Grecians earn point on the road in game of few chances

Exeter City extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to four games as they battled hard and yet again kept a clean sheet in their goalless draw away to Colchester United.

A cagey first half was short of real chances for either side. Bradley Ihionvien had a header ruled out for offside for Colchester, while City's best effort was a Charlie Cummins strike comfortably saved by the goalkeeper.

Moses Sesay hit the crossbar early in the second half as the U's looked the more likely to find a winner. But City's defence held firm for a valiant point on the road and kept their impressive defensive record up with just six goals conceded in 11 games, as while the U's had 18 shots on goal, only two were on target.

It was though only a point that City picked up and as a result they dropped down the table to 16th. But League Two is tight as the Grecians are just two points off the play-offs.

Matt Taylor named an unchanged Exeter City side who ended the 15 match winless run on the road last Saturday at Shrewsbury Town, with Jack Taylor again chosen in the centre of defence. Matchwinner Sonny Cox was again among the subs, as was a fit again Reece Cole after an Achilles injury ruled him out of the last three games.

It was the Grecians who had the first chance as after a neat move, George Birch picked out Lakyle Samuel, but his sweetly-struck effort was blocked by Beryly Lubala. The Colchester man then had their first effort shortly afterwards but couldn't hit the target.

Moments later, the hosts had the ball in the back of the net. Moses Sesay did well to get the ball into the area, Ihionvien got on the end of it and his header had enough power to beat Jack Bycroft's hand he got on it. But the Grecians were saved by the offside flag going up to rule it out.

Ihionvien wasted a decent chance when he overhit the ball to Oscar Thorn when in a promising position, while Sesay curled an effort straight into the arms of Bycroft as Colchester were shading the opening half. Cummins forced the U's keeper into a simple save with a rare Exeter effort, while back at the other end, Thorn saw an effort deflected just wide, as it was goalless at the break in what had been a cagey first half.

Neither manager made any changes at half-time. The first chance of the second half fell to Danny Cowley's side, and they were inches away from getting the goal. Sesay again was the man threatening as he cut inside and let fly, but his strike bounced off the crossbar and didn't quite cross the line, as the Grecians had a lucky escape.

Thorn saw a dipping strike just not dip enough and went over the bar as the hosts were on top in the second half but without really threatening. On the hour Taylor made a triple change with Cox, Cole and Ethan Sutherland replacing George Birch, Anthony Scully and Taylor Perry. Cummins was booked for simulation when it looked like the Irishman had been fouled.

Sesay was the threat for the hosts and only a brilliant challenge from Jack Fitzwater stopped him as he danced into the penalty box as the game very much had the feel that a single goal would be enough to win it. Vincent Harper replaced Josh Gordon with City's next change. Sesay then hit the wall with a free-kick before blazing over the follow-up.

Four minutes of stoppage-time were added-on as both sides tried to push for the late winner. City had half a chance when Harper found space but he woefully overhit the cross which kind of summed up the game as a whole in lacking real quality, as it finished 0-0.

Exeter City are back in action on Tuesday when they host Crewe Alexandra.

Exeter City: Jack Bycroft, Lakyle Samuel, Jack Taylor, Jack Fitzwater, Luca Woodhouse, Charlie Cummins, Jake Doyle Hayes, Taylor Perry (Sonny Cox, 60), Anthony Scully (Ethan Sutherland, 60), George Birch (Reece Cole, 60), Josh Gordon (Vincent Harper, 78)

Subs: Frankie Phillips, Ed James, Liam Oakes,

Booking: Fitzwater, Cummins