Exeter City were held to a 0-0 draw by Luton Town in a game of very few chances, reflecting the fine margins upon which League Two is balanced.
A bitterly cold Saturday afternoon saw both sides fail to warm up in the first half. Exeter’s Pierce Sweeney came the closest in breaking the stale deadlock with a thunderous volley 31 minutes in. A teasing cross from the left saw the Luton defence head the ball into the path of the midfielder who struck it first time, only narrowly missing the post.
Aimless build-up play dictated the first half, with failed final balls and crucial lapses in concentration were in abundance. Characterising the first 45 minutes was Danny Hylton, Luton’s forward, who on the stroke of half time, failed to convert a delicate chip over the top of the Grecian defence with a poor touch, allowing the on-rushing Christopher Pym to collect.
both sides will be content with a point
Fortunately for the 3,800-something crowd the second half was played at a greater tempo. Three minutes into the half, Luton’s Hylton raced through but was once more nullified by brave keeping from Pym; Exeter replicated this only minutes later as Reid deceived an oncoming defender but was unable to avoid the dominant figure of Walton, Luton’s goalkeeper. Pym once again turned match-saver with quick reactions, stopping Lee’s flick on after a driving run and cross from Isaac Vassell.
The Grecians could have been going home with all three points had the crossbar not stopped Ollie Watkins’ ferocious strike on the 71st minute, which for all the world appeared to be heading into the top-corner.
Ultimately, however, both sides will be content with a point in a game that could’ve tipped either way. Only seven points separate 18th placed Exeter and 6th placed Blackpool, and with four points from three games, Paul Tisdale was upbeat about his side’s recent form.
Exeter Team:
Pym; Woodman; James; Wheeler; Watkins; Moore-Taylor; McAlinden; Taylor; Sweeney; Reid; Brown
Luton Team:
Walton; Mullins; Cuthbert; McGeehan; Hylton; Cook; Rea; Lee; Vassell; Justin; Sheehan
Attendance: 3,823
