It’s vital we pick up points from upcoming fixtures

PIERCE SWEENEY IS THE CLUB CAPTAIN OF EXETER CITY FC

After four games without a win, it’s vital we pick up some points from Saturday’s match at home to Bolton and Tuesday’s trip to Shrewsbury.

Having been walloped 7-0 by the Trotters back in November, we’re under no illusions about the scale of the task facing us at the weekend, and while the Shrews are just one place above the relegation zone, they will be desperate to put some distance between themselves and the bottom four. That aside, I can’t pretend I’m especially looking forward to Ryan Bowman chasing me down at every opportunity!

We completely dominated the first half of our penultimate game at home to Fleetwood and while we led 1-0 at half-time, courtesy of Vinnie Harper’s first goal for the club, we really should have been out of sight. Unfortunately, it was a very different story against a much-changed Fleetwood side in the second half and Promise Omochere fired the visitors level in the 74th minute.

At that stage, the visitors were very much in the ascendancy and probably fancied their chances of going on to nick all three points. However, we eventually got to grips with the changes made by Fleetwood manager Charlie Adam and finished the game back on the front foot. Indeed, Will Aimson had the ball in the back of the net late on, only for the referee to spot some kind of infringement.

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Jayden Stockley was one of four Fleetwood players hooked at half-time and while he was understandably disappointed when I spoke to him afterwards, I was more than happy he wasn’t able to add to his not-inconsiderable haul of goals at the Park. In any case, Jayden has responded to his early substitution in some style, scoring in each of the Lancashire side’s next two games.

We made anything but the start we were looking for at Peterborough on Saturday when we found ourselves 1-0 down inside the opening five minutes. However, from thereon in we grew into the game and while there was a stroke of good fortune about Tom Carroll’s 36th-minute equaliser, which took a wicked deflection of a Posh defender, I thought we were good value for the equaliser.

Indeed, such was the venom with which Tom volleyed the ball goalwards, it’s not inconceivable he may have scored anyway. What’s more, it’s hard to begrudge someone who’s gone six years without a goal getting on the scoresheet.

Truth be told, I was more than a little surprised when I heard that stat, given Tom gets his fair share on the training pitch. Be that as it may, I guess when you’ve gone so long without a goal, you’re entitled to be excited. However, I must admit that when I saw Tom sprinting almost the entire length of the pitch to celebrate with the Exeter supporters, I was concerned it might be a bit much for a 30-something veteran!

Sadly, Tom’s goal was rendered rather less meaningful when Kwame Poku restored the home side’s lead on 74 minutes, after which, try as we might, we couldn’t quite conjure up a second equaliser. While it was disappointing to bag just a single point from the games against Fleetwood and Peterborough, there were some positives – Ryan Woods made his first starts since joining us on loan from Hull in the January transfer window, while Millenic Alli, who we signed from Halifax at the same time, came off the bench against Peterborough to make his first appearance for the club.

Of course, it’s still relatively early days. However, Ryan is already showing his undoubted class, while Milly looked a real threat at London Road, despite only coming on in the 80th minute, and went close to bagging a debut goal when his 99th-minute header was just too high.

Talking of Ryan, it has to be said he has his own rather unique running style – someone said to me it looks as if he’s desperate for the loo and I can see exactly what they mean; he walks in much the same way – I say walks, in actual fact, it’s more a duck-like waddle!

As you may have seen, Tom and I were fortunate enough to be invited to take on Exeter Chiefs duo Joe Hawkins and Danny Southworth in a nine-dart challenge ahead of last Thursday’s Premier League Darts at Westpoint. Unfortunately, the result didn’t go our way, but it was great craic playing up onstage in front of a couple of thousand well-oiled darts fans – albeit there were a few too many Argyle supporters for my liking – and something which will live with me for a long time.

I was delighted to join the manager to present Pete Eveleigh with the club’s Community Captain award last week. Pete worked for the community trust at the club before being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease [MND] in November 2022 and the award was recognition of the fantastic work he undertook to boost the self-worth of hundreds of young people.

Since being diagnosed, Pete and his wife Jess have set up a charity, Mind Over MND, to heighten awareness of the disease, raise funds to support MND causes, and contribute to the movement to bring it to an end, once and for all. It’s a fantastic cause and one myself and the club will look to support wherever we can.

In the meantime, there’s a huge weekend coming up at the Park. Aside from the big match against Bolton on Saturday, Exeter City Women take on Maidenhead United at SJP just under 24 hours later (2pm kick-off). Once again, the women are enjoying another fantastic season and I’m sure there will be a big crowd in attendance to cheer them on; all the more so given anyone who buys a ticket for the Bolton game can simultaneously purchase a ticket for the St James Road terrace at just £1.

And last but by no means least, I understand the club are looking for a new Lexi the Lion. Clearly, it’s a big costume to fill but it just occurs to me that, if for whatever reason he’s not in the 18, Yanic Wildschut would be a perfect fit. I fancy our Dutch wideman has the look of a loveable lion and, what’s more, he might even be able to bring a few of his dance moves to the role!

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