Exeter 2 Capital Canaries 3

Team line-up: Slater, Howard, Harris, Higgins (Dan Taylor 75), Perrett, Jelbert, Tett, Boucher, Utting, Galagher, Bennett

“We don’t want a fight or anything, but ref, you had a really poor game…”

The yellows turned up to be greeting by a rather stressed caretaker, fretting that many of the dressing rooms were still un-swept, team names weren’t on the board and if he wasn’t careful his sideline in dealing second hand stolen goods might be jeopardised for good…given that knowledge it was nice to see Tett’s bike still where it was left before dressing, albeit under the close supervision of “the caretakers son”.

The time came for the lads to get their heads together and discuss the whereabouts of two things…the most important being Perretts moustache…an unfortunate casualty to a few days with an itchy top lip, which of course was nothing to do with the ex-girlfriend. The second being ‘keeps, who at the last minute chose Jason Orange instead Canaries Yellow, which some of us Pray won’t happen again, but will Never Forget.

So…a re-shuffle of the pack. Slater lined up between the sticks – much to the dismay of his dad who threatened to withdraw his support unless Barney was allowed a free role. Higgins can only have obliged as Slater enjoyed himself more than ever in a display Rene Higuita could only have dreamt about. Bennett came in for an absent Matt Davies (the lads sending their love to his heavily pregnant wife) whilst Boucher slotted into the middle occupying that bit of space Exeter historically have tried to dominate.

After inflating the 3rd choice match ball, the ref finally got the game underway, but it was Norwich who were slower to start. Captain Utting was still warming up his tonsils when the Exeter number 7 received the ball wide and capitalised by cracking a left shot past stand-in ‘keeps who was given no chance. Norwich had to pick themselves up.

From the kick off, some neat footwork and distribution from Jelbert and some keen foraging down the left hand touch line from Utting began to cause concern for the South-westerners. A number of neat touches and a strong performance in the air added strength to Bennetts case as CCs best ‘old fashioned centre-forward’ whilst Galagher (whose vest and long johns were tailor made for a professional athlete) worked the front line with typical endeavour and skill.

Despite the Canaries having the better of the play, it was Exeter who broke again, scoring their second on the 20 minute mark. This time Norwich found themselves flat footed on the edge of the area and a lucky shot rebounded off the bar only to sit up perfectly for a tap in, 2-0 and quite unjust. Heads didn’t go down though, as is the trade mark of this Canaries side. Utting got his voice going again and Perrett was now finding space on the right given good distribution from Slater and Harris. Howard was also making strides out from the back – winning the ball in the air and giving simple balls to the midfield. Boucher fed Galagher nicely on a number of occasions and he began to stretch the game.

With 5 minutes left of the half Jelbert stung another impeccable challenge on the Exeter no.10, and whilst both men jostled on the deck, Tett nipped in and drove the ball through to the edge of the area only to be cynically wrestled to the ground by a challenge lacking in both technique and desire for the ball. With hearts in mouths, Tett picked himself up and got on with it. Perrett meanwhile had collected the ball, taken position and duly blasted a free kick over the wall into the bottom right corner, a great strike. Norwich were now firing, 2-1 at half-time.

The Yellows emerged with the Higgins hairdryer ringing in their ears. Everyone had a job to do and they knew it.  From the kick off Norwich were quickest, Utting went down the left again, finding an energetic Boucher only for the move to break down in the final third, something that seemed typical of the afternoon. At the other end, Slater played it out from back only for the ball to find the feet of a well placed South-westerner. He struck the ball from 35 yards at an empty net only to find the head of a flying Gareth Howard, 6ft off the ground and mid-way through a neat triple summersault routine (with tuck), who had the audacity to just push the ball onto the bar and out of play. Slater’s dad was loving it and rightly so.

At the other end Norwich won a corner and a goal mouth scramble saw the ball ricochet into the net off the keeper who was stood a yard behind his line. Perrett led the celebrations, but wait, the ref hadn’t seen it. A sneaky hole in the side netting meant the goal went unnoticed, and even after passionate protest there was no changing the refs mind. Pity to see a supreme lack of honest from Exeter it has to be said.

The game had a bit of needle in it at this point, Utting told the no.8 to get a haircut and Galagher was at logger-heads with the whole back line, in typical fashion. The canaries broke again though, and this time it was Jelbert who was illegally infringed 30 yrds from goal, allowing Perrett the chance to swing in another delivery. In it came and there was Galagher…he’d risen above all in sundry to crash a header into the net and up his goal tally by another one…what a servant to the club, 2-2.

Norwich were controlling the game now. Rainy conditions and a lumpy pitch made the football less pretty than that seen previously at Chiswick sports ground, but it was effective. Howard was Sol Campbell-esq when driving from the back, and when he found Bennett’s feet 30yrds from goal, Exeter B team (now watching) could feel something special was about to happen. Bennett swivelled on-a-sixpence and laid the ball into Tett’s path who took one touch, had a look up, and then pulled the trigger with an absolute pile-driver of a shot into the top left corner. This sparked rapturous celebrations made oh-so much sweeter by the fact that the “real score” was now 4-2 and the South-westerners were beaten.

Norwich completed the game under the watchful eye of the talented Dan Taylor from central defence, coming on for Higgins. With minutes running down Galagher showed a very useful ability to hold up the ball and run down the clock, whilst the rest of lads battled through to the whistle with muscle and commitment. Officially 3-2, still unbeaten and in great spirit, the CCs wandered in cursing the ref and congratulating themselves on a job done. Whose next then?

MoTM: Greg Tett