Exeter City made it a second 0-0 draw in a row as they were held back by Kevin Nolan's Northampton Town at SJP.
City came into the game off the back of a 0-0 draw in the midlands against Mansfield Town, a result that pleased Gary Caldwell after he looked for his team to respond sharply to a 4-0 home defeat a week prior at the hands of Rotherham United. Northampton Town arrived in Devon in high spirits following a home victory to Stevenage the weekend before, and a win in London against AFC Wimbledon in the quarter-final of the Vertu Trophy.
Caldwell was forced to name a single change in his starting 11, with Ed Turns rejoining the lineup as Jack Fitzwater was ruled out for a couple of weeks through an injury sustained at the One Call Stadium. Ryan Rydel was given the nod to rejoin the bench for the first time since injury in September, alongside FA Cup third-round goalscorer George Birch.
First Half
Early opportunities quickly arose for the Grecians when Timur Tutierov worked hard to win a corner in the opening seconds. While Ethan Brierley’s corner amounted to little, continued pressure from Tutierov down the left saw Northampton Town continue to come under fire.
Ilmari Niskanen combined with Brierley down the right before the Fin attempted a shot from range, Fitzsimons reading it well though and allowing it to roll wide of the post. Soon after Brierley got his own bite at the cherry, the Brentford loanee’s effort rising high and flying over the crossbar.
The Grecians got their best chance yet of the game in the 17th minute, Brierley linking up again with Niskanen down the right who crossed to Jayden Wareham inside the penalty area, his effort saved at close range by Fitzsimons.
With Gary Caldwell’s side continuing their pressure on the Northampton back line, a corner landed neatly for Jack Aitchison on the edge of the box however the Scotsman’s driven shot was placed just wide of the post.
Tutierov sent waves of applause round St James Park in the 33rd minute as he skillfully rounded Max Dyche before setting up Jake Doyle-Hayes on the edge of the box, the Irishman powerfully shot towards goal as he looked to open his account at City, however the ball would fall just wide of the post yet again.
With two minutes added non, Kamarai Swyer was thanking his lucky stars. A failed cross from the Northampton man almost fell to Niskanen arriving at the far post, the ball trickled out however for a corner late on.
As the half-time whistle loomed the Grecians would enjoy a further two corners, still to no avail, however. After an opening 45 minutes that saw City enjoy most of the play, referee Oliver Mackey blew for the break.
Second Half
The second half begun with a change for the visitors with Swyers being swapped for Jack Burroughs, Kevin Nolan’s team looking to find more of a foothold in the second half of play.
Brierley continued to launch balls out wide in much the same fashion he had in the first 45, quickly finding Aitchison on the right whose cross was scooped out of harm’s way by Fitzsimons in the opening seconds.
After an error from Joe Whitworth at the other end of the pitch, the Cobblers found themselves awarded an unexpected corner. What began as a mistake almost became costlier as the Grecians struggled to clear, forcing Whitworth to save at close range before the follow-up was hit well over.
A sharp response from the Grecians would; Luca Woodhouse basking in his new role in the midfield drove forward before setting Wareham through one-on-one, City’s no.9 forcing another necessary stop from Fitzsimons between the sticks.
As the clock ticked beyond the hour mark, Niskanen once again set off down the right side before crossing to Wareham, his initial shot saved and an ambitious follow-up drifting high and wide.
The three home sides of SJP gritted their teeth moments later, as Whitworth bravely came off his line to clear a ball but was beaten to it. Thankfully, Johnly Yfeko would arrive on the scene at the perfect moment to calm the threat from the Northampton attack.
With a quarter of an hour left to play, Aitchison again charged towards the Town back line before laying off to Niskanen on the right, picking up Brierley on the edge of the box who's shot found only the gloves of Fitzsimons in what had proved to have been a strong display from the goalkeeper.
Substitute Akeel Higgins looked to put some fire into the belly of the Big Bank in the same way he had against Plymouth Argyle back in October, the West Bromwich Albion loanee shooting from the edge of the box after Brierley picked him out. Higgins' effort however struggled to find a defined corner of the goal, with Fitzsimons saving at ease.
Out of action since September through injury, Ryan Rydel was brought on alongside Josh Magennis in the closing minutes as Caldwell rolled the dice in an attempt to snatch the game late on. Following the change, the linesman in front of the Optimising IT Adam Stansfield Stand would rescue the game for the Grecians, as the Cobblers turned the ball into the back of the net only for the flag to go up immediately after.
With five minutes added on at the death, Magennis worked hard to win a corner in front of the bustling Big Bank. Brierley executed another fine delivery, picking out Woodhouse at the back post who's header was effectively cleared from danger.
That would prove to be the final clear cut chance of the game, with Mackey blowing for full-time moments later. Another point picked up on home soil and a second clean sheet in as many games for the Grecians.
Up Next
It’s a quick turnaround for the Grecians who return to St James Park on Tuesday, 17th February as they host Wycombe Wanderers. Tickets for this game are still available, and more information can be found by following this link.
Match Details
Exeter City XI
Whitworth (GK), Turns, Brierley, Wareham, Aitchison (Magennis 83'), Niskanen, Yfeko (Higgins 66’), Woodhouse, Sweeney ©, Tutierov (Rydel 84'), Doyle-Hayes
Exeter City Unused Subs
Bycroft (GK), Cox, Oakes, Birch
Northampton Town XI
Fitzsimons (GK), Campbell, McGeehan ©, Eaves (Hoskins 63'), List (Vale 53'), Swyer (Burroughs 46’), Guinness-Walker (Perkins 62'), Forbes, Taylor, Moore, Dyche
Northampton Town Unuses Subs
Burge (GK), McCarthy, Hoskins, Evans, Perkins, Vale
Yellow Cards
Campbell (68')
Attendance
6,310 (including 350 Northampton Town supporters)