📝 Match Preview: Cheltenham Town

All you need to know about Saturday's match

15 September 2023

Exeter City return to action at the Park this Saturday to take on Cheltenham Town in a 3pm kick-off in EFL Sky Bet League One.

The Grecians will be looking to bounce back from last Saturday's late defeat to Leyton Orient and to build on what has been a strong start to the season.

Visitors Cheltenham Town come into the match having found life tough so far this season and sit bottom of the League having picked up a point against Portsmouth.

Gary Caldwell's thoughts

Gary Caldwell has given an update as City prepare to take on Cheltenham Town at St James Park on Saturday afternoon.

Following defeat to Leyton Orient last weekend with a depleted squad, Caldwell is hopeful that the injury crisis is close to improving.

"There has been some disappointments, Ilmari the biggest after getting injured on international duty, but James Scott will be back in full training today. Harry Kite and Cheick Diabate will be a part of training. Admiral and Vinny will be in race to be ready before the weekend, plus we have the longer term ones in the weeks to come," Gary said.

"By next weekend we should have a few more back. Unfortunately Ilmari has dislocated his shoulder with Finland, and we're looking at six weeks," he added.

Caldwell expects a tough test against Cheltenham and despite our opponents sitting bottom of the table, he believes they are in a false position.

"They are a very organised team. They punish you, as we saw last season. They are strong defensively and have a good structure that is hard to break down. They will counter if you give them opportunity.

"Even though they are down the bottom of the league, we will not be taking them lightly."

Hear more from Gary ⬇️

Match Tickets

With both of City's home league matches being sell outs in the home areas so far this season it's worth booking early to gain admission!

As of Wednesday, September 13 there are the following tickets available:

1200 Thatchers Cider Big Bank
160 Seats in Block A of the Optimising IT Adam Stansfield Stand
80 Seats in Block L of the Nevada Construction Main Stand

Admission prices

Big Bank			Nevada Construction/Optimising IT
Ticket Type	Advance	Gate	Ticket Type	Advance	Gate
Adult	£20	£22	Adult	£27	£28
Senior	£17	£19	Senior	£24	£25
Young Adult 18-23	£17	£19	Young Adult 18-23	£24	£25
Under-18	£8	£10	Under-18	£13	£14
Wheelchair Area	£17	£19	Wheelchair Area	£24	£25
Junior Grecians		---	Junior Grecians		---

The Kit

City will be back in their traditional home kit for this match.

How to follow

If you can't join us at SJP, you can follow all the action on iFollow. Listen LIVE in the UK for £2.50 and watch live overseas for just £10! Click here to grab a pass.

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We will also be proving live coverage on our Twitter and Facebook pages and will have reaction from Gary Caldwell and a player after the match!

Exeter City on social media

Key Timings

Check out the key timings for Saturday's match. The players start to arrive from 12:30pm so come along and grab a selfie or autograph!

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Matchday Family Fun

Going to the football with your family is the perfect way to make memories you treasure, and at St James Park there is plenty on offer pre-match to keep the whole family entertained, and ensure a special day out.

For full details of all the activities happening at SJP on Saturday, click here.

Sticker book reduced!

The official Exeter City Sticker Album is just £2 this weekend, so no better time to grab a copy from the club shop!

Collect 184 different stickers, ranging from current and past players, club legends, magic moments and more! Buy from the club shop from Saturday. The album includes the first eight stickers!

Each matchday league programme this season will have 8 stickers to collect to fill your book!

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Centre Spot Bar

The Centre Spot Bar will be open from 11am and will be showing the early and late kick-offs.

After the match, we will be showing Newcastle United vs Brentford, with draft pints of Tribute, Carlsberg and Thatchers are on offer for just £3.75 a pint.

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The Centre Spot is also home to The Famous Exeter City Real Ale and Cider Emporium, offering a great selection of real ales and ciders.

Junior Grecians Zone

The Junior Grecians Zone is open from 12:30pm to members and 1:30pm to everyone, with plenty of activities for all our young Grecian supporters.

In the Fan Zone, the bar and Kenniford Farm's van will also be open for refreshments and hot food.

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Club Shop

The club shop is open all day on matchdays and is stocked with all three of City's kits for the 22/24 season as well as a range of training gear and pocket money items.

Don't forget, Supporters' Trust members, Junior Grecians and season ticket holders save 10% on full prices purchases!

Jungle Path Kiosk

The kiosk on the Jungle Path will be selling pints of Thatchers Big Apple, cans of Thatchers Gold and bottle of Carlsberg, as well as all the usual half time snacks including pies, pasties and beverages.

Food and Drink

One of the most important part of any match day! We have a wide range of hot and cold drinks and snacks available at the kiosk for away fans. CONTACTLESS CARD PAYMENT NOW AVAILABLE!

Kiosk Menu

Kenniford Farm will also be in the Fan Zone with their wide range of local produce including hog roast rolls and chips.

Match Day Programme

The matchday programme the Grecian has a new look for this season, with designers Curtis Sports giving it a refresh!

Saturday's issue is just £3:50 including a set of eight stickers for the new sticker book!

Previous Encounter

Cheltenham Town 3 Exeter City 1 (18 March 2023) EFL League One

Two goals in five second half minutes from the home side cancelled out Josh Key's 70th minute equaliser as City were unable to continue their good run of form.

Match Reports

📝 Match Report: City 1 Cheltenham Town 0

16 September 2023

Caleb Watts completed a perfect debut as his second half goal secured City another three points to send them top of Sky Bet League One.

After a goalless first half but one of many chances, the breakthrough came from the second half substitute, less than 24 hours after signing for the club.

Manager Gary Caldwell made two changes from last weeks defeat against Leyton Orient last Saturday, with the return of Vil Sinisalo from international duty and new signing Yanic Wildschut coming into the side. Watts joins the bench and Ilmari Niskanen misses out after returning from international duty with an injury.

The first 15 minutes saw the Grecians with most of the possession and our first chance coming in the seventh minute with Wildschut receiving the ball on the left side before sending it low into the box for Reece Cole to strike into Southwood’s hands.

The Grecians' defence was on top form throughout the first half with Cheltenham struggling to find their way into the final third. City found it hard to get the ball in the back of the net with multiple shots from Zak Jules and Reece Cole heading straight into the palm of the keeper’s hands

20 minutes in saw referee Martin Woods go into his book for the first time as he resulted in handing a yellow card to Cheltenham’s full-back Ben Williams on a harsh tackle on Demetri Mitchell just on half way.

It was the Grecians who continued to press against the visitors defence with shots flying towards Southwood as both Ryan Trevitt and Cole both testing the keeper from far causing some trouble towards Cheltenhams back line.

Jules was showing some great talent in his converted role in midfield having some great passing moves with Tom Carroll who was able to switch the play on numerous occasions to Wildschut and Mitchell.

Overall a positive first half for City as they were on top for most of the half which caused some serious problems for Cheltenham.

With the commencement of the second half City came out like they finished the first and continued to press the Robins back line and a early chance came in the 50^th minute as he dribbled his way past multiple players and was able to take fire just on the 18 yard box which unfortunately ending up in the keepers hands once again.

There was a fantastic double save by Vil as Cheltenham made a huge counter attack via Elliot Bonds who knocked it wide to Jovan Malcom and came one on one with Vil who did superb to put pressure on the striker and make a double save and parry it away. It was Sinisalo's action of an otherwise quiet match for the Finn.

Caldwell felt the need to change it up in the 58^th minute and try become more attacking to get the opening goal, another debutant in Watts took to the pitch in place of Wildschut and Kyle Taylor came on for Jules.

City should have taken the lead, but for a save from Southwood and the woodwork, with Sonny Cox, Trevitt and Mitchell all involved as the ball simply would not go in.

Perseverance paid off though just a few minutes later as Watts, on his debut by finding a loose ball on the edge of the six yard box where he strunk a wonderful half volley to send the Grecians into the lead they deserved.

After the goal Cox was replaced with James Scott on his return from injury, and he should have doubled the lead within minutes.

He stretched onto a Reece Cole cross and tapped the ball into the back of the net to increase the scoring until the linesman’s flag went up during the celebrations to rule the goal offside.

A crucial save by Vil in the 93^rd minute secured the victory and clean sheet for the Grecians and receive maxium points at SJP.

Exeter City: Sinisalo (GK), Mitchell, Sweeney, Aimson ( C ), Hartridge, Jules (Taylor 58’), Carroll, Trevitt, Cole (Borges 89’), Wildschut (Watts 58’), Cox ( Scott 69’)

Subs: Woods, Fitzwater, Borges, Watts, Richards, Taylor, Scott

Cheltenham Town: Southwood (GK), Long ( C ), B. Williams, Bevan, Freestone, Sercombe, Street, Ferry, Chapman, J. Williams (Bonds 45’), Malcolm

Subs: Harris (GK), Keena, Olayinka, Bonds, Peupion, Davies, Butler-Oyedeji

Referee: Martin Woods

Attendance: 6312 (322 away)

Ticket News

🎟️ Tickets: Reading (19/9/23)

Join us at the Park!

18 September 2023

The Grecians are back in action this Tuesday night to take on Reading in the EFL Trophy group stage.

The match, a 7pm kick-off at St James Park is City's first group game of the competition.

Tickets for the match will be priced as follows:

Nevada Construction Main Stand

Adults: £10
Seniors/18-23s: £7
Under-18s: £5

Thatchers Cider Big Bank

Adults: £8
Seniors/18-23s: £5
Under-18: £3

Tickets are now sale via your online ticketing account, or from the club shop during opening hours. You can also purchase on the night for this fixture via the ticket booth in the fan zone.