Match report: Exeter City 0 Colchester United 0

A goalless draw at St James Park proved an engrossing fixture as Exeter City were held 0-0 by Colchester United at St James Park on Saturday.

City boss Matt Taylor made two changes to the side that won in Grimsby last weekend, with Nicky Ajose and Jayden Richardson coming in for Lee Martin and Brennan Dickenson. Alex Fisher returned from injury to take his place on the Grecians’ bench.

The Grecians started very brightly and had a superb chance to open the scoring after just two minutes as Ryan Bowman countered single-handedly with a wonderful solo effort, but delayed his shot long enough for the onrushing Colchester defenders to recover and pressure the striker just enough to prevent him from finding the back of the net – Bowman’s shot rolling agonisingly wide.

Jonny Maxted was called into action for the first time with 13 minutes on the clock, getting down low to save from Harry Pell’s effort from 25 yards. It was the Grecians who applied the majority of the pressure in an engaging opening 45, with Archie Collins the next to go close as a surging run was cut down at the last by a superb sliding tackle from Kwame Poku. Jake Taylor would also see an effort saved before half-time, as his curling effort was held by Dean Gerken in the Colchester goal, before Pierce Sweeney produced a superb defensive moment as he blocked a goalbound shot from Callum Harriott off the line with his chest.

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