So one game to go and Exeter know what needs to be done to guarantee a play off berth: win against Southport and, barring a miraculous turnaround of goal difference by Burton, City will feature in their first ever post season games. A pulsating 0-0 draw at Stevenage in front of a season high 3058 ensures that Exeter have their destiny in their own hands going into the final game of the season. City carved out the best of the chances, hitting the woodwork twice but Stevenage always looked dangerous and created a number of opportunities that could have swung the game their way.
Tisdale revealed one change to the starting line up that comprehensively beat Cambridge, Patrick Ada replacing Steve Tully. For FA Trophy finalists Stevenage, former Grecian Santos Gaia started and beanpole Luke Oliver continued in his makeshift centre forward role alongside 25 goal striker Steve Morison. The teams emerged to a cacophonous welcome and a sea of blue balloons from the away end, a sign of intent that the supporters were going to do their bit to push the side on.
Stevenage showed their intent too. They were in the last chance saloon as far as realistically keeping up with the play off contenders was concerned, and within five seconds of the kick off a crude lunge by Oliver at Billy Jones brought nothing but a warning from the referee. Despite the home side's desire though City started well and whilst not able to create much clear cut posed a greater threat. An outstretched leg just cut out a neat Taylor ball, and a Carlisle cross was blocked after a long Gill throw had been cleared. On 8 minutes pressure from Elam and Stansfield forced Stevenage keeper Alan Julian to hack clear.
In these early exchanges Stevenage's only real foray into City territory had been courtesy of a debateable free kick 30 yards out centrally that Todd had confidently dealt with when it was chipped in. The build up to City's next half chance led to Gaia leaving the pitch to stem a bleeding nose. Logan had been released by a neat back heel from Stansfield but defenders covered well but at the expense of a corner.
Further City pressure produced more throws in attacking positions and as Gaia returned a Gill corner to the near post was sliced by a defender. The ball ricocheted off the crossbar with Julian beaten, Elam couldn't get over the bouncing rebound and when Gill chipped the ball back in Stansfield couldn't rise enough at the far post to get his header on target. As City enjoyed the better of the play Stevenage had another free kick wide on the left but Morison, under pressure from Ada, could only head softly wide.
City continued to threaten, without troubling Julian too much. Some lovely one touch play between Logan, Carlisle and Stansfield was firstly snuffed out by a slightly overhit final ball, then when they $tried it again moments later, the linesman's flag. A bout of head tennis, all from City followed and when Carlisle played the ball into Stansfield's feet his neat turn on the edge of the box resulted in a shot straight at Julian. As much as the lanky Oliver was causing City's defenders problems in the air, so Stansfield was a constant fly in the ointment for Gaia and his colleagues. On the half hour he had another shot desperately blocked after robbing Gaia thirty yards from goal, Carlisle's first time shot from the loose ball went wide. Added pressure was put on after Stansfield, and then Logan won corners in quick succession.
Stevenage started to be more threatening in the final ten minutes of the half. First, after fine work by Oliver and Lewis, the latter's cross was met by Morison, on the volley at the edge of the area but he couldn't keep his effort down. Free kicks on either flank were well delivered but Rice dealt with the first despite being fouled and Todd was determined to flick away from Gaia moments later. The ball from this fell to Ada who charged towards the half way line, released Logan who in turn found Elam. He cut in from the left but his hot went high and wide. As the half moved towards stoppage time Stevenage's best chance fell to Mitchell Cole. He beat Todd and Ada to a bouncing ball on the edge of the penalty area but as he turned to shoot he was off balance and dragged his shot across goal leaving Rice a spectator.
Before the half ended Nutter was booked for a clumsy challenge as Carlisle knocked the ball past him, and Stansfield, after turning Gaia, released Carlisle but his shot across the area came to nothing.
The half time break was just a respite before more positive City play continued. Carlisle and Logan just failed to release Stansfield who then had a shot blocked at source after a clever throw from Ada. From the clearance Gill found Elam and one dizzy defender later a cross to the far post found Logan who was adjudged to have fouled his marker. As Stevenage tried to stop City coming forward Fuller was booked for a tackle from behind on Elam. A long ball out to Carlisle then saw him outjump Nutter, cut on towards the penalty area but was unable to get enough power on his left foot shot and Julian gathered easily. It was then Gill's turn to raid forward. He forced a corner after running beyond the strikers and being well found by Elam. The corner came to nothing, as did a free kick from the left as the attackers ran underneath the ball in. The next City attack almost produced a goal. A beautifully shaped cross from Jones just eluded Logan and as Carlisle flung himself at the far post only a desperate lunge cleared the danger. Stevenage chose this moment to make the first change of the afternoon, Dobson replacing Beard and for the next twenty minutes he was able to exert more pressure as Stevenage fought to hold on to their play off pretensions.
Cole found himself in on goal after Todd had failed to deal with a long clearance. As he was challenged by Ada he couldn't hit his shot truly and as it went past Rice it hit the outside of the post and went behind. A dangerous Dobson cross was then fired over by Adam Miller. A neat one-two on the edge of the box between Nutter and Cole created an opening but a weak shot was easy for Rice. Dobson shot over from the edge of the area and after Rice had misjudged the flight on a corner Stevenage just failed to bundle the ball in at the far post.
In between these chances though, City had continued to look dangerous. Logan had delayed a pass to Stansfield and found himself robbed, then Stansfield failed to get a shot away from twenty yards and Carlisle chipped a free kick over from 25 yards after he had been fouled centrally. Neat passing by Ada and Stansfield just failed to release Gill with twenty minutes remaining but showed Stevenage they risked being hit on the break if they over committed. Tisdale used this moment to introduce some fresh legs with Philips and Mackie replacing Logan and Stansfield who had both put in a great effort in the unerring heat but had begun to tire. Despite Oliver continuing to win a lot of ball and having a half chance it was still City who seemed most likely to open the scoring.
Julian pushed a Todd flick away for a corner which was cleared. But the ball was played back out to Gill who had stayed on the right and as he met the ball on the edge of the area he crashed what looked like an unstoppable shot goalwards. Julian threw himself full length and managed to tip the ball onto the underside of the bar. The ball flew down and hit the inside of the post too before flying back across the six yard box and being put away to safety. Gill then had a great chance at the far post meeting a Mackie cross. His header hit Fuller who was on the goal line and amid shouts for a handball the referee merely gave City a corner.
The final fifteen minutes saw both sides try to win the game, with Stevenage obviously looking a little more desperate. Cole scooped a shot wide when he should probably have done better and Dobson flashed a ball across the area which Jones did well to shepherd out. Meanwhile, Challinor had replaced the energetic and fleet footed Elam and half chances had fallen to Philips and Mackie. City stayed in control for this period and the 3 minutes of added time not allowing Stevenage to threaten apart from the odd speculative long ball.
The final whistle was greeted with delight by the Grecians and as results elsewhere came in the point proved to be oh so vital. But in truth City had not particularly looked as if they would lose this game. The players looked fit, confident and focussed, and dealt with the threat from the division's second highest scorers with aplomb, while looking the most threatening throughout. Todd, Edwards, Taylor and Gill never let dangerous players have a real chance and this allowed the rest of the side to carry out their duties and attack.
Elam, Carlisle, Logan, Stansfield and the subs kept the home defence on their toes and, except for a sensational save and the woodwork, could have come away with a deserved victory. So City find themselves in a familiar position of having to win their final game of the season. Unlike other years though they know victory will be enough. But make no mistake Southport will not be coming to be rolled over. They need a win in their fight against the drop and they do not lose many away from home, 1 in the last 9. So get your tickets for next Saturday and help the side onto the play offs. After all if you want to be the first to know if we have made it, you'll need to be there. Wont you?
City: Rice, Ada, B. Jones, Todd, Edwards, Carlisle, Taylor, Gill, Elam (Challinor 87), Logan (Phillips 71), Stansfield (Mackie 71)
Subs not used: P. Jones, Richardson
