Bantams suffer familiar failings in Exeter replay loss

CITY’S FA Cup journey reached the end of the road after nearly 1,200 miles as Exeter came from behind to settle the replayed replay.

Two midweek treks to Devon and back – the equivalent of travelling from Bradford to Barcelona – ended with a first-round exit that will stand this time.

Twenty-four days after the Grecians had grabbed a late equaliser at Valley Parade, they made the most of their second chance and finally got the job done.

And after all the furore from the cancelled game a fortnight earlier, it was ironic that the tie should be sealed by a substitute.

Defender George Ray netted an ugly late winner as Exeter’s second-half changes ultimately proved the difference.

City’s 81 travelling fans – five more than in the “null and void” visit – were treated to a free beer by chief executive Ryan Sparks.

And for 45 minutes, their loyalty was rewarded with a convincing display from the team.

Sadly, as at Tranmere last Tuesday, the Bantams faded after the break as the hosts strengthened their ranks.

It was a depressingly familiar storyline that has been played out too often this season – chances not taken and no sign of a clean sheet.

No wonder Derek Adams was in a scathing mood afterwards.

In the bigger picture, the free weekend now might do City a favour in helping recharge batteries after their sixth away trip in seven games – an “unheard of” run according to their manager.

But it’s still another body blow for a team without a win from that non-stop November, particularly given how they had controlled the first half.

None of the officials from the previous fortnight, who were equally culpable for Exeter’s law-breaking sixth sub for not knowing the updated rules, were involved again.

Instead, Surrey referee Charles Breakspear made his third appearance of the round having already officiated games at Crawley and Solihull.

Adams only had six on the bench having brought a 17-man travelling squad - with Abo Eisa the latest to re-join the casualty list.

His starting slot was taken by Elliot Watt, whose unused presence at Scunthorpe was the first time he had not been involved in a league game since joining the club.

City lined up 4-3-2-1 with Alex Gilliead and Callum Cooke supporting striker Lee Angol – who was eager to make a point after his red card in the game that “never happened”.

And he needed only 11 minutes to do just that.

The Bantams started on the front foot against a much-changed home side and were rewarded when Angol peeled off at the back post and buried Oscar Threlkeld’s lofted cross into the bottom corner.

Lee Angol makes his point after firing City into an early lead

He certainly milked the moment in front of the home fans who had given him so much stick two weeks earlier.

It nearly got even better for the Bantams as they roared forward again and Threlkeld’s drive took a slight flick off Colin Daniel to miss the far post by inches.

The only scare in the first 20 minutes came from an undercooked back pass from Watt as Richard O’Donnell raced to clear into the stand before Jevani Brown could pounce.

Exeter generally looked ragged with City playing with the bit between their teeth. Angol threatened to get in again when Levi Sutton threaded a pass between the centre halves.

City continued to take advantage of the hosts’ sloppiness and Watt set up Cooke bursting into the box. But he leaned back as he shot and the drive cleared Cameron Dawson’s bar.

The chances kept coming. Niall Canavan nodded down Cooke’s corner for Watt to unleash a thudding left-footer that Dawson pushed behind.

The corner then popped out as far as Threlkeld who sent it back with interest from 20 yards out and Dawson did well to just about hold on in front of the line.

City were well worth their half-time advantage – but also knew that it could and should have been more emphatic. We all sensed what might happen next.

That was underlined in the opening minutes of the second half.

In an immediate warning signal, O’Donnell spread himself to thwart Josh Coley after Owura Edwards had slipped the young striker through.

But Exeter were level six minutes in when a free-kick from Josh Key, the fateful sixth sub a fortnight ago, found its way through some unconvincing defending to reach former Bantam Timothee Dieng who finished from a similar position to Angol.

Now it was City under the cosh as the weather grew worse and Threlkeld did well to stop Edwards getting off a shot from another surging run.

Watt went down in the Exeter box in a challenge with Sam Stubbs but the ref was unmoved – and had a quiet word with the City man about the fall.

Grecians boss Matt Taylor made a treble change with 20 minutes left – top scorer Matt Jay, who netted twice on City’s last visit, was among the new arrivals.

Jay immediately warmed O’Donnell’s hands from 25 yards as the momentum swung firmly in Exeter’s favour.

But it was fellow sub Ray who made the decisive impact, nodding home an Archie Collins’ corner 10 minutes from time as the City backline got in another tangle trying to clear.

O'Donnell stayed on his line and those in front failed to deal with the danger - it looked another avoidable goal to concede.

Theo Robinson laid a late cross on a plate along the six-yard box but it went unrewarded – and that was as close as the visitors got to a response.

The FA Cup is gone for another year. City’s season now revolves solely on the league where there remains so much work to be done.