Cast your vote for the best effort for the 2014/15 season
The voting is now open for the 2014/15 Exeter City Goal of the Season – get your votes in quickly! Just click here to head to the voting page where you can watch the clips and select your favourite, or you can watch the videos below as well.The goal which is selected as the pick of the bunch will be rightly rewarded at the ‘Casino Royale’ End of Season Ball on Sunday 3rd May, which takes place at the Grand Marquee at St James Park.
As usual, the End of Season Ball incorporates the End of Season Awards, where we recognise achievement both on and off the pitch. It is always a terrific evening and a ticket includes a four-course meal and loads of other entertainment (including music from The Loose Cannons), so for more information about how to attend, just click here.
Here are the ten goals that have been shortlisted:
1. Matt Grimes v Mansfield Town
Less than 24 hours after making his debut for England Under-20s, midfielder Matt Grimes came off the bench for the Grecians against the Stags with the home side trailing by two. And the Young Lion halved the deficit with this free-kick from the most acute of angles to give the home fans hope.
2. Graham Cummins v Cambridge United
The Grecians were a goal down at Cambridge United, and facing the prospect of an eighth game without a win to start the campaign. But a burst of quick passes – from Matt Oakley, to Matt Grimes, to Alex Nicholls, to Graham Cummins – saw the City striker take a touch and smash in to begin a fightback and help them to what would become their first win of 2014/15.
3. Arron Davies v Dagenham & Redbridge
Having trailed at Victoria Road, the Grecians had got back on terms late on through a Jimmy Keohane penalty. But in the dying throes of the game, Christian Ribeiro delivered a cross for Arron Davies to head in a goal ‘made in Wales’, completing the turnaround with virtually the last action of the game.
4. Graham Cummins v Newport County AFC
Already a goal to the good, Exeter broke quickly from back to front at Rodney Parade – Christy Pym’s ball downfield was chested into Matt Grimes’ path by Liam Sercombe, before releasing Graham Cummins on the left – the striker cut in to square up his man and bend a terrific strike into the far corner.
5. Tom Nichols v Shrewsbury Town
Two goals down to a rampant league-leading Shrewsbury Town side at half-time, City’s prospects were looking bleak. But Tom Nichols and David Wheeler had Exeter back level after the interval, before the most composed of headers by Nichols beat Jayson Leutwiler and gave the Grecians the three points in stoppage time.
6. Liam Sercombe v Accrington Stanley
On a Friday night which saw five terrific goals in Accrington, it all started shortly before the break with a neat team move. Craig Woodman and David Noble combined down the left before the full-back delivered a cross, which was hammered in by Liam Sercombe on the half-volley for his first goal of the campaign.
7. Matt Grimes v Accrington Stanley
Matt Grimes’ fourth goal from a free-kick of his Exeter City career was arguably his best. After Accrington had cut a two-goal deficit in half, the Grecians came under a bit of pressure – but then the midfielder struck with power and accuracy from the best part of 30 yards with a superb hit.
8. Arron Davies v Oxford United
Playing against the wind in difficult conditions at the Kassam Stadium, the Grecians looked likely to go in behind at the break. But Graham Cummins challenged to try and get a head on a quick free-kick by Craig Woodman, and Arron Davies caught a sweet strike as the ball dropped down to level the scores.
9. Tom Nichols v Cheltenham Town
On a pitch that wasn’t designed for slick passing play, City went route-one to open the scoring against Cheltenham – a big ball forward by Christy Pym was nodded on by David Wheeler, before Tom Nichols applied a deft finish to help the Grecians towards their first ever win at Whaddon Road.
10. Ryan Harley v Luton Town
Despite a good first period at Kenilworth Road, Exeter trailed Luton by two at the break. But a David Platt-esque volley by Ryan Harley – hitting as the ball dropped over his shoulder – began a comeback which would be completed deep into stoppage-time through David Wheeler as Exeter triumphed 3-2.