Taylor happy risk paid off

Exeter manager Matt Taylor could not have been happier as his battle-weary side made it three wins in a row with a dramatic late winner to beat Yeovil 2-1 in the West Country derby.

Top goalscorer Jayden Stockley struck the decisive goal after Lee Holmes and Yeovil’s Tom James had traded brilliant strikes of their own in a game of very few chances.

But with time running out, Stockley struck from 10 yards with just two minutes remaining to give Exeter another much-needed win.

Taylor said: “I am so happy with the win. I can’t hide my delight. It wasn’t pretty, especially in the second half, but I will take the three points all day long.

“You could probably see we were physically low. I took a bit of a risk by playing an unchanged team from the Oldham game when they gave it absolutely everything on a very heavy pitch.

“We just lacked a little bit of energy in the last half an hour and full credit to Yeovil because they came right back into it.

“But the spirit we have got in that squad was there. It was a set-piece, but it was all about the substitutes being in the right place at the right time and that’s testament to them for switching on when they haven’t started.

“We stayed close to the pack when we weren’t picking up points and we had some tough games away. I was delighted with the character they showed then and when you win three games in a row, it bounces you up any league table.”

The win was harsh on Yeovil, who shaded the second half, but it leaves the Glovers without a win in seven and perilously close to the relegation zone.

Manager Darren Way said: “When you concede so late, like we did, it is always disappointing.

“Our mindset in the second half was completely different than the first. We looked like we were playing on the front foot, causing all sorts of problems in the final third and it looked like there was only going to be one team to win the game.

“When I look at some of the players, only themselves are holding themselves back. I know that sounds quite strange but because we have got one or two players that have not played nearly 200 games, you make mistakes under pressure.

“I understand the pressure of managing Yeovil. It is difficult, we have got the window open and seven players have got uncertain futures.

“It is hard but we have to make sure we stay positive, I believe in the group, I believe in the players. I thought the effort and the energy they put in, certainly in the second half, showed me everyone was fighting. But it is that lack of quality to see a game out.”