An enthralling game resulted in both teams grabbing a point in a 2-2 draw, withneithersideable to hold onto a lead. Gary Johnson doesnt seem to like rotating his squad and this game was no different. The Posh set up in a rather familiar manner, playing a 4-4-2 formation; with their being only two changes from last Saturdays victory over Oldham. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing replaced Lee Tomlin on the right wing andthe other change was enforced on the Peterborough United manager with Ryan Bennett picking up a knee injury last weekend; as a result Gabriel Zakuani made his first start of the season, partnering Kelvin Langmead at centre back.Highly rated, Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale continued with the dangerous pairing of Daniel Nardiello and John OFlynn up-front. Ryan Harley, who already has six goals to his name this season, was also amongst the starters playing in his usual central midfield position.Poshs first half form has been poor this season but they flew out of the blocks in Exeter with George Boyd firing a shot at Paul Jones who made a good save, tipping the
Yasir Durant Jersey ball behind for a corner. From the resulting set-piece Kelvin Langmead headeda deep cro s back acro s goal but Gabriel Zakuani somehow managed to mi s a glorious opportunity, from just 2 yards, out after being left un-marked by the Grecians defence.
Grant McCanns delivery from set-pieces has been impre sive all season and it was from a corner that Posh troubled Exeters defence, in a similar manner that they had moments earlier, again Kelvin Langmead headed a deep corner back acro s goal but
New England Patriots Home Office the ball trickled just wide of the far post with numerous Posh players close do getting a decisive touch to give the visitors the lead.Grant McCanns dead-ball delivery was outstanding.Both teams were playing some lovely football and there was an intriguing battle between the two centre midfield pairings. James Wesolowski was harrying Exeter City players all over the pitch, a trait that has meant he has endeared himself to Posh fans already, with Liam Sercombe doing a similar job for the hosts. Grant McCann was instrumental, as normal, in Peterboroughs attacking moves and was stroking the ball about the St. James Park pitch, which was excellent, with ease.Neither side were creating any chances of note in what was becoming an evenly contested match. Craig Mackail-Smith was booked for a late tackle, although it
Richard Seymour Jersey was more rash than cynical, and Daniel Nardiellos chip was easily held by Joe Lewis in the Peterborough United goal.Nathaniel Mendez-Laing had failed to impre s Posh fans in the early stages of his Posh career, after signing on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer, but his first half performance was of a much better quality than his other performances and it was from a superb run by the pacey wide-man that Peterborough United earnt another corner, although Mendez-Laing felt he was fouled as he entered the Exeter penalty area. The resulting set-piece was dealt with by the Exeter defence first time but when the ball fell to George Boyd he blazed a volley over the cro s-bar when he should have tested Jones in the Exeter goal.The away side did break the dead-lock though, after beginning to look the more likely to score, but it was through an own goal from Exeter centre back TROY ARCHIBALD-HENVILLE who headed past Jones,after the goal-keeperhad came out to claim the cro s from Mendez-Laing. To be fair to the Exeter player he was under pre sure from Craig Mackail-Smith and had he not taken action the striker would have surely opened the scoring himself.Archibald-Henville headed into his own net to give Posh the lead.Exeter responded to the set-back well and the Peterborough United defence was being tested more than ever before in the match, especially as Poshs pa sing had became sloppy, and the hosts had two, ambitious, penalty appeals turned down by the referee before Steve Tullys cro s almost drifted into the far corner of Lewis net but the Posh goalkeeper made a good save, tipping the ball over his own cro s-bar for a corner.The away sides chances of holding their lead were dealt a blow when James Wesolowski appeared to pick
Russ Francis Jersey up a knee injury and was forced to be withdrawn with Nana, who generally plays in either full-back position,going straight into the central midfield place that Wesolowski had vacated. However, Posh almost extended their lead to two goals on the stroke of half-time when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing used his strength to outmuscle an Exeter defender before heading just over after a good cro s from Tommy Rowe.The first half was encouraging for the away fans, who had travelled a long distance to watch the game, but it was hard not to feel that Peterborough should have been further in-front after they mi sed a succe sion of good chances. However, Poshs second half form had been good up to this point of in the campaign and the visitors were hoping that they could continue this fine form into the second 45 minutes of this fixture.Peterborough started the second in much the same manner as they often do after a Gary Johnson team-talk and Aaron McLean headed just wide of the mark after Paul Jones had fumbled a Grant McCann corner straight onto the strikers head. The chance was a good one but it came at McLean very quickly and the front-man appeared to know little about it. McLean came close again moments later, this time after some brilliant build-up play between George Boyd and Craig Mackail-Smith, the latterfound the former Grays player
Matt Light Jersey in space but his thunderous shot cannoned back off the cro s-bar and was cleared.The hosts had not lost at St. James Park since February though and after dealing with the earlier pre sure they were put under by The Posh the backlash started. After some poor marking from a fairly innocuous throw-in by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing on the right hand side, John OFlynn found himself in space and made a good run before the ball found DANIEL NARDIELLO, somewhat fortuitously, who lashed in the equaliser, leaving Joe Lewis with little chance.Daniel Nardiello equalised for Exeter City.This goal had given the Grecians confidence and it showed. The fans were encouraging their team to grab the lead and the players were trying to oblige, playing some excellent, fast tempo, football in the proce s.Former Peterborough United player, Richard Logan
Jake Bailey Jersey , who had just come off the bench, replacing John OFlynn, glanced a header wide of Lewis goal with the Posh stopper scrambling acro s his goal-line. However, even with Exeter having the better of the play, Peterborough were still looking dangerous on the counter-attack and when the pace of Craig Mackail-Smith saw him open up some space behind the hosts defence it took a good save from Jones to deny him restoring the visitors lead with a well struck shot.Both managers were now thinking about substitutions
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