Don't know where to start in trying to sum up this game (hope Phil Whalley was there as he will make a better job of it).
On the return journey I listened to Mr.Tisdale's interview with Radio Devon and he was fulsome in his praise for the quality of the football played by Stanley. I suspect he may have been a little less generous if the result was different but it was a pleasant change to hear a balanced opinion from a manager (for the record, I think Professor Coleman has also been pretty fair and shrewd in his post match comments this season).
Once the madness of the first five minutes was out of the way (both very well taken goals) I thought Exeter were the better, or at least more organised team in the first half. Even their kick off was a training ground move that nearly came off and would have resulted in an even quicker first goal. Second half was a mirror image, with Stanley keeping the Grecians pressed back in their own half.
The conditions were not ideal, and the biggest leveller was a very poor pitch, which made it increasingly difficult, especially as the rain set in, to play the ball on the ground. This disadvantaged Stanley as their short, quick passing game suffered.
Mr.McCartan caused problems whenever he ran on with or onto the ball, but was subbed as I suspect he was tiring on a sticky pitch. Crooksy was immense in the midfield, and Billy Kee had another 90 minutes of selfless battling up front on his own. Captain Conneely was my MoM for his ability to always be there to receive the pass and get Stanley out of trouble. Pierro, as often the case this season, rarely had an opponent more than three yards from him but got plenty of crosses in despite the attention he received. One negative though - Stanley barely won any headers in their box from corners or free kicks. Maybe just excellent defending? Stanley's defence were much better in the second half with Matty Pearson man-marking their danger man (Nichols, No.20) so effectively that he was subbed, to boos from the home crowd! Still think Mr.Mooney has to make his presence felt more often and more robustly - if not the entire penalty area that 6 yard box has got to be his and his alone.
Don't wish to take sides on the issue (see above) but McConville has never been a favourite of mine and today was an example of why I think so. He had a good game at Northampton, but today was lack-lustre. We sat near to some home fans and could sense their disquiet whenever Messrs Pierro or McCartan got the ball and attacked their defence. But there was no such reaction when SM got the ball as he creates little threat. Having said that he drifted in and could have had a couple in the first half but, regretfully, today I half expected to see him on the bus back to the Park&Ride with the other passengers.
But, overall, Stanley put in a great performance and this was just not to be their day.