Exeter City secured their first Football League win in five years – and inflicted Bournemouth’s only League defeat in ten games – with a fine victory at Dean Court.
It was a quietly absorbing game, with Bournemouth looking disjointed but classy in patches, while City always looked the more likely to score.
Adam Stansfield’s running ensured that City kept the Bournemouth defence occupied and had a few efforts at goal, although the 4-3-3 system often morphed into 4-5-1, helping City to contain the Cherries’ midfield threat but leaving Adam a little isolated.
After the break, City continued to look the livelier side, and the introduction of Dean Moxey to the ground named in his honour added further pace and width.
On 68 minutes it was Ryan Harley who got the winning goal, running clear from Rob Edwards’s clever pass to shoot sweetly into the corner.
It needed an excellent save late on by Paul Jones to preserve the lead, City’s keeper turning Brett Pitman’s close-range shot around the post.
And aside from a few corners and crosses thrown into the box, that was it – three very welcome points in the bag.
The players left the field to a huge ovation from the large travelling support, and, for everyone who saw City lose at the likes of Canvey Island and Grays, to come to a place like Dean Court and leave with a win feels very very good indeed.
Not for the first time – and not for the last time – we say this: City are Back! 🙂
There’s an excellent match report over on the AFC Bournemouth section of VitalFootball. Please do check it out.
It’s the start you would want but it’s a marathon not a sprint, time will tell.