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Reply | Unlucky for some ( one ).
at 22:05 20 Oct 2026
7th tier Worcester City it is then. Got banana skin written all over it if Danny doesn't take it seriously enough. |
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Reply | Colchester United looking for an inspired victory against The Spireites
at 21:59 20 Oct 2026
I actually enjoyed that. Proper backs to the wall last-ditch defending in the first half, and we could have been out of sight, but second half we were so much better. Deserved the equaliser, and we could have won it late on, but still an excellent point overall. Delighted for Perry too, it gives hope for the future. |
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Reply | Unlucky for some ( one ).
at 12:03 20 Oct 2026
A replay would be a very unlikely event indeed, given it'll be extra time and straight to penalties if needed. |
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Reply | Danny to ensure the Grecians Urn zip, nadda, zilch…
at 16:58 17 Oct 2026
Tough game, probably deserved the win, but you can see why Exeter have only conceded six goals so far. However, infinitely better than last Saturday.
Still, look on the bright side, only one team in Essex is still in the FA Cup! Bravo Berkhamstead! |
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Reply | Danny to ensure the Grecians Urn zip, nadda, zilch…
at 14:03 17 Oct 2026
Jack Payne and Harry Anderson both injured, Thorn and Terry starting - not sure what that means in terms of formation? Presumably Terry, Digby, Tucker and Iandolo across the back, Hunt and Williams in the middle, Lubala, Thorn and Sesay ahead and Ihionvien up front? |
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Thread | Danny to ensure the Grecians Urn zip, nadda, zilch…
at 18:16 16 Oct 2026
Well that’s what he hopes anyway, but the way things are going at the moment, that might be less than expectation. I wish there was some sort of positive spin I could put on the trip to Newport last weekend, but it was just poor. The football lacked any quality (on both sides), the ref blew for absolutely everything (apart from Hunt’s desperate attempt to haul down Matty Jacobs to prevent their goal), and the popped up U’s kids were just embarrassing. My high point – had a lovely afternoon with Alfie, the Newport stewards (and the police) were as first rate as ever, in spite of some severe provocation at times, and the chips were excellent.
Whilst we were in Newport purgatory, tomorrow’s opponents Exeter City were doing what we failed to do, holding on to a lead at Shrewsbury, albeit their goal came just four minutes from the end of normal time. That win moved them up to mid-table, but given how early in the season we are, still only two points ahead of the U’s.
Form is temporary…
This time last season, after nine games we were 20th with eight points, so from a glass half-full perspective you could say 19th and ten points is ahead of last season’s curve? It just doesn’t really feel like it right now, but 3pts on Saturday will no doubt brighten everyone’s outlook. Moses Sesay ‘tops’ the goal scoring on three goals, Harry with two and a bunch of others on one goal. Therein is the problem, Moses and Harry are midfielders, it’s the men up front who are struggling to make an impression.
Played for both
Considering we’re on virtually the opposite sides of the country, the number of players who made the journey (directly or indirectly) is actually quite impressive. As I mentioned in my previous preview, that inevitably includes Jamie Cureton, but it also includes Matt Jay. I remember the buzz amongst supporters when Matt Bloomfield signed him in January 2023. Matt Jay had always been a thorn in our side when he played against us, and he seemed a real coup.
The signs were there though, on Grecian forums – despite his folk hero status, and many sorry to see him go, no one was really surprised given his first team opportunities at League 1 Exeter were few and far between. A drop down to League 2 could have been just what his career needed. Sadly though, it didn’t really work out here either, and after 39 appearances spanning three seasons (and just one goal scored), we agreed to part company, and Matt Jay returned to the West Country at Torquay United, where he combines playing for the first team and recently appointed as Head of Youth.
There are loads of others, so recollections/ recommendations gladly received.
Head to head
To date, we’ve played Exeter City 80 times in the League (W26, D22, L32), five times in various cup competitions (W2, D1, L2), and twice in the play-offs (W1, L1) – obviously the latter were the home and away legs of the 2020 Covid play-offs. We hold the unenviable record of being the first team to go out of the FA Cup without conceding a goal, after 0-0 draws home and away in the 1991 FA Cup 1st Round and then losing the newly introduced penalty shoot-out 2-4.
Games to remember: A 5-1 victory at St James Park back in 1985 under Cyril Lea, a 4-0 victory under Jock Wallace at Layer Road as we flirted with relegation to the conference in 1989, and of course John Ward’s 5-1 demolition of a very poor Grecian outfit in 2011. Games best forgotten: the aforementioned Cyril Lea’s in 1984 losing 3-4 at Layer Road, a 0-5 battering at St James Park for Jimmy Allen back in 1951, and a few other matches down there where we’ve conceded four, but nothing compares to the 1-6 defeat for Steve Ball’s U’s back in 2020 during lockdown (Matt Jay scored a brace).
Line-up
So in addition to Newport County, we now also know that Kouassi is out for quite a while. I must admit, starting with no recognised strikers on the pitch at Newport was somewhat baffling, and given the performance, hopefully an experiment we won’t see again. With no criticism of Oscar, we did marginally improve once Bradley replaced him, so fingers-crossed we stick with that tomorrow. We can’t not start Moses, you just never know whether you’re going to get dribbling wizardry or wizardly dribbles served up – and often both in the same game.
Lo-TutalaIandoloDigbyTuckerHuntPayneWilliams (Jay)LubalaAndersonSesayIhionvien Substitutes: Smith Chiwome Harvey Kuffour Thorn Roberts Terry
Another tough game looms, and with following fixtures away at Chesterfield and Northampton, and then home to Walsall, now is definitely the time to get three points on the board. By the end of the month, we could be firmly in the play-off promotion hunt…or potentially in a lot of trouble – fingers crossed. Tomorrow will be tight, but I have to believe we can get the result – 2-1 to the U’s with Bradley to get us off the mark.
Weather watch
There’ll probably be some rain about before kick-off, but that should have dried up by 3pm. It’ll be patchy cloud for the game, about 13-14 degrees and with a moderate breeze from the north, hopefully helping our attack towards the south stand.
Up the U’s! [Post edited 17 Oct 7:32]
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Reply | Former U's
at 10:25 13 Oct 2026
Terrible news, that's no age at all.
Condolences to his family and friends - rest in peace Doug. |
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Reply | Exiles to lose their undefeated home record, as the U's finally win away
at 09:38 11 Oct 2026
Unfortunately, it only takes a few disappointing results for the RC shit to resurface. I got the sense that a few of the older vocal supporters weren’t there yesterday as a moderating influence. To be honest though, there was very little for a decent turnout to get excited about. I thought Digby had a decent game, but few others did. Jack Payne was surprisingly poor, struggled to find a pass all game.
Chips were good though. |
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Reply | Exiles to lose their undefeated home record, as the U's finally win away
at 09:50 10 Oct 2026
Nice one mfb, thanks! I must admit I always find it a bit of a quandary whether a reformed club is the same club as the original? Newport Council thought so, which was why they prohibited the new Newport from playing at Somerton Road over unpaid rent owed by the old Newport.
Second trip of the season coming up, looking forward to it. |
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Reply | Happy League 2026/27 Week 9 (of 38) - Deadline Saturday 10th October 12.30
at 09:08 10 Oct 2026
ASTON VILLA v BRENTFORD 1-1
CHELSEA v AFC BOURNEMOUTH 2-0
IPSWICH TOWN v FULHAM 2-0
CHARLTON ATHLETIC v BRISTOL CITY (12.30) 1-2
BLACKBURN ROVERS v CARDIFF CITY 1-1
PRESTON NORTH END v MILLWALL 3-1
BRADFORD CITY v LEYTON ORIENT 3-0
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN v SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1-2
CRAWLEY TOWN v CHESTERFIELD 0-2
YORK CITY v NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2-1 |
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Reply | U's Mad As Hatters Take The Win
at 17:19 3 Oct 2026
U's lose in the penalty shootout, but a great equaliser from Brad to give us that chance. For those that care, I believe we still have a chance of getting through to the knockout stages, but I think it relies on Ipshit U21s beating Posh, and then Luton beat Posh and we beat the tractor boys - there might be other scenarios, so happy to be corrected. |
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Reply | U's Mad As Hatters Take The Win
at 15:55 3 Oct 2026
0-0 at halftime, and quite an entertaining game to be honest. Luton are the better side at the moment, but not by much, and neither side have created any really clear cut chances. [Post edited 3 Oct 15:55]
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Reply | U's Mad As Hatters Take The Win
at 10:24 3 Oct 2026
Incidentally, only S3 is open for ticket sales, but it’s looking quite full. Luton have apparently sold more than 500 tickets, so with the West Stand included, probably be around 2,000 attendance. Not bad considering it’s the EFL Trophy, probably more than double what we’d normally get. |
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