EXETER’S home ground is named after the patron saint of labourers and York City can look to build on their latest trip to the Devon club.

A 0-0 draw at St James Park saw neither side set the pulses racing but Russ Wilcox’s Minstermen passed an important test against the Grecians – picking up a point when playing some distance below their best.

Following on from grinding out a 1-0 home win over Yeovil, City kept only their third clean sheet on the road in 2015 and overcome an early defensive setback to shut out Paul Tisdale’s hosts.

Stephane Zubar painfully twisted his knee with less than 15 minutes on the clock and, with no recognised centre half named on the bench, Wilcox turned to transfer-listed, left-back Femi Ilesanmi as the on-loan Bournemouth defender’s replacement.

The ex-Dagenham full-back had not kicked a ball previously this season, but seized his chance on the left side of City’s back line – a position where the right-footed Zubar and John McCombe have not always looked comfortable in when asked to operate there.

Ilesanmi stayed focussed to the task in hand, though, following his introduction and nullified the threat of Lee Holmes, who had been prominent during the opening exchanges.

In the heart of City’s defence, meanwhile, Dave Winfield, who found himself out of favour with the Minstermen not too long ago as well, continues to provide an uncompromising presence as a growing number of Sky Bet League Two forwards would no doubt testify.

Goalkeeper Scott Flinders who, like ex-City shot-stopper Bobby Olejnik at the other end, was rarely stretched in this game, also demonstrated sound judgement and impressive handling, nevertheless, to deal with any balls into his box.

Further up the field, though, City struggled for penetration with too many forward passes from midfield easily read and intercepted by the home team.

Vadaine Oliver and Jake Hyde, meanwhile, were well-shackled by an Exeter defence who were forced into a first-half switch of their own when Christian Ribeiro limped out of the action on 29 minutes.

Earlier, the recalled Hyde hoisted the game’s first chance well over Olejnik’s crossbar from 15 yards in the second minute.

After Holmes had been equally as wayward from a similar distance for Exeter, Hyde went on to head a deep cross from the enterprising Marvin McCoy at his former team-mate between the sticks.

Ryan Harley’s tamely-struck, 35-yard free kick in added-on time then signalled the end of a fairly uninspiring first period.

Home midfielder Manny Oyeleke tried to inject some purpose into proceedings after the break and his powerful surge to the edge of City’s penalty box ended with a shot that whistled over Flinders’ crossbar.

Harley also sidefooted wide from 12 yards with a free shot on goal after Winfield’s slip had released Tom Nichols through the left channel.

For City, Russell Penn and Oliver were way off target with edge-of-the-box efforts before Oyeleke curled over again at the end of another forward burst.

The visitors’ best chance of the match fell to Penn after good work by David Tutonda down the left flank, but the City skipper drilled his ten-yard shot straight at Olejnik.

At the other end, though, hearts were in City mouths, when James Berrett tripped Harley in an infringement that referee James Linington judged took place an inch outside, rather than inside, the penalty area.

Harley went on to bend the subsequent free kick narrowly past Flinders’ left-hand post.

After substitute Emile Sinclair had hooked wide on the counter attack for City, fellow replacement Jordan Tillson then failed to earn Exeter maximum points with a couple of late headed chances.

On an afternoon that lacked style, even the normally pristine Tisdale turned up in a T-shirt and blue slacks.

A track-suited Wilcox, though, left happy that his team had fashioned a point from a team that have only lost once on their own soil since February.

 

City

Scott Flinders: 7 – aside from one poor clearance, displayed minimal fuss to do what was required of him   

Keith Lowe: 7 – odd nervy moment but kept his discipline and made some good blocks

STAR MAN: Dave Winfield: 8 – proved a strong adversary for the Exeter front men and marshalled the back line.  

Stephane Zubar:  

Marvin McCoy: 7 – City’s main attacking outlet in the first half, but delivery could have been better in second

Russell Penn: 6 – fired his team’s best chance at Olejnik but kept competing to the final whistle 

Luke Summerfield: 6 – saw too many of his forward passes intercepted by the home side

James Berrett: 6 – not the foraging threat he has been in previous matches and came close to conceding a penalty

David Tutonda: 7 – used his pace to threaten down the left flank for a brief period in the second half

Vadaine Oliver: 6 – looked a little leggy in attack after being asked to compete for a series of long balls forward

Jake Hyde: 6 – found it hard to get the better of Brown on his return to the starting line-up  

Subs: Femi Ilesanmi 8 – focussed (for Zubar, 15), Eddie Nolan 6 – steady (for Summerfield, 68), Emile Sinclair (for Hyde, 74).  

Subs not used: Michael Ingham, Josh Carson, Callum Rzonca, Ben Godfrey.

 

Exeter

Bobby Olejnik, Arron Davies, Troy Brown, Christian Ribeiro (Jordan Tillson, 29), Jamie McAllister, Matt Oakley, Manny Oyeleke, Ryan Harley, Alex Nicholls (Will Hoskins, 63), Tom Nichols (Clinton Morrison, 74), Lee Holmes. Subs not used: James Hamon, Craig Woodman, David Noble, Tom McCready.

Exeter star man: Oyeleke – powerful when carrying the ball forward from midfield.

Referee: James Linington. Rating: 7/10 – got most calls right.  

Booked: Winfield 19, Oyeleke 34, McCoy 54, Berrett 77.

Attendance: 3,139 (150 from City)

 

Shots on target: Exeter 3, City 2

Shots off target: Exeter 6, City 4

Corners: Exeter 6, City 3

Fouls conceded: Exeter 7, City 9   

Offsides: Exeter 3, City 2