February
While February began in disastrous circumstances with heavy defeats to Leyton Orient and Stevenage, it also brought about a huge upturn in form and an FA Cup tie that will be remembered and talked about for years to come. Drawn at home to third placed Nottingham Forest of the Premier League in the fourth round, a Tuesday night date under the lights was set and little could have predicted the chain of events that would see the 8pm kick-off finish not long before 11pm. Josh Magennis – the FA Cup’s man in form – pounced on an early error to fire City into a shock lead, and while the top tier side went into the break 2-1 ahead, those in red and white showed guts, determination and belief to take the Champions League chasers all the way. Magennis levelled just minutes into the second half to make it 2-2, but lost Ed Turns to a red card with ten minutes to go. A lengthy injury to Taiwo Awoniyi meant 16 minutes of added time, with Pat Jones just inches away from a stunning late winner towards the end of those. City battled through extra time to force a penalty shoot-out, which ultimately proved a step too far. But, it was an evening to be proud of our football club.
Four days later, a win at Cambridge United proved vital before an overseas trip to Spain for warm weather conditioning saw the Grecians revitalised to begin a steady improvement in both form and league placing.
March
The Grecians’ first game since Spain saw Sonny Cox grab a last gasp equaliser in front of the Big Bank, and it was a goal that would spark an impressive unbeaten run. City were then unfortunate not to come back from Reading with all three points after a goalless draw, before two huge home wins against sides around them propelled Caldwell’s side up the table. Caleb Watts and Demetri Mitchell bagged either side of half-time against Shrewsbury Town in a 2-0 win, before City won by the same scoreline just three days later against Mansfield thanks to another Mitchell goal and one from Angus MacDonald. Draws at Rotherham and Lincoln followed – though the Grecians can feel hard done by after a stoppage time winner from Jack McMillan was ruled out for apparent handball at Lincoln. Points against promotion hopefuls and big spenders Wrexham proved too difficult though, as the Welsh side ended an unbeaten run that saw City concede just two goals in six matches.
April
Oakwell has proved a happy hunting ground for Exeter City over the past two seasons with consecutive wins at the venue and this time it was no different as Josh Magennis made an April Fool of a Barnsley defender to score late winner in a 2-1 victory. Stockport took all three points at SJP the following game, but Reece Cole marked a return from injury to score a leveller against Wigan a few days later as the Grecians bounced back to gain a point.
“Reece Cole again olè olè…” - the noise that rang around Bristol Rovers’ Memorial Stadium as Cole scored a second goal in a week with a thumper of a volley on the edge of the half-time. That made it 2-0 against the relegation strugglers after Caleb Watts struck early, and City clung on to take three points from the Memorial Stadium for the fourth match in a row.
League One safety, and a fourth season in the third tier for the first time in modern history, was secured on Good Friday as a 0-0 draw against Burton Albion coupled with other results meant the faint relegation threat was no more. With one of the lowest budgets in the division, a mid table finish is certainly not one to be sniffed at.