With a first home win since mid-November and 3 points which move the Dons up to 11th, ultimately, this was a good job done but after an awful start it could so easily have been different. The Dons are notorious slow starters, but after just 10 minutes in is very much looked like this was going to be a very bad day for the Wombles having conceded the first goal after barely a couple of minutes from an Exeter corner that apparently went in off Midson after a melee in front of Worner that might well have been pulled up for a foul on the ‘keeper if it was anyone else but us. The opening goal really rocked the Dons and we failed to get into the game giving Exeter the opportunity to pass it through us and build up an unassailable lead early on, as we did with Torquay a fortnight ago. The Devon side sensed their opportunity and threw players forward and, in the case of their no. 20, threw themselves to the deck as soon as they got inside the Dons’ penalty area.
The Dons had shaped up in their 5-3-2 again with Fuller and Kennedy out wide again and new signing Jones coming in for the injured Frampton. Kennedy in particular was struggling under pressure early on and it was perhaps the introduction of Arthur after 25 minutes, when Kennedy had to go off injured, that change the game in the Dons favour. The tide had turned but the Dons equaliser was almost as fortuitous as Exeter’s opener with Wyke chasing a hopeless ball to the corner flag and somehow both keeping it in and managing to squeeze through along the by-line before powering a centre which ricocheted in off “fluke Moore”.
The Dons were on top but it wasn’t until KSL came on after an hour that the Dons had some edge up front and it was KSL’s direct dribbling and shot that set up the Dons’ winner which Midson toe-poked in. Immediately after the Dons took the lead, a tempest of biblical proportions descended making and football impossible and the Dons were able to see out time relatively unchallenged even almost adding a third when KSL dribbled through pretty much the entire Exeter backline. Given the impact of KSL and Arthur many are asking why the pair don’t start.
We received confirmation this week that Porter has one back to Burnley. Ardley referred to Porter suffering a loss of form but with many criticising his attitude, whether dropping him led to Burnley recalling him or whether he was sent back as he wasn’t gonna get a game, rumours abound of a training room bust up with Porter chief protagonist. Continuing the loan-watch, Wyke did well today and possibly more importantly allowed that boy “he scores for both teams” Jack Midson to perform. I would be surprised if Wyke’s loan wasn’t extended to the end of the season.
A win’s a win but Exeter are in a poor run of form and, whilst this season’s fare has been a massive improvement on last, the Dons inability to impose themselves on struggling teams this season has been a major worry. There are (thankfully as many as) 13 teams below us in the league currently and (ridiculously) we have lost to half of them!! This time we won ugly but we really need to toughen up!
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