Exeter City FC

Exeter City goalkeeper James Hamon said the Grecians can’t make any excuses for themselves after slipping to defeat at home to Forest Green Rovers.

Two second half goals from Mark Cooper’s side did the damage as City fell to a 2-1 defeat, and despite a great deal of travelling in the last week to Grimsby and Crawley, James admits City “weren’t at it” at St James Park.

Following the loss, James said: “It was disappointing to lose, I don’t think we were quite at it today like we have been recently. Having said that, Forest Green are a good team, they showed that with the quality of the two goals.

“We’ve done a lot of travelling in the last week or so, but we are good enough to play better than that even in those circumstances. It’s disappointing to lose but we have to go again next week.

“We’ve been very good at home this season, very full of energy and we lacked that half a yard today. The travel didn’t help, but having said that, everyone has to do it. We don’t want to make excuses because we are good enough to put that to one side and get the job done. Today was one of them days where it just didn’t work for us.”

James came into the starting XI following an injury to Christy Pym, and despite being disappointed with the result, he said it was good to be involved in league competition once again.

He continued: “It was difficult circumstances with Christy picking up a knock yesterday, hopefully it’s nothing to serious, but it gives me the chance to play games and hopefully perform to the best of my ability. I did okay today, considering I’ve not played a league game in about a year and a half, but it was nice to be back out there.”

The City keeper also believes that it is important not to get too down following the loss, considering the defeat was City’s first in 11 matches in all competitions.

“That stat in itself shows how good we are, especially at home,” explained James. “We’ve had a quick look at the results and I think they have gone more or less our way. We haven’t lost too much today, of course, it would have been nice to take the three points, but we go again on Saturday as we try and pick three points up at Tranmere.”

The match was also the first in front of the Stagecoach Adam Stansfield Stand in functioning order, and James admits it was good to see as the club continues it’s off the field progression.

He said: “It was good, I heard a little song from them in the first half which got a little cheer from the Big Bank, but I think the new development around the place has been exceptional. Matt (Taylor) said it earlier in the week, and it shows what this club can do, and it’s a step in the right direction for where the club wants to be.”