Their movement and passing was highly creditable. The next 30 seconds saw the class of a top scoring league 1 side at the top of their game.
The Exeter goalie was wearing a bright orange kit of exceptional luminescence so SYMES had a clear idea of exactly where he was positioned as he curled a delightful 20 yard shot over and round him and into the roof of the net. Good work from Smith down the right flank set him up. I don’t think many would complain if his loan was extended by a considerable length of time.
Exeters vocal, 800 strong, contingent were temporarily silenced. Fortunately bogey boy Jamie Cureton blazed over when well positioned afew minutes later.
McQuoid had a dipping volley saved and Logan headed Golbourne’s cross wide when he should have done better.
Another delightful move on the half hour saw the ball worked out to Wiggins, his deep cross was headed back across goal by Feeney and knocked into the net by PUGH from about six yards.
It should have been three before half-time but McQuoid got fractionally ahead of a cross and headed the ball the wrong way when it looked easier to put it into the back of the net.
In the latter stages of the first half Cherries were playing with such intensity, such pace, movement and skill that I was forced to think back to when I had ever seen anything like it before. Occasionally we get three of those qualities but with pace as well?
The second half continued in entertaining style as Exeter attempted to get back in it. Harley’s curling shot across Jalal was athletically tipped away and a header from the resulting corner held on the line.
Pugh had a low, curling shot tipped round for a corner before a long ball up to McQuoid resulted in him being pulled over in the area. The ref wasn’t interested but the lino with a clearer view flagged immediately and SYMES netted his second from the spot in more or less identical manner to Saturdays’ penalty. It will be interesting to see if he continues with the same tactic, if the goalies hadn’t bought the dummy, they would have been easy enough to save.
Robinson had another low shot scrambled round for a corner before Eddie made some substitutions. Taylor came on for McQuoid and did nothing other than to convince this reporter he is still very green at this level.
Supa replaced Symes and had time to get in an on-target header of the looping, no power variety and Marvin received a standing ovation when replaced by Hollands
The crowd were buzzing after the final whistle, eagerly anticipating the Saints match and marvelling at the evenings performance
Difficult to choose an MoM from plenty of contenders, Bartley shades it from Robinson and Smith.
AFCB: Jalal, Smith, Garry, Pearce, Wiggins, Feeney, Robinson, Bartley, Pugh, Symes, McQuoid
Subs: Stewart, Cummings, Cooper, Bradbury, Taylor (for McQuoid, 81 mins), Fletcher (for Symes, 85 mins), Hollands (for Bartley, 88 mins)
Gordon Buchan, Yately