Exeter City were held to a 0-0 draw against Walsall at St James Park as new signings Jack Taylor, Danny Rose and Ajay Matthews all featured.
Four days on from a point against Barnet at St James Park, Exeter City retuned to EX4 to host high flyers Walsall. Matt Taylor named one change to the starting XI that saw out a 1-1 draw against the Bees, with Luca Woodhouse returning to the field in place of Andrew Oluwabori. Deadline day acquisitions Jack Taylor, Danny Rose and Ajay Matthews all found places on the bench for their first taste of a matchday at the Park.
Lee Grant's Walsall side made the journey down the M5 following Tuesday's dramatic draw at Crewe Alexandra, where a 93rd minute goal stole a point for the home side.
First Half
Walsall began the brighter of the two sides, winning two early corners and pressuring the City goal. The latter saw Antony Evans’ in-swinging ball swipe the roof of the City net inside seven minutes.
The Grecians responded minutes later with a smart passage of play from Ed James, Lakyle Samuel and Reece Cole down the right flank. Cole drove to the goal line before crossing low to Josh Gordon in the penalty area whose effort was blocked by the Walsall back line. Sonny Cox was there with a follow-up attempt, but this met the same fate and was cleared away.
Moments later and Gordon looked to impose himself once more. A well timed through-ball was picked up by the former Saddler in the Walsall penalty area before a shirt tug dragged him to the ground. Despite uproar from the onlooking City faithful, referee Harrison Blair dismissed any appeals.
Halfway through the opening 45 minutes and the Grecians were patiently passing the ball around the edge of the Walsall penalty area. A cross from Cole was briefly cleared but headed back into the danger area by Jake Doyle-Hayes where he found Sonny Cox. Seemingly inspired by Jack Fitzwater’ opening goal of the campaign, the young striker hooked the ball over his head however placed it North of the crossbar.
Combining in a strike partnership, Gordon teed up Cox with a low ball across the face of goal, yet a Saddlers defender did enough to stop the academy graduate’s outstretched boot from making any contact.
With the Grecians imposing themselves on the game, Walsall responded with an ambitious attempt to regain control of the game. A cross was drilled into the City penalty area and cleared away as far as Mason Hancock who listen to the cries for a shot, though saw his effort find only the midst of the Thatchers Big Bank.
Cox offered himself again with the half-time whistle approaching as he picked up a well-timed pass from Cole inside the Walsall box. With Jed Ward thundering towards him, Cox got an attempt towards goal, though it was all too easy for the Saddlers’ keeper who blocked the shot.
With just two minutes added at the end of the 45 minutes, Harrison Blair blew his whistle to bring an end to a half of football that saw the Grecians enjoy the majority of chances.
Second Half
Matt Taylor’s men had to endure a strong start to the half from Walsall, yet after eight minutes momentum had briefly shifted to the other end of the pitch. A long throw-in courtesy of Charlie Cummins appeared to have evaded everybody inside the Saddlers’ penalty area and bounced towards goal. Ward punched the ball away at full reach before a follow-up cross was played in, though Cummins’ header was a routine save this time.
The Irishman was back in the action shortly afterwards, neatly dribbling down the left wing before crossing into the box. Ed James picked up the ball and had a low shot from the edge of the box which was deftly blocked before Cole tried the same, though this was likewise blocked and deflected wide of goal.
With little under 30 minutes left, City made their first brace of substitutions. Gwion Edwards came off in place of Ethan Sutherland, while Josh Gordon made way for Danny Rose on his home debut. Ten minutes on, and it was Ajay Matthews’ turn to mark his debut as he came on in place of Cox.
With 75 minutes on the clock, the visitors began to shift the play back towards the Exeter goal. With the Grecians unable to clear the ball, a cross was whipped in towards Courtney Clarke who smartly turned to get a shot off, one that fortunately rose narrowly high of the crossbar.
The subsequent goal kick from Bycroft that followed was picked up by Cole who stormed goalwards at the other end of the pitch before letting fly, however his effort struck the outside of the net. Deadline day signing Jack Taylor was introduced to St James Park for the first time with ten minutes to go as Luca Woodhouse departed the field.
As the clock ticked past the 80th minute, fellow substitute Taylor Perry picked up a deflected ball in the midfield and fed through Matthews for a one-on-one opportunity on his debut however the Millwall loanee misjudged his effort and shot over.
A brace of late free kicks for the Grecians in their own half proved to be the final action of the game, as Harrison Blair blew his whistle for full-time leaving the teams deadlocked.
Up Next
The Grecians get their 2026/27 EFL Trophy campaign underway on Tuesday, 8th September as they host Tottenham Hotspur U21s at St James Park. For more information, click the image below.
Match Details
Exeter City Starting XI
Bycroft GK), Samuel, Woodhouse (Taylor 78'), Fitzwater (C), Edwards (Sutherland 61'), Gordon (Rose 61'), Cole, Cummins, Cox (Matthews 71'), Doyle-Hayes (Perry 78'), James
Exeter City Unused Subs
Phillips (GK), Birch
Walsall Starting XI
Ward (GK), Hancock, Connolly (C), Crew (Sprangler 81'), Smith, Evans (Simper 65'), Moore, Clarke (Dallas 80'), Pressley, Ahui (Burke 90+4'), Leak
Walsall Unused Subs
Wooster (GK), Sodje, Furlong
Walsall Yellow Cards
Ahui (77')
Match Officials
Ref: Harrison Blair, AR1: Ciaran Barlow, AR2: Thomas Staten, 4th: Steven Swan
Attendance
6,002 (including 755 travelling supporters)