City will be bitterly disappointed at crashing out of the FA Trophy to a scrambled goal in the dying moments of a game in which they had what seemed like a perfectly good effort of their own disallowed and created enough chances to have at least brought the Grecians back to Milton Road for a replay.

Exeter came into the match on the back of their biggest game of the season on Monday evening when Accrington’s 3-1 victory at St James’ Park put a huge dent in the Devonians’ hopes of gaining automatic promotion.

Jake Edwards grabbed a late consolation goal but was ineligible for this Trophy encounter and Chris Todd, withdrawn through injury, was only fit enough for a place on the bench, Santos Gaia and skipper Glenn Cronin (missing for the last month), stepped in to replace them.

The keeper takes the ball under pressure from Robbie Simpson

For the Lilywhites, a run of five straight victories which earned Gary Roberts the Conference South ‘Manager of the Month’ award for January came to an end at Dorchester last Saturday. However, despite the absence of the cup-tied Greg Lincoln the visitors were unchanged for the fifth successive game.

The hosts looked to impose their authority in the early stages, Jon Challinor charged down Craig Dobson’s clearance and tested Danny Naisbitt from range but the ‘keeper held on at the second attempt.

City soon hit back, good work by Robbie Simpson wide on the right resulted in a well placed cross which found Paul Booth whose close range effort was blocked by the legs of Paul Jones, the loose ball fell invitingly for Dale Binns who snatched at the chance and the opportunity was gone.

Cronin tested Naisbitt with a twenty yard free kick after Mark Molesley had felled Challinor but the former AFC Wimbledon stopper was well position to claim.

With City gaining in confidence Lee Chaffey freed Booth through the inside left channel and the 20 goal striker crossed for Robbie Simpson who rose unchallenged at the far post but couldn’t get over the ball and headed wide.

Simpson returned the compliment in the Lilywhites’ next attack when a deft header freed Booth who was homing in on goal before his progress was halted by Gaia on the edge of the box, a challenge which earned the central defender a caution. Booth took the resultant free kick, forcing Jones to tip over the bar at full stretch.

More good work by Challinor created the space for Matthew Gill to strike but he was disappointingly off target when well positioned to work Naisbitt.

The Grecians had looked less than convincing defensively from open play and with the game 25 minutes old they came close to conceding from a set piece. Craig Pope’s well flighted centre was met by Matt Langston and with Jones beaten only the intervention of Danny Woodards on the goal line kept the score sheet blank.

Moments later City thought they had grabbed a lead, which on the balance of play would have been no less than they deserved. Craig Dobson’s purposeful run took him past Wayne Carlisle before an inviting cross saw Robbie Simpson rise with Jones. In attempting to claim above the head of the striker Jones appeared to over reach and drop the ball, Simpson gratefully smashed home but the goal was chalked off for a foul on the goalkeeper. Possibly as a result of his frustration at this incident Simpson was then guilty of a late challenge on Gaia which earned him a yellow card.

A City effort is headed off the line

Exeter’s best chance seemed to be from set plays and Gaia was narrowly off target when he got something on Carlilse’s left sided corner.

However, in the closing stages of the half City enjoyed a purple patch which should have seen them ahead at the break. A flowing move started by Dale Binns on the left saw the ball worked across field by Paul Booth and Josh Simpson into the path of Craig Dobson who found space on the right hand side of the area but screwed his shot wide.

Dobson continued to be a thorn in the side of the Grecians defence, another penetrating run took the fleet footed winger past Billy Jones, despite looking well placed to shoot himself he squared inside to Robbie Simpson who failed to make a full blooded connection and Paul Jones was able to make a scrambling save.

Exeter were then undone by a straight forward ball over the top, Matt Langston’s lofted pass sent Paul Booth clear through the inside left channel. The former Welling hit man had more time than he may have realised however and his first time strike faded wide of goal.

Whilst many of his team mates seemed to have difficulty in raising their game former Lilywhites’ midfielder Challinor continued to drive the Grecians forward and more good work in the dying moments of the half saw him break clear down the left and deliver a pinpoint cross for Carlisle who was denied by Chaffey, the left back making a superb recovery run and block to ensure that the teams left the field on level terms.

Alex Inglethorpe’s reaction to a lack lustre display was to make two changes at the break, recent signings Chris Todd and Paul Buckle replacing Gaia and Gill respectively.

The changes almost played immediate dividends as straight from the restart Challinor sped clear down the left and centred for Lee Phillips whose shot was blocked from point blank range.

Naisbitt then palmed Carlisle’s mis-hit cross over the bar and from the resultant corner claimed at the feet of Phillips in a goalmouth scramble.

There was no doubt that the hosts were now displaying greater urgency and for the most part City were penned in but the back four were resolute in front of Danny Naisbitt and on the rare occasions when Exeter threatened from open play the Lilywhites’ rearguard were up to the challenge as typified by Matt Langston who was perfectly positioned to snuff out a Phillips half-chance after a lightening break had created the chance for the striker to add to his ten goal haul for the season.

With almost thirty minutes still remaining Alex Inglethporpe made his third and final change introducing another former Lilywhite, Steve Flack, for Craig Farrell.

Shortly afterwards Gary Roberts made his onlysubstitution, Craig Dobson was withdrawn for the hero of the 2-1 win at Barrow in the last round, Michael Gash.

Matt Langston gets to grips with an opponent

Despite conceding the territorial advantage City were content to soak up the Exeter pressure and look to hit the hosts on the break, however the game plan was dealt a serious blow with eight minutes remaining. Having switched to a wide right role at the withdrawal of Dobson, Robbie Simpson was penalised for an innocuous challenge on Challinor. Under some provocation Simpson showed sufficient dissent to prompt Mr Tomlinson to produce a second yellow followed by a red card. It would be hard to argue that technically, the decision was incorrect, however within the context of the game it appeared extremely harsh.

Having coped well with a bombardment of long throws launched by Challinor, City eventually succumbed with barely three minutes remaining. Danny Naisbitt found himself under extreme ariel pressure at his near post and having made several long distance punches on previous occasions was this time only able to deflect the ball onto the crossbar from Steve Flack’s backward header. It was difficult to see (as a result of restricted view of the goal) who got the final touch on the rebound as the ball was bundled over the line but there were suggestions that it could have been Craig Pope. Relief for Exeter, heartbreak for City.

There seemed no way back in the time remaining, especially as Exeter chose to take the ball into the corners at every opportunity, a tactic which earned Challinor a yellow card for time wasting.

However, with the allotted three minutes of added time at an end City could have taken the tie back to Milton Road with the last kick of the game. Naisbitt launched a free kick down the right wing which Dale Binns collected and attempted to lay inside to Michael Gash, the ball missed the teenage striker and the retreating Exeter defenders and landed invitingly at the feet of Booth clear on goal. The striker lashed his first time shot past the despairing Jones but shaved the outside of the upright and City were out of the Trophy.

After the initial disappointment of defeat City can reflect on a very creditable performance against a team who will almost certainly feature in the end of season play-offs for a place in League Two. If circumstances allow the Lilywhites to achieve their ultimate aim of promotion, performances such as this should encourage the Milton Road club that they can compete at the higher level.