Football Season Review

Another club who have been hit hard by the global Covid-19 pandemic are Exeter City. The 'points per game' method used to decide the 2019/20 season saw the Grecians miss out on automatic promotion to bitter local rivals Plymouth Argyle and they were then thrashed 4-0 by Northampton Town in the League 2 play-off final at Wembley. Matt Taylor began his third season as manager with several talented youngsters, including midfielder Matt Jay, who enjoyed his best season so far, outscoring striker Ryan Bowman to finish as leading goalscorer with 17 goals. It was a breakthrough season for left-winger Joel Randall, who looks like an outstanding prospect and was sorely missed as a hamstring injury ended his campaign early. Injury also struck right-winger Randell Williams, who missed the second-half of the season with a leg fracture. Those absences proved costly as the team flirted with the play-off places for most of the campaign, yet never committing fully to the relationship. Taylor constantly changed the team as a consequence of the unprecedented schedule and whilst the players may well have been fatigued, it certainly affected results. Goals dried up at just the wrong time in April and they fell just three points short of the play-offs, finishing in 9th place. Jay, Randall and Williams will have suitors this summer and the Grecians will struggle to hold on to them. Taylor will be looking to the likes of full-back Josh Key, centre-back Alex Hartridge, wing-back Jack Sparkes and midfielder Archie Collins as he looks to build another team capable of challenging for promotion next season.

Player of the Season: Joel Randall