A 15-minute delay to kick-off provided Exeter City with their only point of interest of the day as one Stockport goal handed them another loss. The Grecians’ coach had been stuck in traffic on the way to Edgeley Park, leading to the delay.
Exeter’s lineup saw Josh Magennis slot straight back in on return from international duty with Northern Ireland, as well as Pierce Sweeney wearing the captain’s armband on his 400th Exeter appearance.
When the game got underway, neither team was able to put their stamp on the game and impose themselves as the dominant team. After 24 minutes, Stockport striker Nathan Lowe was able to break free from the defender at a corner to head the ball into the net and put the promotion-chasers in front. Very soon after, the Hatters had a chance to make it two, but a brilliant save from Joe Whitworth was enough to tip Kyle Wootton’s effort over the bar.
Exeter’s best chance of the game came early into the second half, when Ilmari Niskanen found himself unmarked at the Stockport back post, only to see his attempt bounce over. With neither team making a significant impression on the contest, the football turned scrappy, with chances becoming few and far between.
Six minutes added on at the end of the game weren’t enough to provide either team with a chance to either confirm victory or clinch a point, as Exeter slipped to another loss.
Despite the drab and dull nature of the affair in Stockport, manager Gary Caldwell was still somewhat positive in his assessment of the game, saying he was ‘disappointed with the outcome but happy with a lot of aspects of the performance.’
‘I’m proud of how we pushed one of the top teams, but I want more. I believe there is more in the players,’ he continued.
The players will need to find more if they wish to continue their stay in League One; Exeter haven’t played a game with one of the two teams scoring more than one goal in over a month. The loss sees them drop down to 19th in the table, one point above the relegation zone, while Stockport’s victory means they remain in fifth, just a point off top-of-the-league Cardiff City.
Exeter’s next challenge comes quickly, as St James Park plays host to Plymouth Argyle in the Devon Derby this Thursday.
