Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

DROYLSDEN 2 - 3 EXETER CITY

BLUE SQUARE PREMIER - Saturday 25 August 2007

Report by Gary Owen

Bloods' boss Dave Pace praised his side, despite another defeat and with his team still seeking their first win in non-league's top flight. "Effort-wise, that was much better than last week. I've got to give credit to the lads – they showed a lot of character today. But, I don't want to be talking about good performances without the three points. We created the better chances – two cleared off the line and one hitting the bar – and I thought we pressed them back after the break, firing in shot after shot. The half-time team talk worked, and we forced them to change their shape, but it was a bad mistake which let them back in to score their second. I'm pleased with the character we are showing, but we now need to start taking three points from games."

Paul Tisdale, on the other hand, had mixed feelings after seeing his team record 10 points out of the opening twelve. "I'm chuffed with the three points, but we weren't at our best. We started well, but we had opportunities to finish them off. However, our first half performance deteriorated and I was not happy at half-time, and I told the players as much – I started the conversation and they finished it, which pleased me."

"It was a good response by us to regain the lead so soon after conceding the equaliser. I was pleased with Steve Basham - he linked the play really well when he came on. We're all now looking forward to the Bank Holiday derby against Weymouth" explained Paul Tisdale.

Only a quarter of an hour had passed before Exeter took the lead. Steve Tully's cross was only half cleared by Garry Burke, and Dean Moxey was on hand to shoot into the bottom corner through a crowded box.

Droylsden responded well, though, and George Friend twice rescued his team with goal-line clearances, firstly from Jamie McGuire and then from Steve Daly, before Terry Fearns' header glanced off the top of the bar from Jody Banim's corner kick. However, Exeter could have doubled their lead shortly before the break, but Richard Logan's shot struck Moxey as he lay injured on the floor.

Banim then levelled matters seconds after the re-start with a spectacular strike from 30 yards.

However, yet again, Droylsden conceded a goal just after scoring one themselves, when a low cross from Steve Tully eluded everyone, leaving Moxey in acres of space to pick his spot and notch his brace for the day.

Gavin Salmon then thumped a free header a yard wide of Marriott's left hand upright, before Exeter made the points safe when Lee Elam got the final touch to Basham's header from a corner kick on 90 minutes to claim the winner.

In added time, McGuire reduced the arrears from the edge of the box, but it was mere consolation for the home side, who took their elusive search for their first Blue Square Premier victory to Halifax on Monday.

TEAMS

DROYLSDEN (4-4-2): Phillips 7, Hotte 5 (Gibson 54 6), Marsh-Evans 5 (Tandy 77 6), Cryan 7, Burke 7, Lynch 4, McGuire 8, Banim 9, Fearns 6, Daly 6 (Salmon 70 6), Denham 9.

Subs. not used: Robinson, Senior

EXETER CITY (4-3-3): Marriott 7, Tully 8, Friend 8, Gill 7, Mackie 9, Stansfield 7 (Elam, 66 7), Edwards 7, Taylor 6, Richardson 6, Logan 6 (Basham, 60 8), Moxey 8

Subs. not used: Cozic, Artus, Jones

REFREE: Mr. D. Webb (County Durham)

ATTENDANCE: 847