Coca-Cola League Two
Exeter City (1) 1 Moxey 20
Bradford C (0) 0
Att: 5,253
Stats: Exeter - Bradford C
Possession: 52 - 48%
Shots on target: 2 - 5
Shots off target: 6 - 4
Fouls: 9 - 8 (Most fouls: Rehman 3)
Corners: 3 - 14
Ref: Andy Penn (Kingswinford).
Yellow cards:
Exeter: None
Bradford C: Rehman (83 min) unsporting behaviour.
Exeter: 27. Paul Jones, 29. Troy Archibald-Henville, 6. Matthew Taylor, 15.
Rob Edwards, 22. Liam Sercombe, 4. Matthew Gill, 30. Alex Russell, 21. Dean
Moxey, 16. Marcus Stewart, 9. Adam Stansfield, 12. Steve Basham (64).
Subs: 1. Andy Marriott (GK), 2. Steve Tully, 10. Craig McAllister, 18. Neil
Saunders, 20. Richard Logan (64).
Bradford C: 1. Rhys Evans, 2. Paul Arnison, 5. Graeme Lee, 33. Zeshan
Rehman, 19. Luke O'Brien, 23. Dean Furman (85), 8. Lee Bullock, 4. Paul
McLaren (64), 24. Nicky Law, 14. Michael Boulding, 25. Steve Jones.
Subs: 10. Peter Thorne (64), 11. Chris Brandon, 15. Joe Colbeck (85), 16.
Simon Ainge, 34. Keith Gillespie.
Next matches:
(A) Bournemouth. Tuesday March 17, 2009. K.O. 7:45PM.
(H) Port Vale. Saturday March 21, 2009. K.O. 3:00PM.
Last season: No results - Port Vale & Bournemouth both in League One.
This season: Bradford C 1-3 Bournemouth; Port Vale 0-2 Bradford C.
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Also in this issue:
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GRECIANS SECURE VITAL VICTORY
Exeter secured crucial points in the battle of two play-off hopefuls at St
James Park as Dean Moxey's strike earned a 1-0 win over Bradford City.
The Grecians scored the only goal of the game in the 20th minute and it was
somewhat fortuitous.
Moxey received the ball wide on the Exeter left and his attempted cross
deflected off Paul Arnison, looped high into the air, over the head of the
back-pedalling Rhys Evans in the Bradford goal and nestled in the far
corner.
The Bantams dominated the second half, but Exeter, whose shocking defensive
performance saw them crash to a 3-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth on
Tuesday, defended superbly. However, there were a few scares.
Nicky Law dragged Bradford's best chance of the game wide of the upright as
Troy Archibald-Henville and Liam Sercombe failed to deal with a cross into
the box.
Bradford should have been reduced to 10 men late in the game when Zesh
Rehman brought Adam Stansfield down as he went through on goal, but he
escaped with just a yellow card. Moxey took the resultant free-kick, but the
ball crashed back off the crossbar from 25 yards.
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http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/football/Exeter-City-1-Bradford-City.5073019.jp
Exeter City 1 Bradford City 0: Freak strike sends City out of play-offs
Exeter City v Bradford City
BRADFORD City's promotion hopes suffered a blow after succumbing to one of the most bizarre goals of the season.
Dean Moxey's cross deflected off Paul Arnison and sailed over the head of goalkeeper Rhys Evans to hand Exeter victory and leave City out of the play-offs.
Bradford piled on the pressure after the break but were unable to break down a well-drilled Grecians rearguard.
"You don't always get what you deserve in football," moaned Bradford manager Stuart McCall. "And you had to be at this game to realise the goal that beat us was the freakiest goal ever."
The hosts fashioned the first chance, Steve Basham lifting a shot into the arms of Evans after nipping in front of Graeme Lee.
The Bantams hit back when Luke O'Brien's cross just eluded Michael Boulding at the back post.
Lee Bullock was unlucky to see his close-range header blocked by Matt Taylor and Steve Jones ended a swift breakaway by firing straight at Paul Jones
Bradford took a grip in the second half and Nicky Law almost took advantage of a poor back pass from Taylor before Jones cleared.
Law dragged a shot wide, Jones and Boulding tested Jones in quick succession and Peter Thorne headed over.
Bradford survived a scare in the closing moments when Moxey's stinging free-kick cannoned back off the crossbar.
Exeter City: Jones, Archibald-Henville, Taylor, Edwards; Sercombe, Moxey, Gill, Russell, Stewart; Basham (Logan, 64), Stansfield. Unused substitutes: Marriott, Tully, McAllister, Saunders.
Bradford City: Evans, Arnison, O'Brien, Rehman Lee; Jones, McLaren (Thorne, 64), Furman (Colbeck, 85), Bullock; Law, Boulding. Unused substitutes: Brandon, Ainge, Gillespie.
Referee: A Penn (West Midlands).
Man of the match: Steve Jones.
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http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcmatch/4204198.City_take_a_plunge_as_up_and_down_season_continues/
City take a plunge as up and down season continues
7:30am Monday 16th March 2009
If City are going to scramble out of this division, it's going to be done the hard way.
But didn't we know that would always be the case.
Even when they set off like the clappers winning five of the first six, we knew the fall was coming.
It's not so much a roller-coaster watching this lot. More like a bungee jump.
So within the space of a week, fourth place after thrashing Aldershot becomes eighth following yet another loss on the road.
Panic should not set in just because City have dropped below the play-off cut-off. It's only goal difference – though how costly could those Rochdale penalties prove to be – and still just three points separate them from the last automatic slot.
But as the games tick away, it becomes more difficult to retain a sense of perspective.
Of course, City shouldn't have lost on Saturday. Exeter got the advantage of a fluke goal and looked a very ordinary side.
As one local newspaper scribe said afterwards: "Nobody has bossed us at home this season like Bradford did."
But Exeter still bagged the three points to bolster their own promotion credentials. City, on the other hand, just collected another hard-luck tale.
There will be little sympathy kicking around afterwards if these away-day traumas add up to another year in the basement. It's no good complaining that there was nothing in it when City have again finished with nothing.
Gillingham aside, they have now lost away to all their promotion rivals. Stuart McCall could justifiably put a case for his team in every one of those games but you cannot argue with the facts.
The sickener on Saturday was the freak nature of Dean Moxey's 20th-minute winner.
It was a cross from the touchline that clipped Graeme Lee's shoulder, sending the ball looping over Rhys Evans in the City net. The keeper might have been better wearing a cap against the sun, as he seemed momentarily transfixed before scrambling unsuccessfully to try and claw it out.
From that moment, the game followed a familiar pattern. Attack against defence with City doing all the right things until they reached the penalty box and ran out of ideas.
The biggest drama had been before kick-off when the team sheet was read out.
No Barry Conlon or Matt Clarke at all after a "non-football" incident that McCall would not elaborate on.
No Peter Thorne either because of a ricked neck. And no Keith Gillespie or Chris Brandon.
Instead, there were potentially four central midfielders, a winger and one striker. Cue much head-scratching wondering how they would line up.
It turned out that Nicky Law was playing as the other frontman just off Michael Boulding. Steve Jones was on the right with the three in the middle matching up Exeter.
Paul McLaren was given the job of sitting on Marcus Stewart while Luke O'Brien effectively operated as a left-wing back to cover the gap of a wideman in front of him. McCall pointed out that the system did its job. With a sharper edge around the Exeter box, City would have taken at least a share of the spoils.
But in the cold light of day, the result will colour judgments. The means did not justify the end.
Over City 500 fans had made the 300-mile slog to deepest Devon. Given that only nearby Bournemouth and Brentford have taken more to St James Park this season, it was as impressive a turn-out as the near 3,000 who went to Rochdale.
As has been the case too often since the turn of the year, they traipsed away empty-handed and deflated.
The sense of frustration was made clear to McCall at half-time when one fan had a go at him "for playing 4-5-1".
McCall went over to see him - not for a Colin Todd style confrontation but just to point out that City did have two up front.
He said: "It's hard for me to criticise or point fingers. I know there always seems to be someone to blame and if people want to do that, then blame me.
"But it's a shape we were comfortable with and certainly wasn't done in any negative way. If Thorney had been fit to start, I would still have gone with the same shape but a different personnel."
City's corner count of 14, seven in each half, underlined their dominance of possession. They also had the best player on the pitch in Jones who took his recent hot form as a left winger on to his natural right with equal effect.
But breaking up the Law/Dean Furman midfield axis affected City's rhythm. McLaren did a tidy job in shutting down Stewart while Lee Bullock huffed and puffed, but there wasn't that spark there that gives the team so much energy.
Bullock, though, could have put City in front six minutes before the goal when his free header from Law's corner bounced off Matt Taylor's heel right in front of the Exeter net. Boulding was also millimetres away from touching home O'Brien's cross-shot after Jones had created space for the young left back.
Then Exeter struck in fortuitous fashion and another game of frustration began.
Law curled one just wide but he squandered a golden chance to level just before the hour as Exeter grew increasingly twitchy at the back.
Liam Sercombe and Troy Archibald-Henville got in each other's way both going for the same clearance and the loose ball popped out to Law ten yards from goal. He only had to hit the target with his volley but rushed and screwed it horribly off target.
City's corners continued to mount up but all passed without seriously troubling the uneasy home defence.
Even Thorne, when he came on, could not lift the sense of attacking malaise. Slipping in behind his marker, he could not get the ball under control and was unable to get a shot off with only keeper Paul Jones facing him.
And Exeter almost nicked a second in stoppage time. Zesh Rehman was lucky the card was yellow rather than red after he hauled down Adam Stansfield in the clear.
Moxey's free-kick was arrowing towards the top corner but Evans, who had not been over-worked, alertly touched it on to the bar.
Jones admitted: "We're all deeply disappointed. Our fans have travelled all this way and the manner of defeat is hard to take.
"But we're professional players and we have to regroup now. We're together for a few days so hopefully we can get a bit of bonding and rebuild our confidence for Bournemouth."
Expect another changed line-up tomorrow. The key question, though, is whether City can change the record.
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Bradford manager Stuart McCall will recall both Barry Conlon and Matt Clarke to his squad for the midweek clash at Bournemouth.
McCall has refused to reveal why the pair were axed for Saturday's defeat at Exeter with the club announcing they had been dropped for "breach of club discipline".
McCall told the club's official website: "It's an internal matter and has been dealt with in the dressing room. It's a non-football related issue and they've been punished for it.
"We'll keep it private, but it's over and done with now. They are both back in the squad."
McCall will be hoping Peter Thorne can shake off a stiff neck to start after being forced to partner midfielder Nicky Law up front alongside Michael Boulding at Exeter.
Keith Gillespie is hoping to make his start after remaining on the bench on Saturday, while summer signing Chris Brandon is also closing in on his first start following a long-term ankle injury.
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http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/4204194.Conlon_and_Clarke_disciplined_by_City/
Conlon and Clarke disciplined by City
7:40am Monday 16th March 2009
Stuart McCall insists axed duo Barry Conlon and Matt Clarke will be back in his Bournemouth battle plans tomorrow.
The pair were dropped completely from Saturday's loss at Exeter following a breach of club discipline.
McCall refused to go into details about the offence but confirmed that the two players had been punished. He said: "It's an internal matter and has been dealt with in the dressing room. It's a non-football related issue and they've been punished for it.
"We'll keep it private but it's over and done with now. They are both back in the squad."
City head for Dean Court on the back of four straight away defeats. They have lost both games since thrashing Aldershot 5-0 nine days ago.
The 1-0 slip-up at Exeter, to a freak deflected cross-cum-shot, dropped McCall's men out of the play-off zone on goal difference.
But the City chief remains adamant that the third automatic promotion slot is well within their reach.
McCall added: "There's still only three points in it so of course we're aiming for that third spot.
"We have to make sure we finish in the top seven but that doesn't take our focus away from wanting to win every game.
"If we went on a little run again and won our next two or three, we could well be looking at third. We're not being stupid enough to say we're out of it.
"There's a long way to go yet and if we have to settle for a trip to Wembley then naturally we will do that. But we do need a couple of wins back under our belt quickly. We should have got something from Exeter but we didn't and we have to put that right."
City controlled large periods of a dour game but fired their second blank in a week after Dean Moxey's 20th-minute fluke clinch the victory.
Peter Thorne was limited to a bench role because of a stiff neck so McCall employed Nicky Law as a makeshift strike partner for Michael Boulding.
McCall said: "Thorney wasn't even going to be on the bench but he was desperate to be involved. We were out of options.
"The last time Lawsy played up front for Sheffield United reserves he scored four so we just went for something a little different.
"I don't think anyone would say we didn't deserve at least a point. There was no lack in effort or desire, just not enough cutting edge because we had three or four respectable chances.
"It wasn't another Barnet; it wasn't a poor performance. We just didn't do enough in the penalty box. We got done the other night by two dubious decisions and now we've been done by a freak goal. We were on top for most parts of the game."
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http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/football/Huge-slice-luck-ensures-Grecians-Bradford-joint/article-771998-detail/article.html
Huge slice of luck ensures Grecians see off Bradford and go joint third
Monday, March 16, 2009, 05:53THE mark of a successful side often comes down to how they respond to a setback — and Exeter City seem to have mastered the art of bouncing back in fine style.
A stroke of outrageous luck ensured the Grecians became the only side in the top 10 of Coca-Cola League Two to take three points at the weekend.
Dean Moxey's cross took a wicked deflection off Paul Arnison and sailed over the head of back-tracking keeper Rhys Evans.
Lucky it might have been, but there have been plenty of times this season when City have been on the receiving end of undeserved misfortune.
But the story of this triumph wasn't just about Moxey's slice of fortune, it was about a heroic backs-to-the-wall rearguard action as City weathered a second half storm from their promotion-chasing guests.
While Bradford created very few clear-cut chances, they had enough possession and territorial advantage to take a point home from St James's Park.
Not that it will bother Paul Tisdale's side because at this stage of the season points are all that matter.
City remain on course for a second successive promotion as they took advantage of slip-ups from all their major rivals to go level on points with third-placed Rochdale.
After the gloom that engulfed St James's Park following Tuesday night's 3-1 defeat against Bournemouth came the ecstasy of a crucial victory over Stuart McCall's side.
While City have made a reputation for slick attacking football this season, they had to show a different part of their game on Saturday.
They were forced to dig deep, roll up their sleeves and protect their slender lead with some resolute and sometimes last-ditch defending.
Desperation has its virtues, however, and there was much to commend Matt Taylor's immense aerial prowess and Troy Archibald-Henville's bravery.
Rob Edwards used all his experience to repel the second half bombardment and Paul Jones must have been thankful for the solid blockade in front of him.
It might not have been the prettiest of games, yet it was nail-biting stuff. And although Bradford piled on the pressure, City never looked as though they would buckle.
The facts speak for themselves — just one defeat in their last 10 games and 21 points out of 30 underlines City's transformation from play-off hopefuls to genuine automatic promotion contenders.
While Moxey claimed the plaudits for his match-winning strike, Liam Sercombe delivered his most accomplished display of the season after being brought back into the side at the expense of Neil Saunders.
Nobody in the City camp would entertain the concept of revenge in the build-up to this game, but the victory must go some way to banishing City's memories of their 4-1 drubbing at Valley Parade earlier in the season.
City fashioned the first chance of the match when Steve Basham lifted the ball harmlessly into the arms of Evans after the striker had nipped in front of Graeme Lee.
McCall's side showed their first threat when Luke O'Brien's cross flashed along the six-yard box and narrowly eluded the run of Michael Boulding.
Nicky Law's header brought a timely block out of Taylor and Archibald-Henville spared Matt Gill's blushes after the midfielder's miscued header fell invitingly into the path of Boulding.
And although the visitors enjoyed the lion's share of possession, City always carried the more incisive threat.
Adam Stansfield teed up Basham for a shot that fizzed wide before Moxey broke the deadlock with his deflected left wing cross.
Basham then planted a header over the bar and Liam Sercombe skipped past two challenges before scooping wastefully over the crossbar.
On the stroke of half-time Moxey cut inside his marker and rolled the ball into the arms of Evans. City's hearts were in their mouths after the restart as Nicky Law almost pounced on Taylor's header, only for Jones to race out of his area and rescue the danger.
More confusion at the back allowed Law a clear sight of goal, but he dragged his effort wide of the upright.
The hosts were dealt a blow on 64 minutes, when Basham limped out of action following a tangle with Dean Furman. Richard Logan made his first appearance in four matches as Basham's replacement.
Jones pulled off two comfortable saves to deny namesake Steve Jones and Boulding in quick succession as Bradford poured forward.
Substitute Peter Thorne powered a header over the crossbar after Jones was caught out from a Law corner.
City summoned the energy to drive forward in the dying minutes and Stansfield should have teed up Logan instead of firing just past the angle of post and bar.
Moxey came close to adding some gloss to the victory with a sweet free-kick that crashed against the crossbar.
But for City the bubble shows little sign of bursting.
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http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/football/Deano-glad-goals/article-772000-detail/article.html
Deano glad to be back in the goals
Monday, March 16, 2009, 05:55MATCH-WINNER Dean Moxey insists Exeter City have the character to clinch automatic promotion after they secured a crucial 1-0 win over Bradford City on Saturday.
The defender fired City to their 10th home win of the season after scoring a goal described by Bantams boss Stuart McCall as the 'freakiest goal ever seen'.
Moxey's cross deflected off Bradford defender Paul Arnison and looped over backtracking keeper Rhys Evans for his fifth goal of the season.
And the 23-year-old believes promotion-chasing City deserved their slice of fortune as they moved joint third with Rochdale, Bury and Gillingham in the race for automatic promotion.
"This was a massive three points," said Moxey. "We haven't had a lot of luck this season but sometimes you have to work hard to get that little bit of luck.
"I saw Steve Basham in the middle so I crossed the ball and it has taken a little nick off one of their defenders and went over their keeper. But there is no doubt about the goal — it was mine.
"I haven't scored for a little while and that is what I like doing. I like defending as well but I love scoring goals, especially in front of the Big Bank, and it was fantastic to get back on the scoresheet."
Moxey believes City have proved they have got the right spirit to stay in the hunt for automatic promotion to League One.
And he says that City's backs-to-the-wall performance at the weekend — which came just a few days after a 3-1 home defeat by Bournemouth — shows they have learned the art of grinding out wins.
"It was a really good team performance," said Moxey. "You have to mix it up now and again and we knew this was going to be a hard game.
"We had to work exceptionally hard to get the win and we ground out the result and got a valuable three points.
"We didn't plan on defending the whole game but we got that goal and then did what we needed to do to hold on to the lead.
"It would have been nice to have got the second, but teams like Manchester United win 1-0 all the time and that's what we need to be doing.
"When we lost 6-1 against Chesterfield we came back and played really well and we have bounced back again this time.
"The manager doesn't let us dwell on a defeat and we were determined to get the Bournemouth game out of our system.
"We showed a different part of our game and proved we can defend a lead. They battered our goal but I don't think they created that much clear-cut and Jonesy (Paul Jones) didn't have that many saves to make."
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