Paul Beasley

Exeter

Away games often go something like this – great day out, good laugh, good beer, but spoiled by one key thing, the football.

Boxing Day was exactly the opposite. Everything about the day was pretty crap except the performance and the result.

Parking has never been a problem on previous visits to Exeter. It was this time. Residents only parking restrictions were the order of the day. But for every parked car there were about 40 empty spaces. Complete and utter madness.

Having eventually found somewhere to legally leave the car we headed for the Good Beer Guide listed Old Fire House only to find it closed. Pubs complain about the harsh economic climate and not being able to make a living. Well here’s a tip. Open.

We then discovered almost every other pub we came across was closed too. The one that was open was full of Exeter yobs the last time we visited and I’m not inclined to go into such places, particularly when I’ve got my family with me.

So, Kentucky Fried Chicken it was, as we needed the toilets. Intentionally I’d never been in KFC before and it was everything I’d feared and worse. Unappetising food, women’s toilets out of order, one till not working properly and not enough staff to clear the tables of the detritus left by previous customers. I was happy to get out of there.

There are things about St James Park that really appeal to me and things that I dislike intensely. I like the “Big Bank”. Decent sized terracing behind any goal is always alright by me. The away end is something else. It used to be bad enough but now seems even worse with a sizeable no man’s land between spectators and perimeter fence. I can’t remember that being there before.

I like the Flybe stand. It provides an unobstructed view of the pitch. I’d expect any Exeter fan in their right mind who wanted a seat to choose this location over the appalling Grandstand. They must be nuts down in Devon. As a visitor it’s the Grandstand or stand. For my £21 I got a pillar for company, a pillar that 100% obscured the goal at the far end. But by leaning forward at an angle of about 60 degrees or tilting backwards I could just about follow the play. But some people love this sort of thing. Quaint they call it. I can think of other less complimentary words.

That we actually got a game on was testimony to the drainage system which apparently was replaced two years ago. For all the rain before, and for a spell during, the match we got a pitch that played remarkably true even with a bit of surface water hanging around.

At the outset it looked as if it could be another depressing away day. We produced more mistakes than anything else. Damien Batt under no pressure knocked the ball out of play, Michael Raynes got into a muddle and Alfie Potter tried unsuccessfully to dribble out of trouble on the edge of the box.

Jamie Cureton hit the bar but we survived and that was it. Forget the stats about shots on goal etc, after scoring in the 18th minute we produced an excellent performance and were worth at least the two goal margin we came away with. Our passing football worked, we created chances and truth be told could and should have had more than the three goals.

Over the 90 plus minutes no one had a bad game, with a number of players being outstanding. Ryan Clarke’s handling was exemplary in trying conditions. He oozed confidence. The more I see of Jake Wright the more I think he could play at a higher level. His reading of the game was superb. He’s an intelligent footballer, he doesn’t dive in but when he needs to get stuck in most certainly does. He’s a lot stronger than he looks. It is absolutely essential that we get the central midfield pairing right as we play with two wide men. The getting fitter Peter Leven and Lee Cox combo worked a treat. Cox’s work rate and protective role is vital. He can pass a ball too. I really want to see him become a permanent Oxford player.

It’s years since we had a touch line hugger like Sean Rigg. He reminds me a bit of John Robertson the old Forest winger. For the most part I reckon defenders know what he is likely to do but still can’t stop him. Show inside, go outside and then get the ball in the box. An on form Riggy gets balls into the box that just weren’t arriving for our strikers before he joined the ranks.

Tommy Craddock’s strength assisted Beano for his first and poor defending for the second. Both expertly despatched, as was number three from Peter Leven. Beano provided the assist for that one. He had some game but the thing that really sticks in my mind was that he was back defending, and defending well, at the close of proceedings. That’s the sort of thing that makes such a difference.

Another pleasing factor was that we showed no crumbliness after conceding a goal from the penalty spot when Batt was very harshly adjudged to have deliberately handled the ball. Confidence has returned. This is a key ingredient needed for success.

Every game needs to be put into perspective though. Exeter are hardly a force on their own patch, now having won 3, drawn 4 and lost 6.

AFC Wimbledon

Again the rain and worry that we’d not get a match. Again, given the circumstances, we saw a pitch that held up with no noticeable problems. And again we came away with another three goals and three points.

Again when the match settled into a recognisable pattern it soon becoming clear that if we were to play as we had done a couple of days earlier we would have no worries about securing a win.

And that’s what happened. We played football and won.

For goal number one, after a slight bit of mis-control Alfie got the ball back under before playing a defence splitting pass to Rigg running into space. If Alfie were to consistently produce such things he would become an even better player. (Stating the obvious or what?)

Goal number two was made by that man Rigg. It is wondrous to see an Oxford winger consistently getting decent crosses into the box. It was even more wondrous to see that the man on the end of it was a little ‘un. If he were to add that to his game too there’s no telling where AP could end up.

Goal number three was a perfect gift and with Tommy Craddock’s control and eye for goal it was game over.

Rock bottom Wimbledon must have known it wasn’t going to be their day long before this and Leven’s marvellous up and nearly over to protect our goal at a corner a few moments earlier.

Perhaps that’s why the woeful Will Antwi decided to try and give his side an unfair advantage in what was always going to be a fruitless task by getting Beano dismissed.

On the day I couldn’t see anything in the challenge to merit a free kick let alone a red card. Although mightily indignant at the time, I thought it best to wait and view the replay knowing that our (when on form as he is now) talisman does have previous.

Having now seen it again I still hold the same view. There may have been some contact but there has to be when two players jump together. I am also of the view that Antwi should be charged by the FA either for simulation or being a despicable human being. I’m all for fair play and can’t abide cheats be they the opposition or one of our own.

To not appeal would be tantamount to an acknowledgement of guilt but to do so and fail results in an even longer ban doesn’t it? We can ill afford to lose JC at present but how much trust have we got in the FA? If ref Lee Collins first name was “Justice” he would surely have to admit to a mistake when confronted with the video evidence or fess up to the fact that he should have redded another ten players.