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Hartlepool curb Exeter’s bounce to spring from bottom of League Two Hartlepool curb Exeter’s bounce to spring from bottom of League Two
(about 3 hours later)
The foot of League Two is proving a springboard. Early in September Exeter City lay there, whereupon they drew one and won four to reach mid-table. Nine days ago Carlisle were bottom, won at Hartlepool and left The Pool in their place, prompting the manager, Colin Cooper, to resign. On Saturday, as Carlisle won again, Hartlepool were at St James Park and upheld the trend with a 2-1 victory. The soothsayer in front was not surprised. “I’ve been coming here for 70 years,” he said before kick-off, “and it’s always the bottom teams that beat us.” It was Hartlepool’s third win in four visits, not that they have always been bottom. The base of League Two is proving a springboard. Early in September Exeter City lay there, whereupon they drew one and won four to reach mid-table. Nine days ago Carlisle were bottom, won at Hartlepool and left The Pool in their place, prompting the manager, Colin Cooper, to resign. On Saturday, as Carlisle won again, Hartlepool were at St James Park and upheld the trend with a 2-1 victory. The soothsayer in front was not surprised. “I’ve been coming here for 70 years,” he said before kick-off, “and it’s always the bottom teams that beat us.” It was Hartlepool’s third win in four visits, not that they have always been bottom.
For the Grecians, if not ancient Greeks, it was not meant to be like this. Another win would have taken them to within a point of the play-offs. But Exeter live on short commons. Their ground is a throwback, though it has its own station – not a request stop, as some on the line are, but front carriage only – their manager, Paul Tisdale, a shoestring in human form. And the tiny squad was riddled with injuries.For the Grecians, if not ancient Greeks, it was not meant to be like this. Another win would have taken them to within a point of the play-offs. But Exeter live on short commons. Their ground is a throwback, though it has its own station – not a request stop, as some on the line are, but front carriage only – their manager, Paul Tisdale, a shoestring in human form. And the tiny squad was riddled with injuries.
Their fans do not complain much. After all, they own the club. Since 2003, after debt, fraud and demotion to the Conference, Exeter City Supporters’ Trust has been the majority shareholder. While it has stood by Tisdale through more than eight years he has refused other club’s approaches. Loyalty rides the ups and downs and provides stability. In the same time Watford, at their present rate of striking, will get through 319 managers. Their fans do not complain much. After all, they own the club. Since 2003, after debt, fraud and demotion to the Conference, Exeter City Supporters’ Trust has been the majority shareholder. While it has stood by Tisdale through more than eight years he has refused other club’s approaches. Loyalty rides the ups and downs and provides stability. In the same time Hartlepool have had six managers and Watford, at their present rate, will get through 319.
Tisdale enjoys being his own man and, second only to Arsène Wenger in unbroken league management, has lifted Exeter out of the Conference and, in 2010-11, to eighth in League One, two short of Hartlepool’s best just before.Tisdale enjoys being his own man and, second only to Arsène Wenger in unbroken league management, has lifted Exeter out of the Conference and, in 2010-11, to eighth in League One, two short of Hartlepool’s best just before.
He took defeat well. “Hartlepool had a simple purpose about what they tried to do, which on its day can work out, so well played to them,” he said. “In the first half our possession play and control of the game was as near as good as you’ll get. But is it any wonder we looked disjointed once or twice later? Players are tired and playing half-injured. We haven’t got the capacity to respond to these problems and had no opportunity to go into the game with some kind of energy and fluidity. In the end we didn’t have enough spark in us.” They could have done with Buffalo Bill, who played St James Park before the footballers.He took defeat well. “Hartlepool had a simple purpose about what they tried to do, which on its day can work out, so well played to them,” he said. “In the first half our possession play and control of the game was as near as good as you’ll get. But is it any wonder we looked disjointed once or twice later? Players are tired and playing half-injured. We haven’t got the capacity to respond to these problems and had no opportunity to go into the game with some kind of energy and fluidity. In the end we didn’t have enough spark in us.” They could have done with Buffalo Bill, who played St James Park before the footballers.
It was a fair summary. Both sides had lost Johnstone’s Paint Trophy matches on Tuesday but two of Exeter’s, the goalkeeper Christy Pym and left-footed midfielder Matt Grimes, were rushed back from Thursday’s England Under-20 win over Germany in Heerenveen, with Tisdale’s thanks to the FA. He called it a “quality problem to have”. Exeter have forged a healthy youth stream and need to draw on it. The manager has only once paid a fee for a player, £60,000 in 2010. He re-registered himself, at 41, earlier this season but Matt Oakley (37, Southampton and Leicester) and Danny Butterfield (34, Crystal Palace) provided the onfield experience. Oakley was an outstanding sweeper as Tisdale juggled his available resources positionally. It was a fair summary. Both sides had lost Johnstone’s Paint Trophy matches on Tuesday but two of Exeter’s, the goalkeeper Christy Pym and left-footed midfielder Matt Grimes, were rushed back from Thursday’s England Under-20 win over Germany in Heerenveen, with Tisdale’s thanks to the FA. He called it a “quality problem to have”. Exeter have forged a healthy youth stream and need to draw on it. The manager has only once paid a fee for a player, £50,000 in 2010. He re-registered himself, at 41, earlier this season but Matt Oakley (37, Southampton and Leicester) and Danny Butterfield (34, Crystal Palace) provided the onfield experience. Oakley was an outstanding sweeper as Tisdale juggled his available resources positionally.
Grimes would have put Exeter ahead on the half-hour with a 25-yard shot but for a flying save by Scott Flinders before Hartlepool’s vigorous start to the second half decided the match. Michael Duckworth’s overlap and cross gave Michael Woods the opener and Charlie Wyke’s second confirmed Exeter’s loss of shape. Pym might have got something on that shot but otherwise showed a precocious command and fine agility. With 10 minutes left Christian Ribeiro forced home Grimes’ free-kick from Tom Nichols’ flick-on but The Pool could have felt aggrieved if the added-time header by City’s captain, Scot Bennett, had not been high.Grimes would have put Exeter ahead on the half-hour with a 25-yard shot but for a flying save by Scott Flinders before Hartlepool’s vigorous start to the second half decided the match. Michael Duckworth’s overlap and cross gave Michael Woods the opener and Charlie Wyke’s second confirmed Exeter’s loss of shape. Pym might have got something on that shot but otherwise showed a precocious command and fine agility. With 10 minutes left Christian Ribeiro forced home Grimes’ free-kick from Tom Nichols’ flick-on but The Pool could have felt aggrieved if the added-time header by City’s captain, Scot Bennett, had not been high.
Sam Collins, warrior defender and current caretaker, thought his “players were awesome”, no doubt endorsed by their 93 fans. Exeter’s, almost 600 up after the four wins, expressed their own awe for Jo Pavey, long-distance athlete, who made a half-time appearance.Sam Collins, warrior defender and current caretaker, thought his “players were awesome”, no doubt endorsed by their 93 fans. Exeter’s, almost 600 up after the four wins, expressed their own awe for Jo Pavey, long-distance athlete, who made a half-time appearance.
As Hartlepool made their points on the field and Exeter confirmed theirs off it, this was a heartening afternoon for sport’s team ethic at the end of a week suggesting that, while there may be honour among thieves, there is none among sportsmen with personal agendas to pursue who are happy to sell a book – and their mates down the river.As Hartlepool made their points on the field and Exeter confirmed theirs off it, this was a heartening afternoon for sport’s team ethic at the end of a week suggesting that, while there may be honour among thieves, there is none among sportsmen with personal agendas to pursue who are happy to sell a book – and their mates down the river.
Tranmere Rovers, meanwhile, now bottom, can look forward to the trampoline effect at Oxford on Saturday.Tranmere Rovers, meanwhile, now bottom, can look forward to the trampoline effect at Oxford on Saturday.