Never mind Grecian 2000 - it could well be the year 3,000 before Exeter City are ready to reclaim their Football League status if their pathetic first-half display game is anything to go by.

Home boss Eamonn Dolan was right on the ball when he described the opening 45 minutes by the West Countrymen as "rubbish" as the home side's lack of tactical awareness allowed Gulls to buzz forward like bees round a honey-pot.

To be honest, my only fear for the visitors - again backed by a 70-strong loyal travelling army - at the interval was that they had not turned their huge territorial superiority into more than a one goal lead.

But such worries proved in vain. Exeter, who had only once really troubled visiting goalkeeper Danny Potter in the opening 45 minutes, had far more of the play in the second-half. But they hardly gave Potter a worthwhile save to make.

From the first minute recalled Matt Joseph was sent clear down the right by an astute Neil Gregory ball and sent over a dangerous cross. It was the start of a 45 minutes in which the ex-Leyton Orient man was given the freedom of the park.

After Ty Gooden had sent a 15th minute free-kick over the top, Exeter went into attack mode for the first time with Dave McGhee making the first of a number of vital interventions when Alex Jeannin crossed.

But, with 20 minutes gone, Joseph again burst down the right, skipped past Jeannin, and left goalkeeper James Bittner in no man's land with an inch-perfect cross which Gregory headed against the bar.

The ball fell and deflected against the body unfortunate debut man Gary Sawyer, on loan from Plymouth, and into the net.

Two minutes later it could have been 2-0. This time John Kennedy sent Lee Boylan, playing at one of his previous clubs, free on the right and the goal star turned provider with a cross that saw Gregory head inches wide of the far post.

Published Monday August 30, 2004

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