Exeter City FC

Striker Ryan Bowman says he is very appreciative of the support he has had from the Exeter City fans having netted his fifth goal in as many games.

Ryan, who joined the Grecians from Motherwell in January, had to wait until April 9 for his first goal as he saw a number of good efforts save and another rattled the crossbar at Newport County.  

However, during that time he received lots of messages of support from fans thanking him for his performances which were always full of energy up front.  

“The fans have been brilliant with me,” he said. “I had been getting messages saying ‘the goal will come, you have been working hard’ and that means a lot. So for me to get goals and give them something back, it is a great feeling and, hopefully, it carries on.” 

The goal on Saturday against Oldham came from a Lee Martin cross, which saw Randell Williams have a good header saved for Ryan then to follow up and score. Ryan praised the ability of his teammate Lee Martin to deliver such a good cross into the box as he did for him against Macclesfield for his first goal.  

He (Lee Martin) does that week in, week out,” said Ryan. “He likes to get the ball at his feet and take players on and deliver fantastic balls like he did for me at Macclesfield. He did the same again against Oldham and Randell (Williams) is unlucky that their keeper has made a great save and then I was there to put it away.” 

The win kept City firmly in the play-off places in Sky Bet League Two with one game to go. However, Newport County can overtake City as they have a game in hand and sit two points behind the Grecians.  

“As soon as we went in the boys were on their phones to check the scores and we knew Newport had beaten Lincoln, which was a bit of a downer, but they have still got their game in hand on Tuesday, so we need Oldham to do us a favour,” said Ryan. “However, we have just got to concentrate on us. We have got Forest Green and we have just got to try and get the three points there and see where it takes us.”