Exeter City earn a point!

City battle for a point at the Globe Arena

A DEBUT goal from Jayden Stockley salvaged a point for Exeter City at a rain-sodden Globe Arena.

Exactly a month after the match-up between the two sides was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, the home side took the lead from the spot just four minutes after play had resumed for the second half. But it wasn’t to be for Morecambe, as Stockley’s side-footed volley found the top-corner.

Exeter made five changes to the side that earned a draw against Liverpool during their FA Cup heroics last Friday night, including a debut for striker Jayden Stockley, who signed on loan from AFC Bournemouth on Monday. Tom McCready was also included in City’s starting eleven to face his old club, having joined the St James Park set-up from Morecambe last January.

After an even opening ten minutes, the hosts were responsible for the game’s first major chance. Following City’s failure to clear their lines from a free-kick, the ball eventually fell to midfielder Andrew Fleming whose driven shot from the edge of the area forced a good save from Bobby Olejnik.

Morecambe threatened again in the twentieth minute. After the Shrimps played advantage following a Jamie McAllister foul, Jamie Devitt, a graduate of the Hull City academy, worked the space to strike at goal but his shot was comfortably saved by Olejnik.

City had the ball in the back of the net seven minutes later. After a Craig Woodman corner caused chaos in the Shrimps’ area, Tom Nichols was at hand to head past Barry Roche, but the Grecians’ current top-scorer was deemed by the referee to have fouled the Morecambe keeper, and the goal was disallowed.

After play resumed following a stoppage due to an injury to Morecambe full-back Shaun Beeley, the Shrimps came close to crafting a dangerous opportunity. After a quick break forward Devitt found experienced wideman Kevin Ellison in the City area, but the forward couldn’t quite set himself for an effort on goal.

City ended the half the livelier of the two sides, and could have opened the scoring deep into first-half stoppage time. A corner from the left-hand side was met by City’s latest recruit Stockley, but his headed effort was tipped round the post by Roche. The resulting corner was cleared by Morecambe, and a hard-fought effort from both teams saw the sides go into the half-time interval on level terms.

HALF-TIME: MORECAMBE 0-0 EXETER CITY