Match Report: Exeter City 5, Tranmere Rovers 0

Match Report – League 2 – Exeter City 5, Tranmere Rovers 0

The long journey home from St. James Park will no doubt seem never ending for the Tranmere team tonight, following a 5-0 drubbing by 5th placed Exeter City.

A Ryan Bowman hat-trick helped Exeter City thrash Tranmere Rovers in the home team’s biggest win of the season, equaling their 6-1 win over Colchester at their previous home game.

Bowman also scored a hat-trick in the Colchester game, making it two home games in a row where they have totally dominated and overrun the opposition.

His first goal was slotted home eight minutes in. Matt Jay skillfully squeezed the ball through to Bowman who nutmegged a defender before placing the ball firmly in the roof of Scott Davies’ net.

A penalty was awarded to Exeter at 18 minutes when Peter Clarke slipped and handballed on the ground. Jay sent Davies the wrong way from the penalty spot to make it 2-0.

Bowman appeared on the scorecard again at 27 minutes to increase the lead to three goals. Jay dispossessed Manny Monthe and then passed the ball through to Bowman, who turned in from the right and struck a thumping ball into the far corner of the goal.

The first half was certainly all Exeter’s, but could Tranmere rescue the game in the second half? There were four Tranmere substitutions made at halftime, so obviously a change of tactics was the order of the day.

Jake Taylor slammed in the home side’s fourth goal on 73 minutes from the edge of the box, assisted by a delicious cross from Joel Randall.

Bowman chalked up his second hat-trick in two home games at 77 minutes with another Joel Randall assist. It was only a simple tap-in, surely Bowman whould have been hoping for a screamer to mark 6 goals in two home games!.

Manager Keith Hill says he accepts the blame for the performance but added that the players made too many errors.

Referee: Kevin Johnson

Tranmere Rovers F.C.