Young Bulls come from 1-0 down to score 7 second half goals in ruthless performance.
Today we travelled to Exeter for our second game in 3 days in a rearranged league fixture. Exeter lie 3rd bottom in the league so we knew we could get a good 3 points to push our way up the table.
On a poor surface Exeter started off well with the wind behind them and down a slight slope. We weathered a 10 minute storm before starting to put our passing into play but Exeter kept us at bay well. Our main chances were coming from set pieces with Carlos Moreira putting in good balls which we failed to connect with. Exeter took the lead on 25 minutes from a set piece of their own. A free header from a needless free kick made it 1-0 to the home side. We controlled the half after the goal, Moreira looking dangerous down the left but we didn't have the killer instinct in front of goal and we ended half behind.
On Wednesday our performance against Coventry wasn't good enough but today the first 45 minutes had been. We were behind because we didn't take our chances and I knew with the wind and slope to our advantage we would get goals in the second half. We changed formation and put 2 upfront as I felt we had enough in midfield to control the game and could do with the extra man in the box, something which worked perfectly.
Within 3 minutes of the second half we were 2-1 up. Moreira drew a foul inside the box and converted the penalty then 2 minutes later a great solo run and finish put us into the lead with his second. Exeter pressed us and put good balls into the box but rarely hurt us in open play apart from when Joe Davies was on hand to clear off the line. It wasn't until 20 minutes to go until we got the important 3rd goal which settled the match for us. Josh Hunt scoring from close range following a set piece and then Moreira wrapped it up with his hatrick minutes later, again from close range after good work from Matty Owen. The difference with today's game compared to others is that we didn't let up on Exeter which resulted in a scoreline that didn't flatter us. Exeter were reduced to 10 men after a poor tackle on Lewis Fletcher and Chris May made it 5 with a good header/elbow/hip from a Moreira cross. A good ball from Liam Taylor found Moreira at the back post who controlled and finished with composure for his fourth of the game and Hunt finished off a good performance with a mis-struck free kick which somehow eluded the keeper who should of thrown his cap on it. 7-1 and a great team performance on a nice day on the coast, which made the trip back a lot better.
After a loss and draw to Plymouth and Coventry respectively we needed a win and a performance today and we got both. Our fitness levels were high which shows how hard these lads work. The result moves upto fifth place with games in hand to go third and next week we travel to 4th placed Chesterfield before our huge game against Plymouth in the Semi Final of the National Cup.
Team: Benn Pugh, Liam Taylor, Simon Morgan, Joe Davies, Chris May, Lewis Fletcher, Robbie Trumper, Matty Owen, Carlos Moreira, Josh Hunt, Tom Gameson
Subs: none